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Active Project — In County Review

Orange County Screen Enclosure:
130 MPH Wind Design, Start to Permit

An 8’×40’ attached screen enclosure in Orlando required full structural engineering under ASCE 7-22 and FBC 2023 — with plan review comments resolved directly by the PE so the homeowner never had to deal with the building department.

Location Orange County, FL
Structure 8′×40′ Screen Enclosure
Design Wind Vult = 130 MPH
Code ASCE 7-22 / FBC 2023
Status Permit in Review
Engineering Parameters

Project Specifications at a Glance

Orange County falls within the Florida High-Velocity Hurricane Zone transition area — not HVHZ, but the 130 MPH design wind speed means every connection detail must be documented and stamped. Standard screen enclosure kits require engineering letters; this project needed full permit drawings.

130 MPH
Ultimate Design Wind
Vult per ASCE 7-22 Fig. 26.5-1B for Orange County
Exp. B
Wind Exposure Category
Suburban terrain — typical single-family residential lot
8′ × 40′
Enclosure Footprint
Attached to existing home; spans rear of structure along pool deck
FBC 2023
Building Code
Florida Building Code 7th Ed. — residential chapter and structural provisions
ASCE 7-22
Load Standard
Wind, dead, live, and component & cladding pressure calculations
Same Day
Proposal Turnaround
Homeowner received scope and fee within 3 hours of first contact
What Made This Project Complex

Three Engineering Challenges Solved

A simple screen enclosure sounds straightforward — aluminum posts, screen panels, roof screens. But in a 130 MPH wind zone, each element becomes a calculated load path that must be proven on paper before the county accepts the drawings.

1. Component & Cladding Pressures on Screen

Screen fabric is a C&C cladding element under ASCE 7-22 Chapter 30. At 130 MPH, the net design pressure on a 320 sq ft screen face exceeds 18 psf in the corner zones. We sized the frame members and screen attachment to resist uplift, outward push, and torsion simultaneously.

2. Attachment to Existing Concrete Block Wall

The enclosure attaches to a 2001-vintage CBS (concrete block) wall. Without as-built drawings, we specified anchor bolt embedment, edge distance, and grout-fill requirements that meet FBC Table 1807.3.2 — ensuring the county would not reject the attachment detail.

3. Footing Design Without a Soil Report

Orange County allows a presumptive bearing capacity of 2,000 psf for residential lots — no geotechnical report required. We designed spread footings at that value and noted the assumption on the drawings to avoid the county requesting a soil boring, which would have cost the homeowner an extra $800 and 3–4 weeks.

Project Timeline

From First Call to Permit Submission

Total elapsed time from homeowner contact to permit application submitted: 6 business days.

1
Day 1

Homeowner Contact & Scoping

Homeowner sent dimensions, photos, and county name via WhatsApp. Same-day proposal issued: scope, deliverables, fee, and estimated turnaround time. Project approved the same afternoon.

2
Days 2–3

Wind Load Calculations

Full ASCE 7-22 wind load analysis: Main Wind Force Resisting System (MWFRS) for the overall frame plus Component & Cladding (C&C) pressures for individual screen panels and roof screens. Exposure B parameters verified against the FEMA wind map for Orange County.

3
Days 3–4

Structural Drawings Prepared

PE-stamped permit set: site plan, floor plan, elevations, foundation plan, connection details, and general notes. Drawings prepared to Orange County building department format — correct title block, FL PE seal, and wet signature on each sheet.

4
Day 5

Permit Package Assembled

Full permit package compiled: engineering drawings, calculation packet, product approval numbers for screen fabric and aluminum framing, Notice of Commencement (NOC) checklist, and contractor license copy checklist provided to homeowner.

5
Day 6

Application Submitted to Orange County

Permit submitted via Orange County’s online portal (MyPermitNow). Application accepted and assigned to a plan reviewer. Estimated first comment cycle: 10–15 business days.

⌛
In Review

Plan Review & Comment Response — In Progress

The application is currently in the county’s plan review queue. When the reviewer issues comments, Franca Engineering responds directly to the building department — the homeowner does not need to interpret technical objections or coordinate revisions.

Plan Review Comments — How We Handle Them

The Part That Stops Most Homeowners

County plan review comments are written in engineering and code language. Homeowners who pull permits without an engineer typically get comments like the examples below — and have no idea how to respond. We handle this for every project, at no extra charge.

Example Comment — Attachment Detail
Sheet S-2, Detail 3: Provide anchor bolt design confirming edge distance and embedment meet ACI 318-19 Section 17.7 for 130 MPH wind uplift condition. Minimum edge distance calculation required.
Anchor bolts are 1/2" diameter A307 at 8" embedment, 3" edge distance minimum. ACI 318-19 §17.7 check confirms design strength (φNa = 4,820 lb) exceeds factored demand (Nua = 3,140 lb) per ASCE 7-22 LRFD wind load combination. Revised detail D-4 added to Sheet S-2. See revised calc pages 14–16.
Example Comment — Product Approval
Provide Florida Product Approval number for screen fabric. NOA or statewide approval must list wind load rating equal to or exceeding design pressure of 18.4 psf.
Screen fabric is Phifer SunTex 80, Florida Product Approval FL #5892-R5. Approval covers C&C design pressures to 22 psf. Approval document attached. Product Approval schedule table updated on Sheet G-1.
What this means for you: You receive a notification that the permit was approved — not a stack of technical objections to decode. The engineer handles every round of comments until the permit is issued.
The Engineer Behind This Project

Structural PE With Hands-On Florida Permit Experience

This project — like every project we take on — is engineered and stamped by a Florida-licensed Professional Engineer, not a drafting service or an unlicensed technician. The PE signs the drawings, answers the county’s technical questions, and stays on the project until the permit is in your hands.

Cleber Franca, PE — Florida Licensed Structural Engineer

Cleber Franca, PE

Florida Licensed Professional Engineer · PE #102290

Structural engineering for Florida outdoor structures — pool enclosures, screen rooms, pergolas, patios, slabs, and outdoor kitchens. Remote service statewide. Same-day proposals. No retainer required.

FL PE #102290 All 67 Florida Counties ASCE 7-22 / FBC 2023 Same-Day Quote

Have a Screen Enclosure That Needs a Permit?

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