Preparing Florida Product Approvals for the 2026 Florida Building Code

16 Oct 2026

Reviewing Existing Approvals, Test Data and Documentation Before the 9th Edition Takes Effect

The 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code is scheduled to take effect on December 31, 2026. Manufacturers with existing Florida Product Approvals will need to confirm that those approvals comply with the new edition.

For some products, existing test data and technical documentation may continue to support approval. Others may require revised evaluation reports, engineering analyses, updated supporting documents, or additional testing. The place to start is the approval currently on file and the technical information supporting it.

Review the Existing Approval and Supporting Documentation

A Florida Product Approval may rely on evaluation reports, test reports, engineering calculations, drawings, installation instructions, and quality assurance information. Those documents should be compared with the requirements that apply under the 2026 Florida Building Code.

Changes in referenced standards, design requirements, testing criteria or other applicable provisions may affect the technical basis of an existing approval. Manufacturers should also review whether the product being sold today still matches the product represented in the approval. Changes to materials, dimensions, fasteners, substrates, installation methods or available configurations may need to be addressed in the update.

Determine Whether Existing Test Data Still Applies

A new code edition does not automatically mean a product needs to be retested. The question is whether the existing data still supports the applicable requirements and product configurations.

That review includes the test standard and edition used, the configuration that was tested and the scope of the resulting report. If the available data does not fully address the 2026 requirements, the manufacturer may need additional documentation, engineering analysis or new testing.

Intertek can review existing test reports, calculations, and other supporting information to identify areas that need additional support before an approval revision is prepared.

When Additional Testing Is Needed

If existing information does not support the applicable requirements, additional testing may be needed. The scope depends on the product and the approval being pursued.

For building-envelope products used in Florida, testing can include wind resistance, impact resistance, cyclic loading, water penetration, structural performance or other applicable requirements. Intertek provides testing for Florida Product Approval and Miami-Dade requirements, including TAS 201 impact testing and TAS 203 cyclic wind pressure testing, along with other wind and building-envelope performance services.

Establishing the approval path before testing begins can help align the program with the code requirements and the product configurations the manufacturer wants covered.

Updating Evaluation Reports and Product Approvals

Intertek Florida Building Code Reports summarize a product or system’s conformance with applicable Florida Building Code requirements and can support the Florida Product Approval process.

For existing products, the work may involve updating an evaluation report to the 2026 code, reviewing product changes made since the previous approval or preparing documentation for a revision. New products can move through testing, technical evaluation, and quality assurance as part of the initial approval process.

2026 Product Approval Fee Waiver

There is a 2026 fee-waiver period for qualifying Florida Product Approval submittals demonstrating compliance with the 9th Edition, as well as qualifying 8th Edition submittals, from July 1 through December 30, 2026. The waiver applies to the state product approval application fee. Testing, engineering, evaluation, and other technical work needed to support the application are separate.

Manufacturers planning an affirmation or revision can use this period to review existing approvals and determine what technical work is needed before the new code takes effect.

Preparing for December 31, 2026

Manufacturers with Florida Product Approvals can use the months ahead to confirm what needs to be updated before the 9th Edition takes effect.

Intertek Building & Construction supports Florida Product Approval updates, Florida Building Code Reports, technical reviews, product testing, engineering evaluations and approval documentation.