What architects and design-build teams need to know about HVHZ product approval before a Miami-Dade permit submittal.
Two product approval paths are recognized for impact doors and windows in Miami-Dade County: a Florida Product Approval evaluated to the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) provisions of the Florida Building Code, and a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA). Florida Product Approvals are authorized by the Florida Building Commission and administered through the Florida Building Code Online system by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). The NOA is issued by Miami-Dade County's own product control program. PINKYS HVHZ steel doors and windows hold three Florida Product Approvals: FL48057, FL48058, and FL48059.
New to the terminology? Start with What "Miami-Dade Approved" Actually Means.
Two Approval Paths Compared
| Florida Product Approval | Miami-Dade NOA | |
|---|---|---|
| Authorized by | Florida Building Commission, administered by DBPR | Miami-Dade County RER, Product Control |
| Scope | Statewide. Covers HVHZ when evaluated to HVHZ provisions. | Issued for Miami-Dade County |
| How compliance is shown | One of several state methods, including engineering evaluation by an independent Florida P.E. (Method 1(d)), followed by validation | Testing at a Miami-Dade-certified laboratory, reviewed by county engineers |
| Where to verify | floridabuilding.org, by FL number | Miami-Dade product control search, by NOA number |
| PINKYS HVHZ products | FL48057, FL48058, FL48059, approved February 2026 | Approved through Florida Product Approval |
For the specifier, the practical question is not which path is better. It is whether the approval in hand covers the product, the opening size, the design pressure, and the jurisdiction on the permit.
What a Method 1(d) Florida Product Approval Contains
A Florida Product Approval is a set of linked documents, not a single certificate. Using FL48057, the PINKYS Air Series Fixed Window (HVHZ)(Impact), as the example:
Independent engineering evaluation. Product Evaluation Report No. 10373, prepared by a licensed Florida professional engineer and dated February 13, 2026. The report states that the evaluating engineer has no financial interest in the manufacturer or any other entity involved in the approval.
Validation. The approval was validated by an independent Florida professional engineer and approved by DBPR.
Accredited testing. Construction Consulting Laboratory in Carrollton, Texas (FBC Organization TST1685), Report CCL 25-275, dated February 7, 2026, signed and sealed by a Texas professional engineer.
Quality assurance. Manufacturing audited under a quality assurance program by the National Accreditation and Management Institute (NAMI), FBC Organization QUA1789.
Performance standards. TAS 201-94, TAS 202-94, TAS 203-94, ASTM E1886-19, ASTM E1996-20, and AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440-17. PINKYS products were tested to ASTM E1996-23, which the evaluation found equivalent to the E1996-20 edition referenced by the current Florida Building Code.
Signed and sealed installation instructions. Installation Instructions PID003 set the approved sizes, design pressures, anchor types, and anchor spacing. These drawings are the governing document on site.
FL48058 (Air Series Swing Door) and FL48059 (Iron Swing Door) follow the same structure, each with its own evaluation report and installation instructions.
No Impact-Resistant Covering Required
Under Limits of Use, the FL48057 evaluation states that when the product is used in areas requiring windborne debris protection, it complies with Chapter 16 of the current Florida Building Code and does not require an impact-resistant covering. The approved assembly needs no shutters or panels to meet windborne debris requirements, which keeps the steel sightlines clean on the elevation.
The Glass Is Part of the Approval
The approval covers the complete tested assembly: frame, glazing, and anchorage together. All three PINKYS HVHZ approvals specify a 1-5/16" overall laminated insulated glass unit with a SentryGlas (SGP) interlayer by Kuraray America, Inc. The interlayer carries its own Miami-Dade NOA as a material, listed as referenced data in the evaluation report.
Substituting a different interlayer, glass thickness, or IGU configuration moves the installation outside the approved assembly. Confirm glazing scope with PINKYS before any value engineering on the glass.
Sizes and Design Pressures Come From the Installation Instructions
Each approval is specific to size and configuration. For FL48057, the approved range runs 30" to 204" wide and 108" to 204" tall, at ±65 PSF in most configurations. Site conditions that deviate from the installation instructions require further engineering analysis by a licensed engineer or registered architect.
See the approval scope and design pressures for all three products on the PINKYS HVHZ page.
Miami-Dade Permit Submittal Checklist
- The Florida Product Approval number and current Product Evaluation Report for each product type
- Signed and sealed installation instructions for each approval
- An anchor schedule matched to the actual substrate, with anchor embedment beyond wall dressing or stucco, as the approval requires
- Project design pressures for each opening, compared against the approved rating for that size and configuration
- Confirmation that every opening falls inside the approved size range, or a separate engineering analysis for any opening outside it
- A glazing specification that matches the approved IGU
- Confirmation of acceptance with the reviewing building department. Many municipalities in Miami-Dade run their own building departments
PINKYS provides the approval package at specification stage. Request the Florida Product Approval package early, since document review and shop drawing approval sit ahead of the 12 to 15 week lead time rather than inside it.
Verifying the Approval Before Submittal
At floridabuilding.org, search the Product Approval database by FL number. Confirm the status reads Approved and that the approval references the current Florida Building Code. Then download the evaluation report and installation instructions from the listing and confirm they match the documents in your submittal package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miami-Dade accept a Florida Product Approval instead of an NOA?
A Florida Product Approval evaluated to the HVHZ provisions of the Florida Building Code is a recognized approval path for Miami-Dade installations. Confirm acceptance with the reviewing building department before permit submittal.
Does PINKYS hold a Miami-Dade NOA?
PINKYS HVHZ doors and windows are approved through Florida Product Approval: FL48057, FL48058, and FL48059. The SentryGlas interlayer in the approved glazing carries its own Miami-Dade NOA as a material.
What is a Method 1(d) Florida Product Approval?
Method 1(d) is the engineering evaluation path. An independent Florida professional engineer evaluates accredited test reports and quality assurance records, issues a signed evaluation report and installation instructions, and the approval is then validated and approved by DBPR.
Do PINKYS HVHZ products require shutters?
No. The evaluation report states that in areas requiring windborne debris protection, the approved product complies with Chapter 16 of the Florida Building Code and does not require an impact-resistant covering.
What if an opening is outside the approved size range?
Openings or site conditions outside the approved installation instructions require further engineering analysis by a licensed engineer or registered architect. Contact PINKYS at specification stage with the opening dimensions.
Specify With PINKYS Studio Steel
PINKYS Studio Steel works with architects and design-build teams from early feasibility through fabrication and delivery, with installation guidance for your contractor, including the Florida Product Approval package for HVHZ projects. Start A Specification to request approval documents, installation instructions, and anchor schedules. For Broward, Palm Beach, and projects outside Florida, see the jurisdiction guide on the PINKYS HVHZ page.
Related: HVHZ Florida Product Approval · What "Miami-Dade Approved" Actually Means · Glass Configurations · Safety Glazing · Studio Steel Profile Systems
