What's the Big Deal About Meeting Miami-Dade Building Code Standards?

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.

The big deal is that the High Velocity Hurricane Zone codes are strong hurricane provisions that were adopted following Hurricane Andrew to keep roofs in place.

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida hard. The storm made landfall at 5 a.m. on August 24, 1992 in Homestead, Florida. Andrew grew quickly into a category 5 storm, leaving residents little time to prepare or evacuate.

NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory reported that most of the damage caused to homes and buildings “was a result of faulty construction.” Andrew caused an estimated $26.5 billion in damages and led to a lot of changes for the construction industry in south Florida.

The Florida Building Commission, a panel of appointed experts and industry representatives, was formed to develop and oversee regulations to ensure buildings are not vulnerable to hurricanes. The building codes are the most stringent in Florida’s High Velocity Hurricane Zone, which includes Miami Dade and Broward counties. The Miami-Dade code is reviewed and updated every three years as recommendations from the American Society of Civil Engineers are released.

Manufacturers are required to test their construction products to confirm that they meet requirements for buildings in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. They then must submit the documentation to Miami-Dade for validation and verification every five years.

In much of Florida, metal roofing is a popular choice for its pleasing appearance but also for its ability to perform in high wind areas. Titebond® manufactures WeatherMaster™ Metal Roof Sealant and knew that performing to Miami-Dade standards was critical for protecting the roofs in those areas.

The sealant has met Miami-Dade approvals, ensuring that professionals can trust the sealant to perform in the toughest conditions and in High Velocity Hurricane Zones. Meeting those stringent regulations also ensures that WeatherMaster Metal Roof Sealant will deliver the performance that building owners require when bad weather hits anywhere outside the state of Florida, too. It provides the ultimate weathertight seal against water, wind, dust and dirt.

WeatherMaster Metal Roof Sealant, offers exceptional adhesion to Kynar™ coated metal materials, along with standard metal, aluminum, steel, galvanized bonderized surfaces, plastics and glass.

Eighty available colors make it easy to match today’s popular  metal roof and siding colors, regardless of material or manufacturer. It also can be painted for an exact match. (The translucent formula is not paintable.)

Contractors can trust WeatherMaster Metal Roof Sealant to meet their high demands for performance. Like all Titebond construction adhesives and sealants, it’s developed first and foremost for the construction pro.

Learn more about WeatherMaster Metal Roof Sealant in Titebond’s RCS Directory.