Administered by the
Florida Department of
Financial Services
IN THIS ISSUE:
CONTACT:
1-800-363-5852
contractorinfo@fldfs.com
NEW FLORIDA BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS REGARDING OPENING PROTECTIONS
Many homeowners who live in the wind-borne debris region have asked about the new opening protection requirements passed into law in 2007. (Click to view the wind-borne debris map.)
Here’s what you need to know about requirements for homes in the wind-borne debris region:
- Newly-built homes must have opening protection on windows, skylights and doors with glass.
- As of July 1, 2008, any construction activity valued at $50,000 or more that requires a building permit to do work on an existing home with an insured value of $750,000 will have to install opening protection on windows and doors if none exists.
- Beginning January 1, 2009, all existing homes with an insured value of $750,000 or greater insured by Citizens Property Insurance Corporation will not be eligible for new or renewal homeowners’ insurance unless all openings are protected.
NOTE: Homeowners seeking reimbursement with the MSFH program must install impact and pressure resistant opening protections to be eligible for reimbursement.
In the event of a hurricane homeowners must have a means of egress or way to escape the home, if necessary. Any exterior door may be egress for purposes of reimbursement with the MSFH program; however, the door must still be replaced with an impact resistant/hurricane-rated door.
PARTICIPATING CONTRACTORS AGREEMENT
The MSFH program will be strictly enforcing the following provision:
In order to expedite reimbursement requests from homeowners, failure to respond to three requests by the Department for proper completion of the Participating Contractor Verification form within 10 days will result in immediate termination from the Participating Contractor’s list maintained by the Department.
DIAGRAM OR CUT SHEET REQUIREMENT
In order to expedite reimbursement requests, we are asking participating contractors to provide MSFH with a diagram or cut sheet when work is completed on opening protections. The diagram or cut sheets must show which openings were protected. Click here to see sample diagram sheets or to obtain a blank sheet which may be submitted along with the Participating Contractor Verification Form.
Grant work inspections are underway. If grant work inspections identify that work is not completed properly under the MSFH program the participating contractor will be removed from the participating contractor list.
Homeowners continue to contact the My Safe Florida Home program regarding unwanted solicitations from participating contractors. Contact information on participants in the My Safe Florida Home program is public information under Florida law. However, we would like to remind contractors that unwanted solicitations, especially emails and phone calls are not well received by homeowners.
If you would like to be removed as a participating contractor from our list, please email Barbara Williams at Barbara.williams@fldfs.com
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS: • Application number - is the My Safe Florida Home application number • SF - Square feet • Material Cost - is the cost you charge the homeowner for the materials used • Participating Contractor # - is the number assigned to you by DFS. You can find this number on your entry on our List of Participating Contractors. • Permanently Deployed – A type of replacement unit that is hurricane impact rated such as hurricane impact windows, impact garage doors and exterior impact rated doors that are always in place on the structure. |