At a glance
- Who
- Homeowners comparing impact windows or doors in Florida.
- What
- No official plain definition found. The verified part is the list of test standards behind opening protection.
- When
- Ask before you sign for windows.
- Where
- Product listings in Florida's product approval system, and the OIR wind mitigation form.
- Why
- A number on a brochure means little unless you know what test stands behind it.
The short answer
Window sellers often talk about a design pressure, or DP, rating. We looked for an official or standards-body plain definition and did not find one. A vendor web page offers a definition, but we did not read it in full and cannot confirm it, so we are not repeating it here.
What we can verify is what protects your home on paper: the tests a product passed, the listing that proves it, and how the state's wind mitigation form treats it. Use those to judge a window, not a single number. If a seller gives you a design pressure figure, ask for the document it comes from.
The tests named on Florida's form
The state's wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, names the test standards behind opening protection:
- Miami-Dade PA 201, 202 and 203.
- Florida Building Code TAS 201, 202 and 203.
- ASTM E1886 and ASTM E1996.
- SSTD 12.
- ANSI/DASMA 115, for garage doors.
Level A protection means cyclic pressure plus a 9-pound large missile test. That pairs a large missile test with cyclic pressure, which means repeating pressure. We did not find an official page that explains how the pressure numbers in those tests turn into a rating label, so ask the manufacturer.
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What the form says about listings
Levels A and B require products listed as wind borne debris protection devices in the Florida product approval system or by Miami-Dade County. A listing is the paper trail. See our guide to Florida product approval for windows and doors.
The form also says its definitions cannot be used to certify any product or construction feature as offering hurricane protection. So the form is not a product rating. The listing and the test report are.
Questions to ask a window seller
- What does the design pressure number on this product mean, and what document states it?
- Which test standards did this exact window pass?
- Is this exact product listed in the Florida product approval system or Miami-Dade County? Can I see the listing?
- Does the listing cover the size and frame type of my openings?
- Does it cover impact protection, or only wind pressure?
Those last two matter. The form's top levels need a product listed as wind borne debris protection, so a pressure number alone does not answer the question. Ask for both in writing.
Where your home's wind speed fits
The wind mitigation form also places a home in Region 1 (140 mph or more), Region 2 (130 to 139 mph) or Region 3 (under 130 mph), using ASCE 7-22. We did not find official wind speeds for Manatee or Sarasota County. Your permit office can tell you what your address needs. See our guide to the wind-borne debris region.
Why a single number is not enough
A number on a brochure is one piece of a product's record. Florida's form ties its top protection levels to a listing and to named tests. It does not ask you for a design pressure figure. So the safest habit is to treat any rating as a lead, then follow it back to the listing and the test standards above.
If a seller cannot tell you what a rating means, that tells you something too. Get the answer in writing, and keep it with your permit papers and product documents.
How Hildebrand handles this kind of work
Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling, LLC installs impact windows and doors in Manatee County, Sarasota County and south Hillsborough. We pull every required permit and meet Florida Building Code inspections, and manufacturer warranties are passed through to you.
Every job is quoted after an on-site visit, with a free in-home consultation and written estimate and no trip fee. Insurance credits are set by your insurer, and we never promise a saving. See our impact windows and doors service and our guarantee.
Call or text (941) 284-2218, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Questions homeowners ask
What does design pressure mean for a window?
We found no official plain-language definition. Ask the seller what the number means and which document states it, and look at the test standards and product listing instead.
Which tests apply to Florida impact windows?
The state wind mitigation form names Miami-Dade PA 201, 202 and 203, FBC TAS 201, 202 and 203, ASTM E1886 and E1996, and SSTD 12. Garage doors use ANSI/DASMA 115.
Does the wind mitigation form rate my window's design pressure?
No. The form says its definitions cannot be used to certify any product or construction feature as offering hurricane protection.
How do I prove a window is approved?
Ask for its listing in the Florida product approval system or Miami-Dade County, and match it to the exact product and size.
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