A Miami-Dade NOA, or Notice of Acceptance, is the product approval issued by Miami-Dade County’s Product Control Section for building products that pass the county’s testing protocols. For impact windows and doors, it is the strictest approval in the country, and it is required for any window or door installed in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
Why Miami-Dade has its own approval
After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Miami-Dade County wrote testing standards for windows, doors and roofing that were tougher than anything in use at the time. Those standards became the basis for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone provisions of the Florida Building Code. A manufacturer that wants to sell a product in the HVHZ submits it to an approved lab, and if it passes, the county issues an NOA that lists exactly what was tested, including the frame, glass, sizes, anchoring and design pressures.
What the tests involve
- Large-missile impact. A 9-pound 2×4 is fired at the glass at roughly 50 feet per second, aimed at the center and a corner. The glass may crack, but it cannot be penetrated or open a hole.
- Small-missile impact. Steel balls are fired at higher speeds to simulate gravel and roof debris, which applies to openings higher above the ground.
- Cyclic pressure. After impact, the same unit is cycled through thousands of positive and negative pressure cycles to simulate hours of hurricane wind. It must stay intact and sealed.
- Water and air infiltration. The assembly is tested for leakage under pressure.
NOA vs Florida Product Approval
| Miami-Dade NOA | Florida Product Approval (FPA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Miami-Dade County Product Control | Florida Building Commission |
| Required in | HVHZ: Miami-Dade and Broward | Rest of Florida, including Palm Beach and Monroe |
| Testing protocol | Miami-Dade TAS 201, 202, 203 | ASTM E1886 and E1996 or TAS |
| Accepted outside its zone | Yes, NOA products are accepted statewide | No, FPA products without HVHZ approval cannot be used in the HVHZ |
In practice, a product with a Miami-Dade NOA can be installed anywhere in Florida, which is why we recommend NOA-rated windows in Palm Beach County and the Keys as well, even though the code there only requires Florida Product Approval.
How to read an NOA
Every NOA has a number, an expiration date, and a set of drawings. The drawings show the maximum sizes tested, the design pressure rating, the glass makeup, and the anchor type, size and spacing for each substrate (concrete block, wood, steel). The installer must follow those drawings exactly, and the inspector checks against them. If a window is installed with the wrong anchors or spacing, it does not meet the NOA even though the product itself is approved.
What this means for your project
- In Miami-Dade and Broward, your contractor must submit the NOA for every product with the permit application.
- The NOA must be current. Expired approvals are rejected.
- Installation must match the NOA drawings. This is why factory-trained crews matter.
- Keep the NOA documents after the job. Your insurer and any future buyer will ask for them.
Elevate Impact Windows installs NOA-rated products from PGT, ES Windows, Mr. Glass, ECO, EMC and GIG, submits the approvals with every permit, and installs to the approved drawings. Learn more about impact windows in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Miami-Dade NOA?
A Notice of Acceptance is Miami-Dade County’s product approval for building products that pass its testing protocols. For windows and doors it covers impact resistance, pressure cycling and water infiltration.
Do I need an NOA in Broward County?
Yes. Broward is part of the High Velocity Hurricane Zone along with Miami-Dade, so windows and doors need a Miami-Dade NOA or an equivalent HVHZ approval.
Do I need an NOA in Palm Beach County or the Keys?
Not by code. Those areas require Florida Product Approval. NOA-rated products exceed the requirement and are accepted there.
How do I check if my windows have an NOA?
The NOA number is printed on a label on the window frame or glass. You can look it up on the Miami-Dade County Product Control search page.
Does an NOA expire?
Yes. NOAs carry an expiration date and must be renewed by the manufacturer. Permits require a current NOA.