Manual J calculator · FL
Manual J load calculation for Florida.
Reference data for Manual J load calculations in Florida: ASHRAE design temperatures for 5 top metros, energy code status, and DBPR / CILB licensing. The calculator does not load this page's data. It asks for your project location and looks up outdoor design conditions in its own dataset, by IECC 2021 climate zone for a ZIP code or by weather station for the 10 major metros in its city list.
Reference metro
Miami, FL (Miami-Dade County) · IECC 2015 zone 1A · winter 99% DB 53°F · summer 0.4% DB 92°F · MCWB 78°F.
0.4% DB: ASHRAE 2021 station value · Manual J 8 loads use the 1% DB
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01 · ASHRAE design conditions
Top 5 metros in Florida - ASHRAE design temperatures.
These are the ASHRAE 99% heating and 0.4% cooling design temperatures, not the absolute extremes. Outdoor temperatures go past the 0.4% cooling value about 35 hours per year and below the 99% heating value about 88 hours per year.
Manual J 8th edition load calculations use the 1% cooling and 99% heating design temperatures. For ENERGY STAR new homes, the EPA recommends "the ACCA Manual J, 8th edition, 1% cooling season design temperature and 99% heating season design temperature for the weather station that's geographically closest to the home" ( ENERGY STAR, Design Temperature Limits). For the same station the 1% cooling value is exceeded about 88 hours a year, against about 35 for the 0.4% value, so it is the lower of the two, and the table's cooling column is not the Manual J design temperature.
| Metro | County | Zone (IECC 2015) | Winter 99% DB | Summer 0.4% DB | MCWB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | Miami-Dade County | 1A | 53°F | 92°F | 78°F |
| Tampa | Hillsborough County | 2A | 44°F | 92°F | 77°F |
| Orlando | Orange County | 2A | 42°F | 93°F | 76°F |
| Jacksonville | Duval County | 2A | 32°F | 94°F | 76°F |
| Fort Lauderdale | Broward County | 1A | 52°F | 91°F | 78°F |
Design temperatures are single station values from the ASHRAE 2021 Climatic Design Conditions (99% heating, 0.4% cooling), one airport station per metro, in whole °F within 1°F. DB = dry-bulb. MCWB = mean coincident wet-bulb at the 0.4% cooling design hour.
Zones in this table are from the IECC 2015 county map (PNNL county data). For a ZIP code, BuildSolver's calculator assigns zones by the IECC 2021 county map, which gives the same zones for these counties. A ZIP code near a zone line can get the neighboring zone.
02 · Energy code
Energy code baseline in Florida is Florida Energy Conservation Code (FECC) 2023, based on IECC 2021.
In effect since 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 as the Energy Conservation volume of the Florida Building Code. The 8th Edition (2023) is based on IECC 2021 with Florida amendments.
Code status from Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation - Energy Code, verified December 31, 2024.
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
- $27.24
- Mean annual wage
- $57,310
- Employment estimate
- 39,160
Wage figures from BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 49-9021 (state-level), released May 15, 2026.
04 · License & permit
HVAC licensing in Florida runs through 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.
A replacement install typically requires a permit as well.
Miami-Dade and Broward are the high-velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ) counties; confirm the HVHZ installation requirements with the local building department before purchasing equipment.
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 Manual J for a permit?
Florida's energy code, based on IECC 2021, carries the IECC rule that equipment be sized per ACCA Manual S on loads from ACCA Manual J or another approved methodology; what documentation a county wants with the permit varies. BuildSolver is not ACCA-approved for permit submission. Use its output for sales-phase sizing and client quotes, and produce the permit submittal in ACCA-approved software such as Wrightsoft Right-J8 or Cool Calc Manual J. Confirm with your specific county building department before submitting.
+What climate zones are in Florida?
Just two. On the IECC 2021 county map that BuildSolver's calculator uses for ZIP codes, zone 1A covers Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe, and zone 2A covers everything else, including Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville. On the IECC 2015 map Palm Beach is 2A. The split matters mainly for heating, because zone 1A design winters are milder. The high-velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ) product rules are a separate overlay that applies only in Miami-Dade and Broward.
+What's the average HVAC technician wage in Florida?
BLS OEWS May 2025 (released May 15, 2026) reports a median hourly wage of $27.24 for Florida HVAC mechanics and installers, with an annual mean of $57,310. Florida's employment of 39,160 in this occupation is the largest of any state, ahead of 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 a preliminary load estimate, yes - BuildSolver applies the zone 1A design conditions correctly. For the actual installation, the licensed contractor still pulls the permit and follows the local building department's HVHZ requirements. 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. Outdoor design conditions come from its own dataset (by IECC 2021 climate zone for a ZIP code, by weather station for the 10 major metros in its city list), not from the metro table on this page.
Start Florida calculationRelated · same climate zone
Other states with similar ASHRAE climate zones.
Climate-driven Manual J inputs such as infiltration, latent share, and design temperatures behave similarly across states that share a climate zone. Each page below gives that state's own design temperatures and licensing context. Zones combine the IECC 2015 and IECC 2021 county maps.
Data last reviewed October 16, 2026 · underlying sources as of May 15, 2026