Wind Mitigation Inspection ~ In Layman’s Terms

1. Building Code: Was the structure built in compliance with the Florida Building Code 2001 or later?

A = YES = insurance premium discount (usually).

B = Only for homes located in the HVHZ (Miami-Dade or Broward counties). If built in compliance with South Florida Building Code (SFBC-94) = insurance premium discount (usually).

C = NO = no discount.

2. Roof Covering: What type of roof covering do you have? And was the permit for its installation applied for before or after 03/01/2002?

A = After = insurance premium discount (usually).

B = Only for homes located in the HVHZ (Miami-Dade or Broward counties). If Roof Permit Application Date is after 09/01/1994 = insurance premium discount (usually).

C or D = Before = no discount.

3. Roof Deck Attachment: What is the weakest form of roof deck attachment? (see below)

A = Any system that has an equivalent mean uplift resistance less than 103 psf.

Examples: Plywood/Oriented strand board (OSB) roof sheathing attached to the roof truss/rafter by staples or 6d nails (2 inch nails). Batten decking supporting wood shakes or wood shingles. adhesives, other deck fastening systems. = no discount.

B = Any system of screws, nails, adhesives, other deck fastening system or truss/rafter spacing that is shown to have an equivalent or greater mean uplift resistance of at least 103 psf.

Example: Plywood/OSB roof sheathing with a minimum thickness of 7/16” inch attached to the roof truss/rafter by 8d nails (2 ½ inch nails) spaced a maximum of 12” inches in the field. = insurance premium discount (usually).

C = Any system of screws, nails, adhesives, other deck fastening system or truss/rafter spacing that is shown to have an equivalent or greater mean uplift resistance of at least 182 psf.

Example: Plywood/OSB roof sheathing with a minimum thickness of 7/16” inch attached to the roof truss/rafter by 8d nails (2 ½ inch nails) spaced a maximum of 6” inches in the field. Dimensional lumber/Tongue & Groove decking with a minimum of 2 nails per board (or 1 nail per board if each board is equal to or less than 6 inches in width). = insurance premium discount (usually).

D – G = Reinforced Concrete Roof Deck / Unknown or unidentified / No attic access / Other.

4. Roof to Wall Attachment: What is the weakest roof to wall connection? (see below)

A = Toe Nails (nails driven at an angle through the truss/rafter and attached to the top plate of the wall, or metal connectors that do not meet the minimal conditions or requirements of B, C, or D) = no discount.

Minimal conditions or requirements of B, C, or D

All visible metal connectors are secured to truss/rafter with a minimum of three (3) nails, AND attached to the wall top plate of the wall framing, or embedded in the bond beam, with less than a ½” gap from the blocking or truss/rafter and blocked no more than 1.5” of the truss/rafter, and free of visible severe corrosion.

B = Clips (Metal connectors that do not wrap over the top of the truss/rafter, or metal connectors with a minimum of 1 strap that wraps over the top of the truss/rafter and does not meet the nail position requirements of C or D, but is secured with a minimum of 3 nails. = insurance premium discount (usually).

C = Single Wraps (Metal connectors consisting of a single strap that wraps over the top of the truss/rafter and is secured with a minimum of 2 nails on the front side and a minimum of 1 nail on the opposing side). = insurance premium discount (usually).

D = Double Wraps (Metal Connectors consisting of 2 separate straps that are attached to the wall frame, or embedded in the bond beam, on either side of the truss/rafter where each strap wraps over the top of the truss/rafter and is secured with a minimum of 2 nails on the front side, and a minimum of 1 nail on the opposing side, or metal connectors consisting of a single strap that wraps over the top of the truss/rafter, is secured to the wall on both sides, and is secured to the top plate with a minimum of three nails on each side). = insurance premium discount (usually).

E – H = Structural Anchor bolts / reinforced concrete roof / Unknown or Unidentified / No attic access / Other.

NOTE:

A strap that doesn’t wrap over the truss = a clip

A strap or clip that doesn’t have 3 nails = a toe nail.

5. Roof Geometry: What is the roof shape?

A = Hip Roof (better uplift resistance) = insurance premium discount (usually).

B = Flat Roof = no discount.         

C = Other Roof = no discount.

NOTE:

To get hip credit, any & all non-hip features must be < 10% of the total roof perimeter.

6. Secondary Water Resistance (SWR): Does the house have an SWR? (also called Sealed Roof Deck) Self-adhering polymer modified-bitumen roofing underlayment applied directly to the sheathing or foam adhesive SWR barrier (not foamed-on insulation) applied as a supplemental means to protect the dwelling from water intrusion in the event of roof covering loss. (standard underlayments or hot mopped felts do not qualify as an SWR)

A = YES = insurance premium discount (usually).

B = NO = no discount.

C = Unknown or undetermined = no discount.

7. Opening Protection: What is the weakest form of wind borne debris protection installed on the structure?  NOTE: “Verified” = manufacturer’s label with product approval number (see below).

A = Verified cyclic pressure & large missile (9 lb for windows doors / 4.5 for skylights) = insurance premium discount (usually).

B = Verified cyclic pressure & large missile (4-8 lb for windows doors / 2 for skylights) = insurance premium discount (usually).

C = Verified plywood/OSB meeting Table 1609.1.2 of the FBC 2007 = insurance premium discount (usually).

D = Verified Non-Glazed Entry of Garage doors indicating compliance with ASTM E 330, ANSI/DASMA 108, or PA/TAS 202 for wind pressure resistance = insurance premium discount (usually).

N = Opening protection products that appear to be A or B but are not verified – OR – Other protective coverings that cannot be identified as A, B, or C = no discount.

X = No Windborne Debris Protection = no discount.

To mark “A” or “B” we must be able to document one of the following FL Product Approval Numbers

A

  • Miami-Dade County PA 201, 202, and 203
  • Florida Building Code Testing Application Standard (TAS) 201, 202, and 203
  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E 1886 and ASTM E 1996
  • Southern Standards Technical Document (SSTD) 12
  • For Skylights Only: ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996
  • For Garage Doors Only: ANSI/DASMA 115

B

  • ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996. (Large Missile – 4.5 lb.)
  • SSTD 12 (Large Missile – 4 lb. to 8 lb.)
  • For Skylights Only: ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996 (Large Missile – 2 to 4.5 lb.)

You may find it worth your while to contact the manufacturer of the hurricane panels, skylights, &/or garage door to see if they have taken their product to the state to receive a product approval number. If they can provide documentation that the product has been issued a FL Product Approval number, and we can match that up with the model or serial number of the product then we can change “N” &/or “X” to “A” or “B” on the Wind Mitigation Inspection Report & you should receive the insurance premium discount.