Florida Residential Building Code
Your sales rep was only partially correct. The current code is the 2007 Florida Residential Building Code. Design wind loads for all structures have been increased all across Florida since the Hurricane Andrew days. Design wind speeds vary across Florida from 100 MPH up to 150 MPH. The Villages are in the 100 MPH zone. (In contrast most of the US is designed for only 90 MPH winds.)
The Florida code requires that windows be protected from flying debris only in areas with 120 MPH winds or 110 MPH if near the coast:
"WIND-BORNE DEBRIS REGION. Portions of hurricane-prone regions that are within 1 mile (1.61 km) of the coastal mean high water line where the basic wind speed is 110 mph (48 m/s) or greater; or portions of hurricane-prone regions where the basic wind speed is 120 mph (53 m/s) or greater; or Hawaii."
As for the film, it will not offer much protection from flying debris other than keeping the glass fragments together. The window will still break, but may fall in as more of a complete unit.
I hope this helps.
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Glendale, Queens; Littleton, CO; East Amherst, NY
Village of Bonita
Last edited by Bob S; 10-30-2009 at 02:05 PM.
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