What You Need to Know About Hurricane Houses
ABC News tweet on Hurricane Laura, Aug. 27, 2020
Credit: Twitter
Farthermost-weather condition events have go more frequent in contempo years beyond the United States. In August, Hurricane Laura struck the Louisiana-Texas coast with 150 mph winds. Information technology was a reminder of contempo hurricanes — from Sandy in 2012 to Michael in 2018 – whose high winds, driving rain and surge waters acquired astringent damage to buildings and infrastructure in U.Due south. coastal areas. And tornadoes accept dilapidated many parts of the nation's interior, notably an outbreak in May of 2019 that generated nearly 400 tornadoes across the Great Plains, Ohio Valley, and Northeastern states.
Recent super-storms completely shattered many traditional, "stick-built" houses that could not endure the stresses imposed by winds exceeding 150 miles per hr — or the debris tossed by those winds. The scope of the damage has caused architects and structure engineers to re-examine edifice materials, to learn which can best produce resilient homes able to withstand the air current and h2o of natural disasters.
The Sand Palace dwelling house in United mexican states Beach, FL, survived Hurricane Michael in 2018
Credit: SprayFoam Magazine
Raise It Up
In hurricane-prone areas, building in a higher place the expected tempest-surge water level is one of the about important lessons learned. For existing homes, raising vital systems such as HVAC, electrical, and telecommunication above overflowing-apparently level is essential. The platonic, nevertheless, is to blueprint the unabridged structure up and out of harm's manner. One domicile in Mexico Beach, Florida, became famous for surviving Hurricanes Matthew and Irma while nearby homes were washed away. Homeowners Russell King and Lebron Lackey went across existing code requirements — they congenital their Sand Palace house on steel-filled concrete pillars 12 feet above ground level and anchored those pillars in a physical foundation some 28 feet underground.
Tie Information technology Down
Protecting a building's roof is vitally important in any high-wind storm. That'south because the roof non just protects the occupants and belongings, information technology's subject to astringent upwardly stress past varying pressure level as current of air blows around a building. What'due south needed is to straight the wind's free energy abroad from the roof and walls, downwards toward the foundation. A range of products are available to ballast typical wooden-roof trusses and rafters firmly to supporting walls, including steel hurricane roof-clips and -plates, and metallic tie-down straps. Such upgrades are relatively cheap, and with them a typical roof should be ameliorate able to withstand most hurricanes and tornadoes. Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is oft applied on roof undersides to help prevent air penetration and to function as a "glue" to strengthen roofing components. The roof of the Sand Palace house, for case, received vi inches of closed-jail cell SPF.
Secure Its Sides
ICF blocks beingness filled on-site with concrete
Regarding walls, newer technologies are proving resilient to farthermost conditions, while also adhering to sustainable-pattern principles. The goal is to build walls capable of flexing in strong winds without shattering, while keeping out moisture and raising energy efficiency.
Insulated concrete forms (ICFs) are one increasingly pop building fabric in tempest-decumbent areas. ICFs are interlocking blocks, consisting of foam plastic insulating panels that are filled with concrete on-site. The blocks form a solid, touch- and water-resistant construction, while as well providing fire resistance and energy-saving insulation. An ICF structure helped the Sand Palace on Mexico Embankment to resist hurricane winds of over 150 miles per hour.
Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are another new technology that'southward been used in many homes which have successfully weathered recent hurricanes. The panels sandwich an insulating foam core (usually polyurethane) betwixt structural facings such every bit oriented strand board (OSB). When reinforced with steel, the finished panels are extremely strong and energy efficient. Similar ICFs, they offering increased R-value insulation and greatly reduced air leakage when compared with many traditional edifice materials. In addition, both SIPs and ICFs are largely prefabricated, allowing rapid associates one time delivered to the construction site.
Protect Its Openings
A Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) going upwards
Solid, strong walls will make any business firm more than resistant to current of air and pelting, but without windows, a house is less inviting and enjoyable. All the same these of import openings are some of the areas most vulnerable to extreme weather. Protecting windows from wind and droppings is the first pace. Though it's typical to see videos of residents covering windows with pre-cut plywood panels as storms approach, many find hurricane shutters more convenient and resilient. Shutters are available in a diversity of styles from folding to rolling and accordian. Some are available in durable, low-maintenance vinyl or polycarbonate plastic.
Windows must exist strong enough to resist both wind and what the wind throws at them. Once a powerful storm begins to interruption windows, it'southward likely the increased air force per unit area volition blow off the roof and plummet much of the building. What'southward often relied upon to mitigate such chance is reinforced glazing used in "impact windows" designed to run across or exceed building code. Impact windows sandwich plastic pic between two pieces of shatter-resistant glass. The sandwich structure also improves insulation, reduces outside-sound transmission, and blocks UV radiation from inbound the home. Vinyl-framed impact windows combine excellent insulation with low maintenance and price.
While at that place's much to consider when designing and building disaster-resistant homes, the areas discussed above are some of the most important. Architects and builders are busy developing many new construction methods and materials to provide strong structural integrity while also reducing environmental touch, building and ownership costs.
Source: https://www.greenbuildingsolutions.org/blog/how-do-you-build-a-hurricane-resistant-house/
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