Manual J calculator · FL
Manual J load calculation for Florida.
Run an ACCA Manual J 8th Edition residential load calculation with climate context pre-loaded for Florida — ASHRAE design temperatures for 5 top metros, Florida Energy Conservation Code (FECC) 2023, based on IECC 2021, and DBPR / CILB licensing context already accounted for in the assumption defaults.
Pre-loaded scenario
Miami, FL (Miami-Dade County) · ASHRAE zone 1A · winter 99% DB 47°F · summer 0.4% DB 91°F · MCWB 78°F.
ASHRAE 169-2021 · ACCA MJ8 §6
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01 · ASHRAE design conditions
Top 5 metros in Florida — design temperatures used in Manual J.
These are the ASHRAE 99% heating and 0.4% cooling design temperatures — the values Manual J uses for the design day, not the absolute extremes. Equipment sized to these conditions undersizes for ~35 hours per year in summer (acceptable per ACCA convention) and ~22 hours per year in winter.
| Metro | County | Zone | Winter 99% DB | Summer 0.4% DB | MCWB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | Miami-Dade County | 1A | 47°F | 91°F | 78°F |
| Tampa | Hillsborough County | 2A | 39°F | 92°F | 77°F |
| Orlando | Orange County | 2A | 38°F | 93°F | 76°F |
| Jacksonville | Duval County | 2A | 32°F | 93°F | 76°F |
| Fort Lauderdale | Broward County | 1A | 46°F | 91°F | 78°F |
Source: ASHRAE 169-2021 (republished in EERE Building America Guide 7.3, public domain). DB = dry-bulb. MCWB = mean coincident wet-bulb at the 0.4% cooling design hour.
02 · Energy code
Florida energy code: Florida Energy Conservation Code (FECC) 2023, based on IECC 2021
Adopted 2023. Manual J load-calc documentation requirements flow from the state energy code; verify your specific AHJ’s submittal rules before relying on the baseline.
- Florida runs a state-specific energy code (FECC) on a 3-year cycle, parallel to the Florida Building Code. The 8th Edition (2023) is based on IECC 2021 with hurricane-zone amendments to envelope and mechanical sections.
- Coastal high-velocity hurricane zones (Miami-Dade, Broward) layer additional product approval and impact-rated equipment requirements beyond the base FECC.
Source: Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation — Energy Code · verified 2024-12-31
03 · Florida HVAC labor data
BLS wages and employment for HVAC mechanics in Florida.
These are state-level wages for occupation code 49-9021 — Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers — from the most recent BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release.
- Median hourly wage
- $23.48
- Mean annual wage
- $51,700
- Employment estimate
- 33,530
Source: BLS OEWS May 2023, SOC 49-9021 (state-level) · released 2024-04-03. Loaded labor rates billed to customers typically run 2.5–3.5× the technician wage after overhead.
04 · License & permit
HVAC licensing in Florida: DBPR / CILB.
State-level HVAC contractor licensing is administered by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation — Construction Industry Licensing Board. Licenses renew every 2 years, with 14 hours of continuing education per cycle.
License types
- Certified Class A Air Conditioning Contractor (statewide, unlimited)
- Certified Class B Air Conditioning Contractor (statewide, ≤25 tons cooling, ≤500k BTU heating)
- Registered Contractor (local jurisdiction only)
Permits
Florida requires a mechanical permit for HVAC installations, change-outs that alter capacity, and ductwork replacement. Permits are issued by the county or municipal building department; coastal HVHZ counties have additional product approval requirements.
Replacement permit: typically required.
Hurricane high-velocity zone (HVHZ) counties — Miami-Dade and Broward — require Florida Product Approval (FL #) for outdoor equipment in addition to the standard permit.
05 · FAQ
Common Manual J questions for Florida contractors.
+Why is Manual J latent load so important in Florida?
Florida's design wet-bulb temperatures sit at 76–78°F across all major metros — the highest sustained latent loads in the continental U.S. ACCA Manual J 8th Edition §8 calculates the latent share separately; under-sizing dehumidification capacity is the #1 cause of comfort complaints in zone 1A and coastal 2A.
+Does Florida require a stamped Manual J for a permit?
Most Florida AHJs accept any documented Manual J as part of the energy code submittal under FECC 2023 §403.6 — it doesn't have to be ACCA-stamped, but it does have to be reproducible. BuildSolver outputs include the assumption audit trail, which most plan reviewers accept. Confirm with your specific county building department before submitting.
+What climate zones are in Florida?
Just two — zone 1A (Miami-Dade, Monroe, parts of Broward) and zone 2A (everything else, including Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville). The split matters: zone 1A allows lower heating loads but the same hurricane-zone code requirements apply on both coasts.
+What's the average HVAC technician wage in Florida?
BLS OEWS May 2023 reports a median hourly wage of $23.48 for Florida HVAC mechanics and installers (~$51,700 annual mean). Florida's employment of 33,530 in this occupation is the second-largest in the country after Texas.
+How long does a Florida HVAC contractor license stay valid?
Florida CILB-issued contractor licenses renew every 2 years, with 14 hours of continuing education required per cycle (including specific courses on workers' compensation, business practices, and code updates).
+Can I use BuildSolver for a HVHZ retrofit in Miami-Dade?
For the load calculation itself, yes — BuildSolver applies the zone 1A design conditions correctly. For the actual installation, you still need Florida Product Approval (FL #) for the outdoor unit, wind-load anchoring per the manufacturer, and the licensed contractor pulling the permit. BuildSolver does not certify equipment for HVHZ compliance.
Try a Florida load calculation now.
The chat will ask follow-up questions like an experienced engineer — square footage, construction type, window count, insulation level — and run the Manual J on your inputs with Florida’s ASHRAE design temperatures applied automatically. About 90 seconds end to end.
Start Florida calculationRelated · same climate zone
Other states with similar ASHRAE climate zones.
Manual J assumptions for infiltration, latent share, and design temperatures behave similarly across states that share an ASHRAE zone. The pages below carry the same procedural defaults with their own local design temps and licensing context.
Data last reviewed 2026-05-19 · underlying sources as of 2024-04-03