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Wind ratings

Shingle Wind Rating in Florida: What Do Class F, Class H and 130 mph Mean?

Look for ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H on the label. Florida's code table lists both classes for every wind zone. The mph number in a warranty is a separate promise from the maker, with conditions like nail count and years. Atlas Pinnacle Pristine is Class H, with a 130 mph warranty.

By Josh Hildebrand, owner of Coastline Roofing · Florida license CCC1331076 ·

Three wind numbers can appear on one shingle, and they do not mean the same thing. Here is how to read them for a Florida roof.

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The basics

What is a shingle wind rating?

A shingle can carry three different wind numbers. Two are lab test results, and one is the maker's warranty promise. They do not mean the same thing.

Most of the confusion comes from mixing them up. A bundle wrapper, a data sheet and a warranty can each show a different mph figure for the same shingle, and all three can be true.

The three wind numbers on a shingle
The numberWhat it isWhat it tells you
ASTM D3161 classA fan test. Shingles sit under blown air for two hours. Class A is 60 mph, Class D is 90 mph, Class F is 110 mph.Whether the shingle stayed sealed in that test. Any damage, including a tab coming loose, is a fail.
ASTM D7158 classAn uplift test. It compares the force wind puts on a shingle with how much force the shingle and its seal strip can resist. Classes are D, G and H.The class maps to code design speeds. Class H is the top class.
Wind warranty speedThe manufacturer's promise to replace shingles blown off at gusts up to that speed.Coverage comes with conditions: a nailing pattern, a number of years and a cap on what is paid.

Professional Roofing magazine notes that D3161 results "do not directly correlate to wind speeds experienced in service." The test runs steady air. Real hurricane gusts are turbulent. IBHS, the insurance industry's research lab, found that real gusts produce higher short bursts of uplift than the steady air in either test. So a class is a way to compare shingles and to meet code. It is not a promise about any one storm.

Why D7158 has two sets of speeds

The older 2005 version of ASTM D7158 tied Class D, G and H to 90, 120 and 150 mph. The 2016 version uses newer ultimate design speeds: Class D up to 115 mph, Class G up to 150 mph, Class H up to 190 mph. IBHS notes the speeds shift with ASCE 7 calculation changes and are not a direct test output.

Want to know what rating your roof has?

Coastline can inspect your roof and send a written photo report with the shingle, the nail lines and the edges, so you know what is up there before the next storm season. Coastline Roofing works all over Florida (license CCC1331076).

Call (941) 896-7793 or text your town and a photo.

Florida code

What shingle wind rating does Florida code require?

Florida's code asks for the class that matches your design wind speed. Class F (D3161) and Class H (D7158) appear in every row of the table.

The Florida Building Code, Residential (2023) says asphalt shingles must be tested to ASTM D3161, TAS 107 or ASTM D7158. Each shingle must meet the classification for the basic wind speed shown for your address on the state wind map. The wrapper must be labeled.

Here is the table from Section R905.2.6.1. Vult is the ultimate design wind speed from the map. Vasd is the same speed converted for older allowable-stress design.

Wind resistance of asphalt shingles, Florida Building Code, Residential
Vult (mph)Vasd (mph)ASTM D7158 classASTM D3161 class
11085D, G or HD or F
11690D, G or HD or F
129100G or HD or F
142110G or HF
155120G or HF
168130HF
181140HF
194150HF

A shingle with Class F or Class H on its label meets this table at every speed. A shingle with only a lower class may meet it in a calmer zone and fail it in a higher one. To find your own number, read our guide to design wind speeds in Manatee and Sarasota. Our guide to the Florida Building Code for roofing covers the rest of the chapter.

Nailing is part of the rating. The code requires at least four fasteners per strip shingle, or the maker's number if higher. Nails must be corrosion-resistant roofing nails with a shank of at least 12 gauge and a head of at least 3/8 inch, long enough to go 3/4 inch into the sheathing. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's shingle guide says high-wind guidance calls for six nails per strip, driven flush, never staples. Our guide to roof nailing requirements in Florida goes deeper.

Professional Roofing reports that NRCA recommends caution using D7158 where ASCE 7-16 applies, because that edition raised design loads for many steep roofs and D7158 has not been revised to match. If your home is near open water, ask your roofer to confirm the product approval for your exact location.

Atlas

What wind rating does Atlas Pinnacle Pristine have?

Atlas lists ASTM D7158 Class H (passed at 150 mph) and ASTM D3161 Class F (tested at 110 mph). Its wind warranty is 130 mph with the standard 4-nail install, or up to 160 mph with the full Atlas Signature Select system.

Pinnacle Pristine is Coastline's default shingle. Here is what the Atlas literature actually says, and where the conditions sit.

  • Test results: ASTM D7158 Class H passed at 150 mph, ASTM D6381 uplift resistance, and ASTM D3161 Class F tested at 110 mph, from the Atlas product data sheet.
  • Warranty speed: 130 mph with the standard 4-nail installation, for shingles carrying the "Built with HP42 Technology" designation, from the Atlas installation instructions.
  • Up to 160 mph: the data sheet lists "Up to 160 mph Wind Limited Warranty" for the Atlas Signature Select system, which has its own component and installation requirements.
  • Florida approval: Florida Product Approval FL 16305 is listed on the data sheet.

If you hear that it is a 150 mph shingle, that figure is the lab test, not the warranty. For the full spec list, see our Atlas Pinnacle Pristine guide. Coastline is not a certified installer for Atlas or any brand.

Limits

What can weaken a shingle's wind rating?

The label is only as good as the install behind it. These are the common ways a rated shingle ends up performing like an unrated one.

