Impact windows and shutters on the wind mitigation form

What counts as an opening

The form says question 9 includes all openings in the wall and roof, including windows, doors, sliding glass doors, skylights and garage doors. Gable roof vents and other roof vents are not included. All openings must be in good condition.

The inspector fills in a chart with an X in each row for every form of protection in use on each type of opening. Glazed openings (those with glass) are split into windows or entry doors, garage doors, skylights and glass block; non-glazed openings are entry doors and garage doors. Citizens' guide says inspectors "must document every exterior opening" and that opening protection credit "will be granted based on the weakest form of protection indicated in the chart."

One weak opening sets the answer

Question 9 asks: "What is the WEAKEST form of wind-borne debris protection installed on the structure?" Answer A requires that "all glazed openings are protected," at a minimum, with impact-resistant coverings or products listed as wind-borne debris protection devices in the product approval system of the State of Florida or Miami-Dade County. Answer B uses the same wording for its lighter missile tests, and answer C requires all glazed openings to be covered with qualifying plywood or OSB.

Answer X, "None or Some Glazed Openings," is for a home where one or more glazed openings are rated Level X or Z in the chart. Citizens' guide says an X answer is entered as "None" in its systems.

Solid doors and garage doors: the .1, .2 and .3 answers

After the A, B, C or N rating for the glass, the form adds a number for the non-glazed openings. Level D in the chart is a verified non-glazed entry or garage door showing compliance with ASTM E 330, ANSI/DASMA 108 or PA/TAS 202 for wind pressure resistance. Under answer A:

• A.1: all non-glazed openings are classified as Level A, or there are no non-glazed openings.
• A.2: one or more non-glazed openings are Level D, and none are Level B, C, N or X.
• A.3: one or more non-glazed openings are Level B, C, N, X or Z.

Answers B, C and N follow the same pattern with their own levels. Citizens' guide says the inspection must indicate A.1, A.2 or A.3 (or B.1, B.2 or B.3) and include proof of the testing standards used.

Palm Beach County is outside the HVHZ

The form's first question describes the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) as Miami-Dade or Broward counties. Citizens' guide says option A.1 is the only one that receives the Class A premium discount in the HVHZ, while A.1, A.2 and A.3 all receive it outside the HVHZ. It also says a Level B premium discount does not apply to property in the HVHZ, and it enters a current FORTIFIED Home Silver or Gold certificate as Class A in or out of the HVHZ. Citizens adds that opening protection levels and the credit granted "can vary by regional building codes."

So for a Palm Beach County home, Citizens' entry tables give Class A for A.1, A.2 and A.3, and Class B for B.1, B.2 and B.3, with the B.3 exception when Z is marked in the chart.

The test standards the inspector looks for

For Level A, the form lists Miami-Dade County PA 201, 202 and 203; Florida Building Code TAS 201, 202 and 203; ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996; and SSTD 12. For skylights only it lists ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996, and for garage doors only, ANSI/DASMA 115. For Level B, it lists ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996 (4.5-lb large missile), SSTD 12 (4 to 8 lb) and, for skylights, ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996 with a 2 to 4.5 lb missile.

Citizens' guide says 201, 202 and 203 are the testing standards that show whether a product, door or window meets code, and that these numbers are on stickers inside door jambs, on garage doors, or etched into the windows.

Proof: why paperwork matters

The form says any documentation used to validate a mitigation attribute must accompany it, and at least one photograph or document must be attached for each attribute marked in questions 2 through 9. A FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate may be used to validate the answers to questions 4 to 6, 8 and 9. Answer N is labeled "unverified shutter systems with no documentation": coverings that don't meet A, B or C, or systems that appear to meet A or B with no documentation of compliance.

Citizens lists acceptable documentation to give your inspector: receipts or other documents that include product specifications, work orders and invoices, roofing permits, and notice-of-acceptance letters for mitigation products, which it says usually come from installers or manufacturers. It says documentation helps you get discounts for features "that may not be clearly marked or easily visible."

Florida Statutes s. 553.842(5) lists windows, shutters, exterior doors, skylights and impact protective systems among the product categories the Florida Building Commission approves. It says a product may not be advertised, sold or marketed as hurricane, windstorm or impact protection from wind-borne debris unless it is approved under that section or s. 553.8425. To look up a product approval number or a window permit, see how to find your permits in Palm Beach County.

Storm shutters you put up only for storms

Citizens says its wind inspection covers exterior and garage doors, windows, skylights and storm shutters or panels, "installed or stored on the property." If you can't attend, Citizens says the representative you choose should know where to find any stored storm shutters or panels.

OIR's notice of premium discounts (form OIR-B1-1655) describes two shutter types: "Intermediate Type," strong enough to meet half the old Miami-Dade building code standards, and "Hurricane Protection Type," strong enough to meet the current Miami-Dade building code standards.

