Barrier Status
Exterior Cladding
Weather Barrier
Flashing
Sealant
Home/ Florida/ Broward/ Water Intrusion
Broward County Contractors

Keep It Dry

Hurricane rain doesn't fall down - it flies sideways. Watch how each layer of your building stops water, and what happens when barriers fail.

Calculate Wind Loads See Barriers
Increase Rain Intensity
Rain: 0 in/hr
Exterior Cladding Weather Barrier Flashing Sealant All barriers holding
Wind-Driven Rain Intensity 0 psf

Four Layers of Defense

If one barrier fails, the next one catches the water

1
Exterior Cladding
The first thing water hits. Stucco, siding, brick - whatever covers the outside of your building. Designed to shed most water but not 100% waterproof.
Example: Stucco with proper drainage texture, vinyl siding with overlap joints
2
Weather-Resistive Barrier
The hidden hero behind your cladding. House wrap or building paper that lets vapor out but keeps liquid water from reaching the structure.
Example: Tyvek house wrap, Grade D building paper, fluid-applied barriers
3
Flashing
Metal or membrane pieces that direct water away at vulnerable spots - where walls meet roofs, around windows, at foundation lines.
Example: Window head flashing, kickout flashing, through-wall flashing
4
Sealants & Caulking
The final defense at joints and penetrations. Fills gaps that rigid materials can't bridge. Most likely to fail over time.
Example: Window perimeter caulk, door frame sealant, penetration boots

How Windows Are Tested

HVHZ requires TAS 202 water testing - simulating hurricane conditions

Window mounted in pressure chamber with calibrated spray rack

15%
of Design Pressure
15 min
Test Duration
8.8
Inches/Hour Rain
0.0
Allowed Leakage (oz)

Common Questions

What contractors ask about water intrusion

Why is water intrusion a wind load concern?
Hurricane-force winds drive rain horizontally, not vertically. This wind-driven rain can penetrate tiny gaps in windows, doors, and walls that normal rain would never reach. A building must resist both wind pressure AND water infiltration - and the wind load calculation determines what level of water resistance is needed.
What are the layers of water protection in a building?
A properly built building has multiple water barriers: 1) Primary barrier - the exterior cladding (stucco, siding), 2) Weather-resistive barrier (house wrap or building paper), 3) Flashing at penetrations and transitions, 4) Sealants and caulking around openings. If one layer fails, the next layer catches the water.
How do impact windows prevent water intrusion?
Impact windows are tested for both impact resistance AND water infiltration. They must pass water tests at specific pressure levels matching their design pressure rating. A window rated for -60 psf wind must also resist water at that pressure. Standard windows often fail water tests at much lower pressures.
What happens if water gets into the building during a hurricane?
Water damage often exceeds structural damage in hurricanes. Wet insulation loses R-value and can grow mold. Drywall absorbs water and crumbles. Electronics are destroyed. A building that survives structurally but floods inside may still be a total loss. This is why water resistance is tested alongside wind resistance.
Are there different water resistance requirements for HVHZ in Broward?
Yes. HVHZ areas require products tested to higher water infiltration standards. Miami-Dade and Broward HVHZ require specific water testing protocols (TAS 202) that exceed the rest of Florida. Products must demonstrate water resistance at 15% of their design pressure, tested for 15 minutes with 8.8 inches/hour simulated rainfall.

Design for Water AND Wind

Get wind load calculations that account for Broward County's water infiltration requirements

Calculate Now