The official Florida product approval package for the FullView Bahama Shutter from Croci North America (FL21863-R3), an impact-rated aluminum hurricane shutter approved under the 2023 Florida Building Code. Bahama shutters hinge at the top and prop open at an angle over the window like an awning, providing shade, privacy, and airflow on ordinary days, then lower flat and latch down for storm protection. The package includes the state DBPR approval record naming the manufacturer, the licensed Florida engineer of record, and the demanding standards the shutter passed (ASTM E1886, E1996, and E330, plus Miami-Dade protocols TAS 201, 202, and 203). Notably, it is approved for use statewide, including the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade and Broward), with design pressures up to +78/−95 psf. The remaining pages are engineer-sealed drawings, beam schedules, and anchor schedules.
Croci FullView Bahama Shutter (Florida Approval FL21863-R3)
This is the official Florida product approval package for the FullView Bahama Shutter from Croci North America, an impact-resistant aluminum hurricane shutter in the classic tropical “bahama” style. Bahama shutters mount along the top of a window and prop outward at an angle, like a louvered awning. In everyday use they shade the glass from direct sun, add privacy, and let breezes pass through the louvers — a look that’s become iconic in coastal and island architecture. When a storm approaches, the shutter lowers flat against the opening and latches down to form a tested hurricane barrier. Because they stay mounted year-round, there’s nothing to store and nothing to put up each season. If you’d rather not read through all the technical pages, here’s a plain-language overview of what this package contains and why it matters.
State Approval Record. The first pages are the record from Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) confirming this product is approved for use under the 2023 Florida Building Code. Approval number FL21863-R3 shows the manufacturer (Croci North America of Fort Myers, Florida), the current approval status, and the Florida Professional Engineer who evaluated and sealed the product — Frank L. Bennardo, license number PE-0046549. This is the paperwork building officials and inspectors look for when confirming that an installed product is code-compliant.
What “Impact-Rated” and “HVHZ-Approved” Mean. This shutter was tested and passed the toughest hurricane protocols Florida uses — the Miami-Dade large-missile and cyclic-pressure protocols (TAS 201, 202, and 203) along with the national ASTM E1886, E1996, and E330 standards. In plain terms, the shutter was struck with flying debris and then subjected to thousands of cycles of alternating wind pressure to simulate the sustained battering of a hurricane, and it held. Because it passed these Miami-Dade protocols, the product is approved for use anywhere in the state, including the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) that covers Miami-Dade and Broward counties — the strictest wind zone in the country. Not all shutters carry HVHZ approval, so this is a meaningful distinction.
Important: Lower and Latch Before a Storm. One thing worth knowing about bahama shutters: because they normally sit propped open, this system is designed to be lowered flat and locked when a hurricane warning is issued. The shutter is not meant to remain in the open, propped position during a storm. A permanent label on the shutter reminds occupants of this, and closing it is a quick, one-step action.
Product Ratings and Sizing. The approval documents include beam and anchor schedules that tell your installer exactly how large a shutter can be for a given wind load and how the supporting beams and anchors must be sized and spaced. The system supports single-panel and multi-panel spans, with slat spans up to roughly 96 inches and overall widths that can run essentially unlimited when support beams are used. Design pressures reach up to +78/−95 psf depending on configuration. Because performance depends on size, layout, and mounting surface, the exact rating for your installation comes from these engineered tables rather than a single number.
Installation and Mounting Options. The bulk of the package is detailed, engineer-sealed installation drawings — the exact instructions a contractor follows to install the product correctly. It covers typical and build-out mounting, the support-arm arrangements that hold the shutter at its open angle, side-closure details, and anchor schedules specifying approved fasteners, embedment, and spacing for concrete, hollow block, and wood-frame structures.
Why This Matters to You. When you choose the Croci FullView Bahama Shutter, you’re getting independently tested, engineer-certified hurricane protection that also delivers shade, privacy, and tropical style every day of the year. This document is your proof that the product meets code and your reference for how it should be installed. Keep it with your home or building records; it may be requested during permitting, inspection, insurance reviews, or a future property sale.
If you have questions about whether Bahama shutters are the right fit for your property, or how they compare to other options like panels, screens, or impact-rated windows, our team is happy to walk you through it.