BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Screws Instead of Hurricane Ties?

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Video showing the use of structural screw hurricane ties and connectors to improve the home’s resistance to hurricane force winds and earthquakes, from a house framer’s perspective.

FORTIFIED Animation: Hurricane - Continuous Load Path

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Video showing key connection joints for a properly installed continuous load path per IBHS FORTIFIED Home specifications.

This coastal home was built on a flood-resistant pier foundation using hurricane- and moisture-resistant expanded polystyrene and steel wall panels and hurricane strapping.

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Hurricanes, Earthquakes & Tornados - Design of Wood-frame Structures for Extreme Forces

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Video presentation describing wood framing design to withstand extreme forces from severe weather.

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Charley in Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 488

Reference

FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Charley in Florida including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance for retrofitting hurricane-damaged homes.

Wrong – This house was built on a shallow foundation instead of piers; the foundation was undermined by erosion from Hurricane Irma (Vilano Beach, FL)

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This home constructed in a V Zone in Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, had the bottom beam of the lowest floor at the BFE (dashed line) but the estimated wave crest during Hurricane Ike was 3 to 4 feet higher (solid line).

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Hurricane straps, hold-down connectors, and bolts help to transfer loads from the building’s walls to its foundation, increasing resistance to vertical and horizontal pressures acting on the building from wind, waves, or ground movement.

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Buildings damaged by a hurricane storm surge: upper homes on gulf shoreline were hit by large waves above the lowest floor, lower left home on bay and right school 1.3 miles from gulf shoreline were hit by surge and small waves.

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Elevated slab construction with no water sensitive materials on first level

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New Charleston, SC home's first level used as parking, storage, and access space

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Improperly located masonry-wall-to-wood-frame straps.

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Typical lateral load transfer for one- and two- story buildings.

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Lower-story wall anchorage to masonry (or concrete) base. Straps properly nailed at wall studs.

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Primary wood framing systems: walls, roof diaphragm, and floor diaphragm

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House Raising After Harvey

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Video from Houston Public Media explaining the process of raising homes in Houston to avoid flooding from another natural disaster like Hurricane Harvey.

Foundation for concrete floors for flood-prone areas.

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Masonry columns for open pier foundations for flood-prone areas.

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Wood posts for open pier foundations for flood-prone areas.

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Foundation for Wood-Framed Floors for flood-prone areas.

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This concrete block foundation cracked due to lack of steel rebar reinforcement.

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This poured concrete foundation failed due to use of incorrect concrete mix.

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Heavy rains destabilized the soil beneath this multi-story home in Puerto Rico.

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Column-to-Foundation Connection Detail, per Fortified Home

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Porches, Carports, and Deck Attachments

Guide

Guide describing how to install appropriate connectors to provide a continuous load path to improve the wind resistance of attached porches, carports, and decks during high-wind events.

A raised wood pier foundation can raise the subfloor above the design flood elevation.

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Repair leaks and cracks, and cover holes in foundation floors and walls to minimize water and vapor entry.

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The components of a framed wall include from inside to out: gypsum, wood studs, OSB or plywood sheathing, and siding.

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Recommended Residential Construction for Coastal Areas: Building on Strong and Safe Foundations, FEMA P-550

Reference

Report providing recommended designs and guidance for rebuilding homes destroyed by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.

Continuous Load Path Provided with Connections from the Roof through the Wall to the Foundation

Guide

Guide describing how to provide a strong continuous load path from the roof through the wall to the foundation to ensure a structurally sound building and increase racking resistance in hurricanes, high winds, tornados, and earthquakes.