Bo Copeland, Owner, Hogtown Roofing and Construction LLC - October 2026
The Ninth Edition of the Florida Building Code takes effect December 31, 2026 and, while the tile and shingle trades have had the spotlight in most of the coverage so far, metal roofing contractors have their own set of changes to plan for – some of them significant enough to affect sourcing, pricing and jobsite documentation starting now, not on New Year’s Eve.
The single biggest change affecting exposed fastener metal panel installers is Table 1711.1 Corrosion Resistance of Fasteners and Connectors (see below). FRSA Technical Director, Mike Silvers, released a great article outlining these details in the August 2026 issue of Florida Roofing. The short version is that the fasteners, clips and connectors within the distances and conditions referenced in these tables may require corrosion resistance not previously required. This is not a punishment; this is just a good practice for these conditions and we, as roofing contractors, should be installing these corrosion resistant products already.
“Coastal shoreline” isn’t defined yet. There’s an active push for clarity on where the 300/3,000-foot measurements start, leaving a lot of room for interpretation. When in doubt, assume it’s within these setbacks and use the proper corrosion resistant products for your application needs.
Non-ferrous fasteners (copper, bronze, aluminum) aren’t addressed at all in the new language. If you’re specifying those, you’re relying on the referenced standards, product approvals or manufacturer instructions – not this new table.
Until fastener compliance is nailed down on paper, include language in your purchase orders specifying corrosion-resistance needs the fastener must meet, if you can’t confirm the requirement, default to stainless.
New Sections 1504.3.1.1 (Building) and R905.10.4.1 (Residential) require metal hip and ridge to be tested for uplift resistance under ANSI/MCA FTS-1. To date, there has never been a requirement for this, which means all manufacturers selling in the state will now be required to have this testing completed for each of the system assemblies.
This too is not a punishment for the metal guys but a much-needed standard. Too often hip and ridge assemblies are not properly attached, resulting in these trims blowing off in wind events. By requiring a testing standard, all manufacturers will now properly prescribe how their systems must be installed to meet these requirements, resulting in a better roof system for your client and less callbacks.
The key take away is it has not yet been determined how the state or local municipalities will govern these tests. I expect that manufacturers will be scrambling to get products approved through FTS-1 testing over the next several months and especially when they announce how they will manage the requirement. Additionally, expect building officials to require detailed manuals or installation guides with permit packages to verify hip and ridge assemblies in the field if no clear direction is issued on how they will be managed.
Section 1507.4.6.1 (and its residential twin, R905.10.6.1) spell out drip edge installation for metal roof panels in much greater detail than the current code:
■Minimum 3-inch lap between drip edge sections
■ Eave drip edges must extend 1/2 inch below the sheathing and 2 inches back onto the roof deck
■ Drip edge installed over the nailed underlayment
■ Self-adhering underlayment (ASTM D1970) is permitted over a primed drip edge flange
■ Mechanical fastening at a maximum of 4 inches on center
None of this is new but it’s the kind of thing that turns into a callback or a failed inspection when it’s assumed rather than documented. Update your installation specs and field checklists now so your crews aren’t relearning this in the field after December 31.
The rule development process still has moving parts – a “glitch” and errata comment cycle runs through mid-October, and the final rule hearing date is yet to be determined. That means there’s still time to weigh in if any of this affects your business in a way you think the Florida Building Commission hasn’t fully considered.
In addition, FRSA and BOAF are partnering on four-hour CE seminars specifically on the Ninth Edition roofing changes and metal roofing fundamentals, including a side-by-side comparison of the Building and Residential roofing chapters. These seminars are available to roofing contractors as well and are a great opportunity for you to sharpen your knowledge and get to meet some of the building officials you may encounter in the field. For more information on these seminars, please visit the calendar section of FRSA’s website, www.floridaroof.com. FRSA members receive a discount on the seminars.
Bo Copeland has been in the metal roofing industry for over 13 years and has spent most of his career in metal roofing manufacturing, starting with Gulf Coast Supply as an Outside sales representative and later as inside sales manager. Bo then worked for integrity metals as business development manager, where his role was much broader, growing the company with sales, training, technical product and new product development. He teaches several CE accredited metal roofing courses and is a licensed roofing and building contractor. Bo recently started his own company, Hogtown Roofing and Construction. He serves on FRSA’s Board of Directors, as Secretary-Treasurer on the Executive Committee, is active on the Codes and Governmental Affairs Committees and is the chair of FRSA’s Educational Foundation. He’s also an Earl Blank Memorial Heart Award recipient.