Hurricane-Rated Garage Doors

What's included with every hurricane-rated garage doors

• HVHZ wind-code rated (165+ mph)
• Florida Product Approval (FPA) number
• Impact-rated hardware + tracks
• Reinforcement struts (where required)
• Permit pulled + inspector scheduled
• Insurance documentation packet

What "HVHZ" actually means

HVHZ stands for High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. It\'s a section of the Florida Building Code (Section R301.2.1.1 in the 8th Edition) that applies in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The standard exists because of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 — when a Category 5 storm exposed how badly residential garage doors failed under wind load. When the garage door fails, wind enters the structure, the pressure differential blows the roof off, and the entire house is gone in 60 seconds.

HVHZ requires three things: design wind speed of 165+ mph, impact resistance from windborne debris (tested at 9 lbs of 2x4 lumber traveling at 50 ft/s — TAS 201 / TAS 202 / TAS 203 protocols), and structural reinforcement sized to the door\'s span. Palm Beach County is not officially in the HVHZ but follows essentially the same standards.

The Florida Product Approval (FPA) — why it\'s on every quote

Every door, opener, and reinforcement system installed in Florida must have a Florida Product Approval (FPA) number — proof from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation that the product passed the required wind and impact tests. We include the FPA number for your specific door on the quote, on the permit application, and on the final invoice. If a contractor in South Florida won\'t give you the FPA number in writing, that\'s a red flag — the door is probably not HVHZ-rated.

Insurance discounts — most homeowners save 10-25% per year

Florida insurance companies offer significant wind-mitigation discounts when you install a HVHZ-rated garage door. Typical savings: 10-25% off the annual homeowners premium — usually $200-$800/year. To claim the discount, your insurance company needs the wind-mitigation inspection report showing the HVHZ-rated door + opener + reinforcement. We provide the FPA documentation packet you need; a licensed wind-mitigation inspector turns that into the OIR-B1-1802 form your insurer accepts.

What sets HVHZ-rated doors apart from "hurricane-resistant" marketing

HVHZ-rated means the door has passed Miami-Dade NOA (Notice of Acceptance) testing OR Florida Product Approval testing — the testing is third-party, documented, and traceable. "Hurricane-resistant" is a marketing term with no legal standard behind it. We see homeowners every storm season who paid for "hurricane-resistant" doors that turn out to have no FPA number and no design pressure rating — and after a Category 2 those doors blow out. Always ask for the FPA number.

Brands we install

Clopay (Florida-tested Coachman + Avante + Modern Steel lines), Amarr (Hurricane Series), CHI Overhead Doors (Stormtide line), and Wayne Dalton (Foundation series). All carry current FPA + Miami-Dade NOA approvals. We don\'t sell anything that isn\'t HVHZ-rated for our service area — period.

Common questions about hurricane doors in South Florida

Do I have to upgrade if my existing door is old? No — existing doors are grandfathered until you replace them. But if you\'re re-roofing or making other major changes, the inspector can require the door come up to current code. Does the opener also need to be HVHZ? Yes — battery-backup is required by Florida law (passed 2019, takes effect 2025), and the opener attachment must match the door\'s rated design pressure. What about windows? Decorative windows are allowed in HVHZ doors if they\'re impact-rated glass — typically adds $200-$600 to the door price.

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