Code compliance – what does it mean and why it matters?
There are many kinds of hurricane shutters and impact products available on the market. At the end of the day, what matters the most is their ability to protect you, your loved ones and your property. While building codes, regulations and product testing are non-existing in the Caribbeans market, we use HVHZ Miami Dade county certified hurricane shutters and impact products. As a result, our hurricane protection solutions provide you protection during category 5 storms.
What is Miami Dade County/HVHZ product approval?
The Florida Building Code (FBC) is set of rules implemented by the state of Florida regarding construction and architectural elements. Its purpose is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the safety of the population. The product with all its components must go through series of tests to get certification. During these trials specialists evaluate the ability of materials to resist wind-borne debris in a different loads of pressure. All impact products, including hurricane shutters, that we sell at Indoors B.V. are manufactured in the United States and built according to the Florida building code for High Velocity Hurricane Zones (HVHZ) – areas in US where hurricanes occur the most. We install it according to the code as well.
How HVHZ certified products are tested?
Testing procedures check products capacity to withstand flying debris, as well as water & air penetration resist ability. It includes large & small missile test and cyclic pressure loading. All elements of the tested surface are subjected to increasing pressure. During air & water resistance evaluation water is applied to the product and air is exhausted from chamber to produce hurricane-grade pressure. During the tests experts are simulating hurricane conditions. Not only hurricane shutters, but also doors and windows are tested to see, how they perform in the extreme weather environment.
Why you should care about code compliance?
In hurricane zone regions in the US it is not allowed to install door, window or a shutter that is not code compliant. Caribbean islands do not have such policies in place, however you should carefully check and compare the quality of products you buy to protect your home, family & business. Choosing architectural elements for your house is different than buying other products like furniture, as it is a matter of safety and at times – a matter of life and death. At Indoors B.V. we offer certified and non-certified shutters. There is a price difference between the two, altough, we strongly recommend to consider buying certified ones. Why? Because they are tested. Every seller tries to present their product in the best possible light and talk endlessly about its advantages. However, it is not worth much, until it is tested.
Chain of supply – transparency
Certified shutters are the ones that were checked, tested and proved its strength through series of trials. We provide our clients with a proof origin for each product. You can be sure where your shutters were made, what are their technical specs and certification. You should always ask a seller for a documentation. Also, please keep in mind that only products imported can be certified. There is no official body in the Caribbean islands that would perform tests and check quality and performance of products.
In the face of destructive winds over 180 mph, you can’t just hope and cross your fingers, you need to be sure you are well prepared! Our shutters are tested and approved for pressure loads equivalent to over 200 Mph.
