A Miami-Dade Notice of Acceptance (NOA) means a screen product passed Miami-Dade County’s wind load and impact testing and is approved for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. Standard mesh, the kind used for everyday sun or bug screens, has no storm rating and isn’t built to stay in place in hurricane-force wind.
What is a Miami-Dade NOA?
A Notice of Acceptance is a product approval issued by Miami-Dade County after a product passes testing to the standards required in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, which covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties. An active NOA means there’s documented, independently verified test data behind the product, not just a manufacturer calling it “hurricane” or “storm” rated.
What is standard mesh?
Standard mesh, whether it’s a basic insect screen or a light sun screen, is made for everyday comfort, not wind resistance. It has no wind or impact rating and isn’t engineered to stay anchored during a storm. In hurricane-force wind it will usually tear, blow out, or pull loose.
NOA-approved screens vs. standard mesh
| Miami-Dade NOA Screen | Standard Mesh | |
|---|---|---|
| Tested for wind and impact | Yes, independently | No |
| Approved for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone | Yes | No |
| Everyday sun and bug protection | Yes | Yes |
| Storm protection | Yes, within its approved rating | No |
| Paperwork | NOA number you can look up | None |
Why it matters outside Miami-Dade and Broward
The NOA is required in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, but homeowners in Palm Beach County and beyond use it as a benchmark too, because it’s the strictest product approval in Florida. A screen that holds an NOA has cleared a higher bar than one that’s never been tested. See our Palm Beach County hurricane screens and Broward County hurricane screens pages for local details.
How to check what you’re getting
Ask for the NOA number on the exact product being installed, not just a general claim that it’s hurricane rated. An NOA covers a specific product and a specific installation method, so the same fabric mounted a different way may not carry the rating. That’s also why side guides matter. See zipper-track vs. cable-guided hurricane screens and DIY vs. professional installation.
Browse our hurricane screen systems or request a free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every hurricane screen need a Miami-Dade NOA?
An NOA is required for approval in the High Velocity Hurricane Zone, which is Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Outside that zone it isn’t legally required, but it’s still the clearest sign a product has been independently tested.
Can standard mesh be upgraded to a hurricane screen?
No. Hurricane screens use different fabric, framing, and side guides. Upgrading means installing a rated screen system, not reinforcing existing mesh.
How do I verify a product’s NOA?
Ask your installer for the NOA number and look it up in Miami-Dade County’s public product approval records.
