The acronyms and codes you will see on a Miami-Dade contractor proposal, decoded.
- NOA
- Notice of Acceptance. Miami-Dade Product Control approval certifying a product (tile, window, soffit) passes HVHZ testing. Required on most exterior building products in Miami-Dade.
- HVHZ
- High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. Florida Building Code designation covering Miami-Dade and Broward, mandating stricter wind-load and impact-resistance requirements. See our HVHZ guide.
- Wind Mitigation
- Inspection form (OIR-B1-1802) used by Florida insurers to assess hurricane-resistance features of your home. A good Wind Mit can cut homeowners insurance 20 to 50%. Costs $125 to $300.
- 4-Point Inspection
- Insurance underwriting inspection covering roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC. Required by most Florida carriers for homes over 25 to 30 years old.
- Tin tag / dry-in
- Mid-roof inspection in Miami-Dade verifying underlayment and fastener pattern before tile or shingle goes on.
- Re-roof
- Tear-off and replacement of the entire roof covering. In Miami-Dade, the 25% rule says if more than 25% of a roof is damaged within a 12-month window, the entire roof must be brought to current code.
- Variable-speed pump
- Pool pump required by Florida code (since 2011) for residential pools above a certain horsepower. Replaces older single-speed pumps. Saves 50 to 80% of pool electricity.
- Heat pump
- Pool or whole-home AC unit that moves heat instead of generating it. Standard for pool heating in Miami-Dade because gas is overkill.
- SEER2 / EER2
- 2023 Department of Energy AC efficiency standards. SEER2 = Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio v2. Minimum 14.3 SEER2 for southern US, but most coastal Miami homes go 16+ SEER2 to handle year-round load.
- R-32 / R-454B
- New refrigerants replacing R-410A in 2025+ AC equipment, per US EPA AIM Act. Lower global warming potential. Most Miami HVAC contractors are now installing R-454B.
- PEX vs Copper
- Re-pipe options. PEX is faster, cheaper, and resists scale; copper is longer-lived (70+ years) and stiffer. Most Miami re-pipes today are PEX-A or PEX-B; copper still common in renovations of older homes.
- Trenchless sewer
- Pipe-bursting or pipe-lining technology that replaces a sewer line without digging up the yard or driveway. 2 to 3 times faster than traditional dig-and-replace; 30 to 60% more expensive but worth it under a Coral Gables driveway.
- Hurricane shutters
- NOA-approved coverings for openings. Types: accordion, roll-down, panel, Bahama, colonial. Cost from $40 to $80 per square foot installed.
- Impact glass
- Laminated glass with a polymer interlayer (typically 0.090" or thicker SGP) that holds together when struck. Replaces shutters in homes built or upgraded post-2002.
- CILB
- Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. State authority issuing CGC, CBC, CRC, CCC, CFC, CAC, EC, CPC, CMC licenses.
- DBPR
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Houses CILB and runs MyFloridaLicense.com.
- Qualifier
- The licensed individual who personally signs for and supervises a contracting business. The license travels with the qualifier, not the company.
- Workers Comp Exemption
- Florida-specific carve-out allowing officers/owners of small construction firms to opt out of workers comp insurance. Verify exemptions on MyFloridaLicense.com, no exemption + no policy = high risk.
- COI
- Certificate of Insurance. Single-page summary of a contractor's insurance policies. Always request from the agent, not the contractor.
- Florida Statute 489
- The construction contracting law. Sets the 10% deposit cap, license requirements, and discipline procedures.