In 2021, the tragic collapse of the Champlain Tower South, also known as Surfside Tower, shocked not only the Florida Condo community but the nation as well. In light of this horrible event, the Florida Legislature has enacted new laws to help ensure the safety of our millions of condo residents.   

The biggest change is the implementation of the Milestone Inspection. This inspection is mandated to occur 30 years after initial construction of the building, and again every 10 years after that. For buildings within 3 miles of the coastline, and therefore closer to more potentially corrosive elements, the inspection must happen 25 years after initial construction and every 10 years after that.  

Per the statute from the Florida Senate,“ ‘Milestone inspection’ means a structural inspection of a building, including an inspection of load-bearing walls and the primary structural members and primary structural systems....” (Senate) Exterior windows and doors are an integral part of the structure of a condo building, so they are one of the necessary components to be inspected thoroughly.  

Per the Florida Building Code Milestone Inspection Guidelines, “Window and door condition is of considerable importance with respect to two considerations. Continued leakage may have resulted in other adjacent damage and deteriorating anchorage may result in loss of the entire unit in the event of severe windstorms even short of hurricane velocity.” 

Once an inspection is complete, building associations have 365 days in order to complete the designated repairs in a manner that makes the building structurally sound and up to code once again.  

The requirements of the Milestone Inspection are not just important to those condo buildings approaching the 25 or 30 year deadline. It is vital that buildings undergoing any construction project, whether it is being done in individual units or to the whole building, understand what components are important to structural integrity and what may cause deterioration.  

At Window & Door Replacement Company, we take many precautions while conducting work on condo buildings in order to ensure safety and security during our work and for decades to come. Some of these precautions include:  

  • Obtaining x-rays via a 3rd party to determine locations of post-tension cables 

  • Using shorter fasteners and ‘safety chucks’ that automatically shuts off in the unlikely event a drill bit encounters a post tension cable during installation 

  • Verifying wind load calculations for each floor, unit, and window/door opening via a 3rd party engineer to ensure proposed products exceed current building code requirements 

  • Using products with stainless steel fasteners, 2605 paint finishes, and appropriate large or small missile rated glass to ensure longevity of all window and door components 

All our condo projects, regardless of size and scope, are managed and reviewed by Roldan ‘Ro’ Romero, our Director of Sales and Condo Specialist. Ro has over 20 years of experience with impact window and door projects in South Florida condos and is unmatched in his expertise on the requirements of the Florida Building Code as it pertains to oceanfront condos. Ro has developed our company’s comprehensive condo project standards to ensure every project meets current standards, and help safeguard against potential code changes in the future. 

Window & Door Replacement Company is the unparalleled solution for upgrading your building’s hurricane protection to impact windows and doors. Visit our Condos Page to learn more about our specialty condo services and to request a comprehensive project review with Ro.