Plywood panels (Level C)

Level C requires all glazed openings to be covered with plywood or OSB meeting Table 1609.1.2 of the 2007 Florida Building Code. Citizens' guide says discounts are not applied when C is indicated, though plywood panels may meet Citizens' insurability requirements for opening protection in the wind-borne debris region, and it points to Rule 208 of its underwriting guidelines. The same guide says the Rev. 04/26 form is required when verification of opening protection is needed to meet Citizens' underwriting requirements.

Damaged windows and doors (Level Z)

Level Z is new on Rev. 04/26 (see what changed on the form). The form says buildings with openings that need replacement "do not qualify for wind mitigation rate differentials, regardless of the presence/absence of other features." Citizens' guide says damaged openings must be remediated before opening protection credit should be applied, and that a new form will be required if credit is requested after the repair.

What opening protection can be worth

OIR's credit table, form OIR-B1-1699, is listed on OIR's site as effective October 2006 with updates pending. Its rows for a home whose roof covering does not meet the 2001 code, with the weakest deck nailing (6d nails at 6"/12"), no secondary water resistance, a 2% hurricane deductible and terrain B, show these credits for no protection, "Basic" and "Hurricane" protection of windows or all openings:

• Other (non-hip) roof, toe nails: 0%, 35% and 44%.
• Hip roof, toe nails: 47%, 62% and 66%.
• Other (non-hip) roof, clips: 35%, 47% and 50%.

Percentages are OIR-B1-1699 values rounded to whole numbers.

OIR-B1-1655 says the discounts apply only to the hurricane-wind portion of your policy and are not calculated cumulatively. Florida Statutes s. 627.0629(1) says residential property rate filings must include discounts for features that include opening protection and window, door and skylight strength, so ask your insurer for its own figures. See how much a wind mitigation inspection saves.

Grants for impact windows and doors

Florida Statutes s. 215.5586(2)(e) says that when recommended by an initial hurricane mitigation inspection, My Safe Florida Home grants may be used for opening protection improvements, including exterior doors, garage doors, windows and skylights. Section 215.5586(2)(g) says the department may require improvements to all openings as a condition of reimbursing a grant. Under s. 215.5586(2)(c), grants are matched $1 from the applicant for every $2 from the state, up to a maximum state contribution of $10,000; s. 215.5586(2)(h) says low-income applicants can receive up to $10,000 with no match. The work must have all required local permits and inspections and be done by properly licensed contractors (s. 215.5586(2)(d)). See My Safe Florida Home vs. a private inspection.

Before your inspection

• Gather paperwork: receipts with product specifications, invoices, permits and notice-of-acceptance letters for your windows, doors and shutters (Citizens).
• Get shutters out: make sure stored storm shutters or panels can be found (Citizens).
• Check every opening: the form rates garage doors, skylights and sliding glass doors too, and Citizens says damaged openings must be fixed before opening protection credit is applied.
• Compare prices: our Palm Beach County prices page lists wind mitigation prices published by inspectors, and the city pages list inspectors by area.

FAQ

Do impact windows lower home insurance in Florida?

They can lower the hurricane-wind part of the premium. Florida Statutes s. 627.0629(1) requires residential rate filings to include discounts for opening protection, and OIR-B1-1655 says mitigation discounts apply only to the hurricane-wind portion of the policy. Question 9 of the OIR-B1-1802 is where an inspector verifies impact-rated windows and doors.

Do hurricane shutters count on the wind mitigation form?

Yes, if they can be verified. The form's Level A and B ratings include impact-resistant coverings listed in the Florida or Miami-Dade product approval system. Shutters that appear to meet A or B but have no documentation are rated N, which Citizens enters as None.

Does plywood count as opening protection?

Plywood or OSB meeting Table 1609.1.2 of the 2007 Florida Building Code is Level C on the form. Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide says discounts are not applied for Level C, though it may meet Citizens' insurability requirements in the wind-borne debris region.

Does one window without impact glass cancel the credit?

The form rates the weakest form of protection. Answer X applies when one or more glazed openings have no windborne debris protection, and Citizens' guide enters an X answer as None.

Does my garage door matter on the wind mitigation form?

Yes. Question 9 covers garage doors, and for Level A the form lists ANSI/DASMA 115 for garage doors. Non-glazed garage and entry doors also set the .1, .2 or .3 part of the answer.

Sources

• Florida OIR, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), question 9 and the opening protection level chart: floir.gov (PDF) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Citizens Wind Loss Mitigation Guide (Rev. 04/26), sections 9 to 9N, X & Z: PDF (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Citizens Property Insurance, Your Wind Inspection (what the inspector checks, stored shutters, documents): citizensfla.com (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Notice of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation, OIR-B1-1655 (Rev. 02/10): floir.gov (PDF) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Windstorm Mitigation Discounts; Single Family Residences, OIR-B1-1699: floir.gov (XLS) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Wind Mitigation Resources (form list and dates): floir.gov (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 553.842 (2026), product evaluation and approval: flsenate.gov (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 627.0629 (2026), residential property insurance; rate filings: leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 26, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 215.5586 (2026), My Safe Florida Home Program, subsection (2): leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 26, 2026)