I performed a Wind Mitigation Inspection for a client and had images of the steel shutters and an image of the “Miami-Dade Approved” stamp. (That was the only markings on the shutters). The shutters are in pristine condition.
The home was built in 2006 and there is a record for the permit for the new home showing the shutters being inspected and passing, so they were up to 2006 FBC.
However, my client’s insurance company is not accepting this “Miami-Dade Approved” Stamp as acceptable.
In this video, it says it’s ok:
Jump to about 2:10 (the video is focusing on the garage door, but he’s talking about the steel shutters, at about 2:18 he simply says that “they say Miami-Dade approved, so they will work”).
I have done over 1,500 wind mitigation inspections and this is the first time I have ever had an insurance company deny credit for shutters that have a “Miami-Dade Approved” Stamp on them (especially that passed inspection according to 2006 Florida Building code).
What should I do here?
Has anyone ever had this happen to them? If so, how did you handle it?
If they/them/someone has the product approval sheet or info, you can submit that (get it from the manufacturer, builder, whomever…).
You can also look it up on the Florida Approval site.
I know that’s what they want, unfortunately it’s not stamped on the shutters… but according to InterNACHI’s own training video that I posted above, “Miami-Dade Approved” should be good enough. And like I said, I’ve never had an insurance company deny someone with a “Miami-Dade Approved” stamp on their shutters before. You’d think with a permit to back it up showing it was inspected and passed according to 2006 FBC, that would be sufficient.
It looks like that shutter company is no longer in business, but it’s old website redirects to a new company’s website. I guess we could ask for documentation and hope that they have it, but this just seems a bit absurd.
While I can’t say for sure, the insurance industry in our State is in huge upheaval. Finding ways to deny mitigation features (or to prevent fraud) is likely high on their list of revenue boosters.
