Broward County HVHZ | 170 mph Design Wind Speed | Product Control Approval | TAS Impact Testing | Exposure Category C
Calculate Fort Lauderdale Wind Loads Now →Fort Lauderdale, located in Broward County, Florida, enforces some of the most stringent wind load requirements in the United States. As part of Florida's High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ), Fort Lauderdale requires a design wind speed of 170 mph (3-second gust) for Risk Category II structures—significantly higher than standard ASCE 7-22 maps would indicate for coastal areas outside the HVHZ.
These enhanced requirements exist because Fort Lauderdale sits directly in the path of Atlantic hurricanes and has historically suffered severe damage from major storms. Broward County is one of only two HVHZ counties in Florida (alongside Miami-Dade), recognizing the extreme hurricane exposure along Florida's southeastern coast. Every building permit in Fort Lauderdale requires compliance with Broward County Product Control requirements and mandatory TAS impact testing for all exterior building components.
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category II): 170 mph (3-second gust)
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category III): ~180 mph
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category IV): ~190 mph
Exposure Category: C (required for ALL structures)
Building Code: Florida Building Code 8th Edition (2023)
Wind Load Standard: ASCE 7-22
Product Approval: Broward County Product Control approval required
Impact Testing: TAS 201, 202, 203 mandatory for wind-borne debris region
Fort Lauderdale's 170 mph design wind speed for Risk Category II structures is based on decades of hurricane data, extensive wind studies, and the devastating lessons learned from historical storms including Hurricane Andrew (1992) which severely impacted neighboring Miami-Dade County. While Fort Lauderdale experienced less severe damage than Miami-Dade, the storm demonstrated the vulnerability of Florida's southeastern coast to extreme hurricanes.
The 170 mph velocity represents a 700-year mean recurrence interval (MRI) event for Risk Category II structures in Broward County. This conservative approach recognizes that Fort Lauderdale faces the same Atlantic hurricane exposure as Miami-Dade County, though with slightly reduced wind speeds due to its position slightly north of the area of maximum hurricane intensity.
Calculating wind loads for Fort Lauderdale projects requires following ASCE 7-22 methodology while incorporating Broward County specific HVHZ requirements. The fundamental velocity pressure equation is:
qz = 0.00256 Kz Kzt Kd Ke V²
For Fort Lauderdale with V = 170 mph and typical conditions, the resulting pressures are among the highest in the United States. A Fort Lauderdale project with:
Results in a velocity pressure of approximately qz = 52.6 psf—substantially higher than most U.S. cities require.
Every exterior building component installed in Fort Lauderdale must have valid Broward County Product Control approval. While similar to Miami-Dade's NOA system, Broward County maintains its own independent product approval process. This includes:
You can verify product approval status through the Broward County Building Division online database. Specifying products without valid Broward County approvals will result in permit rejection and project delays.
Fort Lauderdale is entirely within a Wind-Borne Debris Region, requiring all exterior openings and glazing to pass TAS (Testing Application Standard) impact testing protocols:
TAS 201: Criteria for Testing Impact and Non-Impact Resistant Building Envelope Components - establishes test procedures and acceptance criteria
TAS 202: Criteria for Testing Products Subject to Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading - requires surviving 9,000 positive and negative pressure cycles
TAS 203: Criteria for Testing Structural Resistance to Wind-Borne Debris Impact - requires surviving large missile impact (9-lb 2x4 at 34-50 mph) and small missile impact (10 ball bearings at 80 ft/s)
Fort Lauderdale projects must be classified into Risk Categories per ASCE 7-22 Table 1.5-1. Higher risk categories require increased design wind speeds:
| Risk Category | Fort Lauderdale Design Wind Speed | Building Types |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Category I | ~155 mph | Agricultural facilities, temporary structures, minor storage |
| Risk Category II | 170 mph | Residential, commercial, most standard occupancies |
| Risk Category III | ~180 mph | Schools, assembly >300, substantial hazardous materials |
| Risk Category IV | ~190 mph | Hospitals, fire stations, emergency shelters, EOCs |
Broward County requires Exposure Category C for all structures, regardless of actual surrounding terrain. This conservative requirement accounts for Fort Lauderdale's flat topography, proximity to the ocean, and the potential for surrounding obstructions to be removed during a hurricane. Exposure C assumes open terrain with scattered obstructions having heights generally less than 30 feet.
Using Exposure B (suburban) is not permitted in Broward County HVHZ areas, even for inland projects surrounded by residential neighborhoods. This requirement significantly increases calculated wind pressures compared to what would be calculated using Exposure B.
All Fort Lauderdale zip codes fall within the Broward County HVHZ and require the 170 mph design wind speed for Risk Category II. Common Fort Lauderdale zip codes include:
The WindLoadCalc.com wind load calculator automatically applies the 170 mph HVHZ velocity when you enter any Broward County zip code or address, eliminating the need for manual map lookups.
WindLoadCalc.com automatically handles all Broward County HVHZ requirements including the 170 mph design velocity, mandatory Exposure Category C, Risk Category adjustments, and component pressure coefficients. Simply enter your Fort Lauderdale project address or zip code for instant, accurate calculations.
Calculate Fort Lauderdale Wind Loads Now →All wind load calculations for Fort Lauderdale building permits must be prepared by or under the direct supervision of a Professional Engineer (PE) or Architect licensed in Florida. The sealed calculations must include:
Engineers, architects, and contractors should reference these official resources for Fort Lauderdale wind load compliance:
The wind load calculator at WindLoadCalc.com automatically applies all Fort Lauderdale-specific requirements:
WindLoadCalc.com provides instant, accurate wind load calculations for Broward County projects. Our software automatically handles the 170 mph HVHZ velocity, Exposure C requirement, and generates PE-ready reports for building permit submission.
Try Fort Lauderdale Wind Load Calculator →