Declaratory Statement DS 2012-85

ISSUE: DS 2012-85. Petitioner seeks a Declaratory Statement on Section R301.2.1.2 of the 2010 Florida Building Code, Residential.

Petitioner in DS 2012-85 seeks clarification of the following questions:

Question 1: Does the term “protection of openings” mean the same as the term “opening protection”, as found in the text of the referenced section, and specific to “protection from windborne debris”?

Question 2: Is the non-glazed door required to comply with Section R301.2.1.2?

Question 3: If the non-glazed door is not required to comply with Section R301.2.1, but it complies with the wind load requirements of the code, would the door also comply with the code as “opening protection”?

Question 4: Would the state-approved, glazed garage door rated for non-HVHZ impact resistance be acceptable for the job (which is outside the HVHZ) without an NOA?

Background

2010 Florida Building Code, Residential

CHAPTER 3 BUILDING PLANNING

Section R301.2.1.2 Protection of openings.

Windows in buildings located in windborne debris regions shall have glazed openings protected from windborne debris. Glazed opening protection for windborne debris shall meet the requirements of the Large Missile Test of ASTM E 1996, ASTM E 1886, SSTD 12 or TAS 201, 202 and 203 or AAMA 506 referenced therein. Garage door glazed opening protection for windborne debris shall meet the requirements of an approved impact resisting standard or ANSI/DASMA 115.

Products in question from the petitioner:

The request involves one of the manufacturer members, Clopay Building Product Company, offering state approved products as follows:

Product 1: State approved, non-glazed garage door not rated for impact resistance

Product 2: State approved, glazed garage door rated for non-HVHZ impact resistance

The garage doors in question will be used for separate jobs in Sarasota which is in a windborne debris region. Neither of these doors have a Miami-Dade County Notice of Acceptance (NOA).

Staff Recommendation:

Question 1: Does the term “protection of openings” mean the same as the term “opening protection”, as found in the text of the referenced section, and specific to “protection from windborne debris”?

Answer: Yes, the term “protection of openings” is analogous to the term “opening protection” as referenced in Section R301.2.1.2 of the 2010 Florida Building Code, Residential and specific to “protection from windborne debris.”

Question 2: Is the non-glazed door required to comply with Section R301.2.1.2?

Answer: No, Section R301.2.1.2 is specific to glazed products.

Question 3: If the non-glazed door is not required to comply with Section R301.2.1, but it complies with the wind load requirements of the code, would the door also comply with the code as “opening protection”?

Answer/option 1: Yes, a non-glazed door complies with the code as “opening protection.”

Answer/option 2: No, only those products that are approved as meeting the applicable reference standards of Section R301.2.1.2 comply with the code as “opening protection.”

Question 4: Would the state-approved, glazed garage door rated for non-HVHZ impact resistance be acceptable for the job (which is outside the HVHZ) without an NOA?

Answer: Yes, if used as per the limits of use of the Product Approval.