Broward County HVHZ | Ventilation

Breathing Room: Continuous Ridge Vents

Your attic needs to breathe - especially during a hurricane. When pressure builds up inside, it pushes your roof off from the inside out. Ridge vents let that pressure escape. Here is how it works.

180

MPH Rated Required

1:150

Vent Ratio

Sq In NFVA Typical

Calculate Ventilation See Vent Types

Attic Pressure Equalization

Wind 180 mph

0 PSF

Normal Conditions

Air flows in through soffits, out through ridge vent. Keeps attic cool and dry.

Vent Types

Hurricane-Rated Ridge Vents

Not all ridge vents survive hurricanes. Here are your options for Broward County.

Shingle-Over Ridge Vent

Low profile design covered with shingles. Blends with roof appearance. Must be hurricane rated for HVHZ.

Wind Rating Up to 180 mph

External Baffle Ridge Vent

Metal baffles deflect wind and rain while allowing air flow. Higher profile but better performance.

Wind Rating 180+ mph

Filtered Ridge Vent

Internal filter prevents water and debris entry. Best for hurricane zones. Check filter after storms.

Wind Rating 180+ mph

Calculator

Ventilation Area Calculator

Calculate how much ridge vent and soffit vent your attic needs.

Enter Your Attic Dimensions

Attic Floor Area (sq ft)

Ridge Length (linear ft)

Total NFVA Required

sq ft

Ridge Vent (50%)

sq ft exhaust

Soffit Vent (50%)

sq ft intake

Common Questions

Ridge Vent FAQs

Why do attics need ventilation during hurricanes?

During a hurricane, wind creates low pressure over the roof while internal pressure stays high. This pressure difference pushes up on the roof deck from inside. Ridge vents help equalize this pressure, reducing the force trying to lift your roof off.

Are ridge vents required in Broward County HVHZ?

Yes, attic ventilation is required by code. Ridge vents must be rated for the design wind speed of the location. In Broward County, that means 180 mph rated ridge vents that will not allow water infiltration during storms.

What is the difference between ridge vents and soffit vents?

Ridge vents are at the top of the roof and let hot air out. Soffit vents are under the eaves and let cool air in. Together they create airflow through the attic. Both need to be hurricane rated in Broward County.

How much ridge vent do I need?

Code requires 1 square foot of net free ventilation area per 150 square feet of attic floor space. This should be split equally between intake (soffit) and exhaust (ridge). A typical 1500 sq ft attic needs about 10 sq ft of total venting.