Nails in the wrong place

Atlas says nail placement is important for wind resistance and incorrectly placed nails void the wind coverage of the warranty. Its instructions put four nails about 7 inches up from the bottom edge, driven flush.

Shingles that never sealed

The adhesive strip seals from sun heat. IBHS says sealing can take one to two weeks in summer and one to two months or more in poor conditions, and cold below 40 degrees may stop it. Atlas says shingles installed in fall or winter may never seal and must be hand sealed.

A steep or special roof

Atlas calls for a 6-nail application on steep slopes and mansard roofs. Four nails on a roof that needs six is an install error, not a product problem.

Wind above the warranty limit

The Atlas warranty lists wind gusts above the stated wind speed limit, hurricanes, tornadoes and hailstorms as exclusions. The wind warranty covers shingles, not labor.

A weak deck underneath

A shingle can only hold as well as the plywood it is nailed to. The wind mitigation form separately asks how the deck is nailed and whether the roof is tied to the walls. See our guide to the roof questions on the wind mitigation form.

Old age

IBHS says wind performance for most shingles depends on how well the seal holds up over time. A shingle that lost its seal in year 12 does not perform like it did on day one. See shingle cupping and curling for signs.

Check yours

How do you check the wind rating on your own roof?

Find the product name, then read its data sheet and warranty. The class and the warranty speed are both in writing.

  1. Get the product name

    Ask your roofer for the shingle name and the Florida Product Approval number, or find them on the permit or invoice from the last roof job.

  2. Read the data sheet

    The maker's data sheet lists the ASTM classes. Look for Class F, Class H, or both.

  3. Read the warranty chart

    Find the wind speed, the nail count it assumes and the number of years. Note whether it covers labor.

  4. Compare to your zone

    Match the class to the table above for your design wind speed.

  5. Ask how the install was done

    Ask about nails per shingle, starter strips and sealing time. A roofer who inspects can photograph nail lines and tell you what is there.

This is general information, not legal advice. Coastline is based in Palmetto and works mainly in Manatee County, South Pinellas and South Hillsborough, and will travel around Florida for the right job. For the choice between shingle types, see architectural vs 3-tab shingles, and for the work itself, Coastline's shingle roofing page.

Reviews

What homeowners say about working with Coastline

★★★★★
"From beginning to end the roof was done in 2 days. One night the crew stayed until 8:00. Each evening before leaving the crew ensured the yard was cleaned. We are so happy, and our roof is beautiful!"
Sharon T.Roof replacement
★★★★★
"Russell was great to work with. He was prompt in coming out to assess our roof and very knowledgeable. ... The job was complete in 2 days once work began."
Bryan S.Roof replacement
★★★★★
"Josh was especially amazing. He was professional, patient, and took the time to explain everything clearly so I felt comfortable and informed throughout the entire process. You can tell he genuinely cares about his customers and takes pride in his work."
Madison T.Roofing customer
Keep reading

Related guides

Shingle Roofing

Shingle roof repair and replacement across Manatee County and the Gulf Coast.

See our shingle roofing →

Best Shingles for Florida

How to read wind and algae labels on any shingle brand.

Read the shingle guide →

Wind Mitigation Roof Questions

What the roof questions on the state form ask and what answers mean.

See the roof questions →

Also see what wind speed damages a roof and shingle roof cost in Florida.

FAQ

More questions

Is Class H better than Class F?

They are different tests. Class F comes from a fan test at 110 mph, and Class H from an uplift test tied to design speeds up to 150 mph in the 2005 version of the standard. Florida's code table accepts either one in every wind zone, so a shingle with either label meets the table.

Does a 130 mph warranty mean my shingles will survive a 130 mph storm?

No. It is a limited promise to replace shingles blown off by gusts up to that speed when the install followed the instructions. The Atlas warranty lists wind above the stated limit, hurricanes and tornadoes as exclusions, and does not cover labor.

Do 3-tab shingles have a wind rating?

Yes, any shingle sold for Florida use must carry a class on its wrapper. Many makers rate entire lines Class F or H. The Atlas warranty chart still lists lower warranty speeds on its entry lines. Check the product's own data sheet.

Does my wind rating lower my insurance?

Not by itself. Florida law requires insurers' residential rate filings to include credits for construction that reduces windstorm loss, and your insurer decides what each feature is worth. A licensed inspector completes the state form that shows what your roof has. Coastline's license cannot sign that form, but we can coordinate a licensed inspector.

How long does it take shingles to seal?

IBHS says one to two weeks in summer, and one to two months or more in poor conditions. Atlas says shingles installed in fall or winter that never get enough heat may need to be hand sealed.

Sources

  1. Florida Building Code, Residential, 8th Edition (2023), Chapter 9, Table R905.2.6.1 (via UpCodes)
  2. Professional Roofing (NRCA): The wind resistance of shingles
  3. IBHS: Roof 101, asphalt shingles
  4. Asphalt Magazine: Assessing high wind and hail performance of asphalt shingles (IBHS research)
  5. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Building America Solution Center: Asphalt Shingle Roofs
  6. ARMA: Asphalt Shingle Product and Test Standards
  7. Atlas Roofing: Pinnacle Pristine product data sheet, Southeast
  8. Atlas Roofing: Pinnacle Pristine general installation instructions
  9. Atlas Roofing: Limited Shingle Warranty and warranty details chart (copy hosted by BuildSite)
  10. Florida OIR: Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26)
  11. Florida Statutes 627.0629: Residential property insurance, rate filings

Know what is holding your roof down

Coastline will inspect your roof, photograph what is there, and give you a straight written answer on its condition.

Call (941) 896-7793 Text (941) 345-0072
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