Berkeley, CA: Climate Zone, Risk and Window Requirements
Berkeley sits in IECC climate zone 3C, which sets the energy-performance bar for any window installed here. Below that, a short list of Berkeley's longest-licensed window contractors can turn a spec into an actual installed window.
Licenses checked · California Contractors State License Board
3CIECC climate zone · ENERGY STAR South-Central zone
What zone 3C means for a Berkeley window
Alameda County's normal precipitation runs about 26.1 inches a year, with 0.0 inches of snow, which is a separate question from energy performance but still shapes which window details matter in Berkeley.
Moisture and glass performance are handled by different parts of a window's spec sheet, and a Berkeley buyer benefits from checking both instead of assuming one implies the other.
Data: U.S. EPA / DOE, ENERGY STAR, ENERGY STAR Version 7.0 Climate Zones by County/ZIP (Windows, Doors, and Skylights) (V7.0); Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (DOE Building America), Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates (PNNL-33270) (2021 IECC), from the nearest NOAA station 2.2 mi away.
Storm and weather risk around Berkeley
Alameda County's hail risk sits at Relatively Low and its wildfire risk at Relatively High, according to FEMA's National Risk Index.
Hail risk matters for glass and screen durability in Berkeley; wildfire risk matters more for the frame material and nearby vegetation than for the glass itself.
Either way, it's a reasonable question to bring to a Berkeley installer before you settle on a product line.
- Strong wind
- Very Low
- Winter weather
- Very Low
Data: FEMA, National Risk Index for Natural Hazards - County-level table, v1.20 (v1.20, December 2025).
Guides to finish before Berkeley window bids come in
- How to Read an NFRC Window Label Four numbers on one sticker decide most of a window's real-world performance. Here's what each one means.
- ENERGY STAR Window Criteria by Climate Zone ENERGY STAR splits the country into four zones, each with its own numbers. Here they are, and why the Northern zone works backward from the other three.
- Impact Windows vs. Shutters in Florida's Hurricane Zones Florida gives homeowners two paths to a protected opening. Here's how each one is tested, and where the HVHZ raises the bar further.
Window installers with the longest license records in Berkeley
Oldest license first, newest last, pulled directly from the state's file. This list isn't for sale.
- J & D Glass & Sash INCVerify license
- S B ConstructionVerify license
- Alba's Glass INCVerify license
- Best GlassVerify license
- Glass WorkVerify license
- Rick's Glass On WheelsVerify license