Florida Hurricane Wind Zones

The fbc created high velocity hurricane zone and set out hurricane provisions specifically for florida.

Florida hurricane wind zones. Buildings structures 165 mph risk category ii. The two main requirements are. Many chapters of the florida code offer an hvhz and non hvhz section of the code. Except the florida panhandle where the region lies within 1 mile of the coast.

The design wind speeds in the hvhz are as follows. Buildings structures 156 mph risk category ii. Models also project greater rainfall rates in hurricanes in a warmer climate with increases of about 20 averaged near the center of hurricanes protecting lives is top priority when a hurricane or severe storm blows through town but high velocity hurricane zones hvhz homes and buildings are a close second. Broward charlotte collier dade franklin gulf hendry lee manatee martin monroe palm beach pinellas and sarasota counties.

Wind zone 4 consists of areas with a wind speed of greater than 170 mph and miami dade and broward counties. The high velocity hurricane zone or hvhz in florida encompasses only miami dade and broward counties. Most but not all sections of the hvhz are more stringent than non hvhz. Buildings structures 175 mph risk category iii.

Laboratory tested resistance for structural wind loads and an iso based production quality assurance program that is then audited and approved by a third party. It is a special section of the florida building code 2017 fbc as of this writing which lays out special codes which apply to these counties. Counties who use designated evacuation zones will use these letters when they order evacuations. High velocity hurricane zones the high velocity hurricane zones hvhz are specifically defined as miami dade and broward counties.

According to the fbc south florida has the strictest building regulations which can be difficult to navigate without a roofing expert by your side. High velocity hurricane zone of miami dade and broward counties. The main difference between wind zones 1 3 and wind zone 4 are the number of impacts required and the deflection limits. Areas where wind speeds exceed 120mph or are greater than 110mph within close proximity to the coast 1 mile to be exact requires extra hurricane protection against wind born debris.

As in previous editions of the fbcb a single wind speed is used for the hvhz for each risk category map. Vulnerability may be assumed to increase as the designations go from tropical storm zone to zone f with tropical storm zone and zone a as the most vulnerable. There are no zone 1 counties in florida. No other counties in the state have an f zone except the northeast florida counties for now.

Wind borne debris region where design speeds are greater than 120 mph or greater than 110 mph if within 1 mile of the coast. Building products in certain counties in florida are tested by high velocity hurricane zone hvhz program s high standards of performance. The following counties shown in gray in the map below are wind zone 3.