5 Categories of Sunrooms: Which One Are You Getting?

Written By Kenneth Wilson  |  2 Comments

With sunrooms in Florida, there is more than meets the eye.  There’s many options, and material choices, all of which make a huge out come in the final result.  Some sunrooms are made out of a soft vinyl.  Some are made out of impact glass.  Some have A/C, some do-not.   For now, though we are going to look at ‘sunroom categories’.  Yes there are categories.  A sunroom, is not just a ‘sunroom.  This is particularly of interest if you are hoping to consider the sunroom as habitable space.  The Florida Building Code breaks it up into 5 categories.   Which I have pasted below, with my comments.

 

Category I: A roof or a covering of an outdoor space. The openings shall be permitted to be enclosed with insect screening or 0.5 mm (20 mil) maximum thickness plastic film. The space is defined as nonhabitable and unconditioned.

 

A Category 1 is essentially a screen room.  Just a roof and some screen walls.

 

Category II: A roof or a covering of an outdoor space with enclosed walls. The openings are permitted to be enclosed with translucent or transparent plastic or glass. The space is defined as nonhabitable and unconditioned.

Category 2 sunrooms are usually built with acrylic windows.  This is the most common type of sunroom as going up to the next category is usual a substantial jump in $$$.  Acrylic windows are a plexi-glass like material however they look just like glass to the untrained eye .  Acrylic windows intended to be removed during hurricane force winds and are not totally water tight.  They keep out 99.9% of water but some drips can still get through.

 

Category III: A roof or a covering of an outdoor space with enclosed walls. The openings are permitted to be enclosed with translucent or transparent plastic or glass. The sunroom complies with additional requirements for forced-entry resistance, air-leakage resistance and water-penetration resistance. The space is defined as nonhabitable and unconditioned.

Sunrooms in this category are going to be made out of Impact glass or glass with shutters.  Usually it is just cheaper to build these with impact glass then entertain shutter options.

 

Category IV: A roof or a covering of an outdoor space with enclosed walls. The sunroom is designed to be heated and/or cooled by a separate temperature control or system and is thermally isolated from the primary structure. The sunroom complies with additional requirements for forced-entry resistance, water penetration resistance, air-leakage resistance, and thermal performance. The space is defined as habitable and conditioned.

 

Category 4 sunrooms become habitable and are considered living space (aka the point at which your sqft value is added to your home.  A category 4 sunroom simply has its own A/c system bringing it under air.

 

Category V: A roof or a covering of an outdoor space with enclosed walls. The sunroom is designed to be heated and/or cooled and is open to the main structure. The sunroom complies with additional requirements for forced-entry resistance, water-penetration resistance, air-leakage resistance, and thermal performance. The space is defined as habitable and conditioned.

 

Category 5 sunrooms are heated and cooled with the central system of your house.  Building these requires capacity changes to the central a/c system and also ductwork and vents for the sunroom.  Many times

About the Author

I can build it, and I can help you get the patio enclosure you want! I got my start in the Florida patio industry back in the 70s as a young general laborer looking for something to make a few bucks. At the time I never thought it would end up as my career. Over the years I grew beyond the laborer position, becoming a foreman, superintendent, and then into executive management for some of the largest patio contractors, and material vendors. Now into retirement and slightly bored, I offer consulting services to new and existing contractors, and publish this website to help the people who love their patio's and screen enclosures the most - YOU!

  • I live in Wellington Florida and after I paid and applied for a permit for a cat 2 patio enclosure they tell me I can’t use my existing roof that’s over my patio ?? It is made of actual 2 in x 6 in x10 ft. The roof was recently replaced . Why cant I use my existing roof and enclose with aluminum????
    Also if I used plywood and Hardi board on the exterior walls will that kill my plans ????

    • Sounds likely. You need to consult with an engineer for material alternatives if you want to keep it… but that will generally run a few thousand $.

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