Florida Building Code
Door Requirements Guide
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Commercial doors in Florida must meet the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), in effect since December 31, 2023. Fire doors follow FBC Section 716 and NFPA 80, exterior doors need Florida Product Approval or a Miami-Dade NOA rated for ASCE 7-22 wind loads, and door hardware and clearances must meet the accessibility and egress provisions. This guide from Mills & Nebraska summarizes the key requirements for architects, contractors and building owners.
Key Code Requirements by Category
A summary of the provisions that most often affect commercial openings. Project requirements are set by the design professional and the authority having jurisdiction, so always confirm against the adopted code and local amendments.
Fire-Rated Assemblies
Positive Pressure Testing
Side-hinged and pivoted swinging fire doors must be tested under positive pressure to NFPA 252 or UL 10C.
Fire Door Ratings
Ratings follow the wall type: 20 minutes in corridor walls and smoke barriers, 45 minutes in most 1-hour fire barriers, 60 minutes in 1-hour and 90 minutes in 2-hour stair and shaft enclosures, and 3 hours in 3-hour fire walls and barriers.
Smoke and Draft Control
Doors in corridors and smoke barriers generally require smoke and draft control assemblies tested to UL 1784 and marked with an "S" label.
Labels, Installation and Inspection
Fire doors and frames must carry permanent labels from an approved agency, be installed per NFPA 80, and be inspected and tested at least annually.
Hurricane/Wind Resistance
High-Velocity Hurricane Zone
Miami-Dade and Broward counties are in the HVHZ, where exterior doors need a Miami-Dade NOA or a Florida Product Approval approved for HVHZ use.
Wind Loads
The FBC 8th Edition (2023) uses ASCE 7-22 to set design wind pressures based on wind speed, Risk Category, exposure and building height.
HVHZ Test Protocols
TAS 201 is the hurricane debris impact test (large and small debris tests), TAS 202 the uniform static air pressure test, and TAS 203 the cyclic wind pressure test.
Impact Testing Outside the HVHZ
In wind-borne debris regions outside the HVHZ, impact-resistant glazed openings are commonly tested to ASTM E1886 and ASTM E1996.
Product Approval
Exterior doors need Florida Product Approval (FL#) or local product approval. List the FL# or NOA number in your submittals.
Accessibility (2010 ADA Standards and FBC Accessibility)
Clear Width
Minimum 32" clear width, measured between the door face and the stop with the door open 90 degrees.
Door Hardware
Operable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist, mounted 34" to 48" above the finished floor.
Opening Force
Interior hinged doors: 5 lbf maximum. Fire doors may use the minimum opening force allowed by the authority having jurisdiction.
Thresholds
Maximum 1/2" high, with raised thresholds and changes in level beveled as required by Section 303.
Closing Speed
Door closers adjusted so the door takes at least 5 seconds to move from 90 degrees open to 12 degrees from the latch.
Means of Egress (FBC Chapter 10)
Panic Hardware
Required on latching egress doors serving Group A or E occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more, and on doors serving Group H occupancies.
Locking Arrangements
Egress doors must open from the egress side without a key or special knowledge; delayed egress and other special locking systems are allowed only under specific conditions.
Door Swing
Doors must swing in the direction of egress travel when serving a room or area with an occupant load of 50 or more, or a Group H occupancy.
Egress Width
Door egress capacity is calculated at 0.2" per occupant (0.15" in qualifying buildings with sprinklers and an emergency voice/alarm system), and each door must also meet the minimum clear width.
Common Compliance Mistakes to Avoid
These issues cause the most inspection failures. Avoid them from the start to keep your project on schedule.
Using non-listed hardware on fire doors
Latches, closers and fire exit hardware on fire doors must be listed for fire door use, and hinges must meet NFPA 80
Exceeding glazing limits in fire doors
Glazing size and type are limited by the door's rating and listing; 60-minute and 90-minute doors are typically limited to 100 sq in of fire-protection-rated glazing, and 3-hour doors in fire walls generally need fire-resistance-rated glazing
Installing non-HVHZ doors in South Florida
Exterior doors in Miami-Dade and Broward need a valid Miami-Dade NOA or a Florida Product Approval approved for HVHZ use
Incorrect door swing direction
Verify occupant load; doors serving 50 or more occupants must swing in the direction of egress travel
Field modifications to fire doors
Work beyond what NFPA 80 permits needs manufacturer or listing agency approval and may require field relabeling by an agency such as Intertek
Missing door closer on fire doors
All fire doors must be self-closing or automatic-closing per NFPA 80
Florida Building Code Door FAQs
What is the current edition of the Florida Building Code?
The current edition is the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), which took effect on December 31, 2023. It is based on the 2021 International Codes with Florida amendments and uses ASCE 7-22 for wind loads.
Which Florida counties are in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?
Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Exterior doors installed there need a Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) or a Florida Product Approval approved for HVHZ use, based on TAS 201, 202 and 203 testing.
What fire rating does a door in a 1-hour wall need?
It depends on the wall type. Doors in 1-hour corridor walls and smoke barriers typically need a 20-minute rating, doors in most other 1-hour fire barriers and fire partitions need 45 minutes, and doors in 1-hour stair and shaft enclosures need 60 minutes.
What is the maximum opening force for an accessible door?
Under the 2010 ADA Standards and the Florida Building Code, Accessibility, interior hinged doors may require no more than 5 pounds of force to open. Fire doors may use the minimum opening force allowed by the authority having jurisdiction.
When must a commercial door swing in the direction of egress?
When it serves a room or area with an occupant load of 50 or more people, or a Group H (high-hazard) occupancy, under Chapter 10 of the Florida Building Code.
Need Code-Compliant Doors for Your Florida Project?
Mills & Nebraska has supplied commercial openings in Florida since 1933. With an Architectural Hardware Consultant on staff and in-house Intertek certified labeling for fire and wind, our team helps you specify doors, frames and hardware for code requirements and submittals.
Products for Florida Code-Compliant Openings
- Fire-Rated Doors & FramesEvery door and frame we supply with a fire rating, 20 minutes to 3 hours.
- Hurricane-Rated & Windstorm-Resistant Doors and FramesDoors and frames available in wind-rated assemblies.
- Hollow Metal DoorsSteel doors for heavy-use, fire-rated and hurricane-rated openings.
- Exit Devices & Panic HardwareRim, vertical rod and mortise devices, including UL listed fire exit hardware.
- Commercial Door ClosersSurface, concealed and floor closers plus low-energy operators.
- Commercial Door LocksGrade 1 cylindrical and mortise locksets, keying and electrified options.
- Commercial Door HingesBall bearing, continuous, swing clear and power transfer hinges.
Specification, Fabrication and Installation Services
Related Articles
- Commercial DoorsImpact Rated Commercial Doors Fabricated and Supplied for Florida ProjectsImpact rated commercial doors are complete door assemblies tested to resist wind-borne debris and cyclic wind pressure, as Florida Building Code requires for many exterior openings.
- Commercial DoorsUnderstanding Storm-Rated Doors: Protection for Florida's Commercial BuildingsStorm-rated doors are exterior door assemblies tested for wind pressure and, where required, debris impact, so they can be approved for Florida commercial buildings.
- Commercial DoorsCustom Door Fabrication for Commercial BuildingsCustom door fabrication produces doors and frames to non-standard sizes, materials, and hardware requirements while keeping fire and wind ratings intact.