Healing the Hurt: Hurricane Restoration a presentation by: George M. Fletcher President/CEO Adache Group Architects, Inc. Ft. Lauderdale and Pensacola, FL
Healing the Hurt The past couple of hurricane seasons sparked media frenzy and news outlets questioning the effectiveness of building codes in providing adequate standards for hurricane protection. Since most of the weather prognosticators have indicated that the trend for the next decade will bring more storms, you need to be informed and kept updated on what can be done in construction and renovations now and in the future. Following these hard hitting hurricane events, Gulf coast states have moved to modify building code standards in an effort to minimize the damage caused by future storms. But, how can you, as a builder, move in the right direction to provide a residential product with a more hurricane resistant structure? The following is a brief summary of building methods and materials available to promote awareness. It is important to remember that building codes are just minimum protection to save lives, not the maximum. It is our responsibility as architects, builders, insurers, legislators and owners to become more aware of the specification of certain products. This will not only help save lives and property, but also can help protect local, regional and national economies. As builders begin working on projects in hurricane prone areas, it will become increasingly important to understand the abilities and possibilities of hurricane resistant products. Even if some building codes don t currently require stronger and more durable products, it is anticipated many building owners will move in that direction. These tips are the future of the construction industry in high risk areas, and builders must have the knowledge and ability to meet this demand. For more information, please contact us and we can assist in leading you in the right direction Adache Group Architects, Inc. 550 South Federal Highway. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33322. 954.525.8133. www.adache.com
Protective Openings Doors and windows are vulnerable components of your homes protective shell or envelope because they are easily penetrated by wind-borne debris often generated by the high winds of storms like hurricanes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has identified the loss of the garage door as one of four major factors in homes damaged and destroyed in hurricanes. If that envelope is breached during a storm because of the failure of windows and doors, wind, wind-driven rain and debris can enter your home causing considerable damage to its interior and your property.. A more critical issue develops when the envelope is breached -- high winds can enter your home and exert high pressure on your walls and roof. These internal pressures combined with the external pressure of wind blowing over your home can lead to catastrophic damage.. You can protect your home's openings by installing impact-resistant windows and doors or installing impact resistant coverings, such as shutters over windows and doors. Impact resistant glass and shutters are specifically designed to meet a combination of impact and continuous pressure from the wind. Always use products that have been tested to one of these standards and have been designated as such through a recognized product approval system or evaluation report. Ft. Lauderdale, FL Pensacola, FL
Foundation & Wall Construction There are several types of foundations used in residential construction but all have one important requirement the foundation and connections to the walls and floors must be strong enough not only to support the weight of the house and its contents, but also to prevent the home from being blown away by high winds. There are many construction techniques for anchoring the exterior walls to the foundation. For wood-framed construction, the bottom plate of the wall should be anchored into the slab with anchor bolts and washers. The bottom plate should be securely connected to the wall studs above by using approved metal clips or straps. For concrete masonry construction, vertical reinforcement in a continuously grouted cell should extend from the wall above and be embedded in the concrete footing below with a standard hook. A stemwall is a concrete block or brick wall used on top of the footer for off grade houses where the ground slopes from one side to the other. Ft. Lauderdale, FL Pensacola, FL
Roof Construction Taken as a whole, these recommendations will help builders build storm-resistant roofs in areas that are at a high-risk for being hit by strong winds. Most of them add minimal additional costs to the finished cost of a roof. Many of these recommendations should even be used on homes outside of the hurricane region. Guidelines: 1. Moderately pitched hips rather than gables 2. OVE structural members for roof truss components or engineered wood girders 3. Install hurricane straps to load bearing components 4. Use baffled ridge and soffit vents to minimize the number of roof penetrations 5. Extend fascia board so it terminates below the underside of the soffit 6. Securely attach grid-marked sheathing of appropriate thickness 7. Tape decking seams with a self-adhering bitumen tape or peel and stick roof membrane 8. Install underlayment correctly 9. Use proper flashing and starter strips techniques 10. Install a light-colored wind and impact resistant roof covering 11. Use proper fastener/nailing schedules Ft. Lauderdale, FL Pensacola, FL
Minimum Flood Criteria Rain. Hurricanes. Tides. Levee failure. Floods happen, and they happen beside rivers, on the coast, in deserts and in city streets. You don't have to lose your home and possessions to rampaging waters, however. It's never too early to prepare and you can take several basic steps right now to protect your family and your home from disaster. Guidelines: Use water-resistant building materials in areas below the base flood elevation. Leave the basement or lower floors unfinished if they're below base flood elevation. Prevent sewer lines from backing up by installing backflow valves or standpipes. Raise your washer and dryer and other equipment such as the water heater, oil tanks, furnace and electrical wiring on concrete blocks, above the base flood elevation level. If you are unable to raise a particular item, consider anchoring it and protecting it with a floodwall or shield. Install flood shields or built-up barriers for basement windows and doors. The tops of shields and barriers should extend above the base flood elevation. Install and maintain a sump pump system if you have below-grade floors. Landscape with native plants and vegetation that resist soil erosion. Ft. Lauderdale, FL Pensacola, FL
Safe Room Protection from tornadoes, hurricanes and whatever else Mother Nature wants to throw at you. TYPES: Above Ground Below Ground Interior Exterior Walk-in Vault Panic Room Safe Rooms Becoming popular Storm Shelter choices GUIDELINES: Resist 15 pound 2 x 4 boards impacting at velocity of 100 mph Resist the impacts of full sized automobiles dropped from 30 feet above roof Resist 38 cal. 357 magnum (full metal jacket) and 45 cal. small arms fire at 15 feet Resist the impact of a 50 foot, 18 inch diameter hickory tree on the roof Resist the impact of a 2.5 ton steel junk yard magnet impacting the wall at 30 mph Ft. Lauderdale, FL Pensacola, FL
Power Generation When a natural disaster such as a hurricane occurs, backup power is an absolute necessity. When hurricanes strike, the damage to power lines can be so severe, that it can literally take months before power is completely restored. That s why having a backup power plan is a definite must have. When the power goes out, there is no more hot water source whatsoever. When a hurricane strikes, the importance of backup power can never be overemphasized. It can save lives and make dealing with such a disaster much more bearable as well as making day-today life more tolerable. Guidelines: clearly identify all circuits on your electrical panels make sure you run it at the correct RPM (540 or 1000 RPM); never assume the tractor RPM is correct running a generator faster will not produce more power, but it may damage it make sure the PTO shaft is designed for the horsepower required follow the information on the plate on the side of the generator disconnect all loads before starting, including hot water heaters, heating cables, heated water troughs; reconnect them slowly after essential motors are running turn on the motors one at a time generators may handle short term heavy loads, but may not for long periods monitor voltage and keep 240 V (± 10%) at the generator for continuous operation, try to run the system at 80% capacity or less, if possible use an amp-meter to check total loading and compare it to the generator's specifications if the circuit breaker on the generator trips, reduce the loading and make sure your 120 V loads are balanced; if more loads come from one side of the fuse box, they should be shut off to balance the load; remember the generator does not average loads, but trips on the highest loading from one side keep fuel on hand for at least 72 hours Ft. Lauderdale, FL Pensacola, FL
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