FGIA Collaborates on Florida Sea Turtle-friendly Glass Design
Participants at the 2021 Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) Hybrid Fall Conference heard an update on a collaboration between FGIA and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) officials to help meet the needs of both nesting sea turtles along coastal property and the humans who build and reside there. FGIA Codes Consultant and Floridian, Jennifer Hatfield, led a roundtable discussion on the topic. This matter impacts both residential and commercial structures in sea turtle habitats along Florida's coastal areas.
Hatfield explained that today's LED lights produce more lumens, increasing brightness compared with incandescent or other artificial lighting options. Brighter lights can distract sea turtles and their hatchlings, as they follow light sources. As a result, the state of Florida implemented Section 161.163 Florida Statutes, which requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to designate coastal areas that either are used or likely to be used by sea turtles for nesting. "This also calls for the establishment of guidelines for local government regulations that control beachfront lighting to protect hatching sea turtles," said Hatfield.
To help regulate lighting in sea turtle habitats, the Florida FWC issued guidance for visible transmittance (VT) of glazing used in buildings. FWC's prior guidance recommended glazing with 45 percent VT in sea turtle areas. However, the FWC changed that recommendation to only 15 percent VT, which significantly restricts the view for humans and may inadvertently impact a building's performance or use.