BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Is Your Home Protected from Hurricane Disaster? A Homeowner’s Guide to Hurricane Retrofit

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Report describing ways to retrofit a home to make it more hurricane resistant.

Hurricane Retrofit Guide - Wood Frame Walls

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Report describing the hurricane retrofit guide with focus on walls and wooded framed walls.

Make your home more resilient for hurricane season

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Web article describing many ways homeowners, contractors, and builders can make homes more resistant to hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds, floods, and hail.

Impact Resistance of Brick Veneer Structures to Hurricane Debris

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An impact test report from projectile missile tests against brick veneer, verifying that brick veneers perform well to resisting hurricane force wind driven debris.

Wood Frame Roof-to-Wall Connections in Hurricane Retrofit Guide

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A hurricane retrofit guide describing techniques for strengthening roof-to-wall connections for family homes.

Hurricane Mitigation Retrofits for Existing Site-Built Single-Family Residential Structures

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Code describing the requirements for existing site-built single-family homes to receive roof-to-wall retrofits when re-roofing.

Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew In Florida - Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance, FIA 22

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Document containing recommendations on how to brace roofs and gable end walls based on lessons learned from analyzing the destruction from hurricane Andrew.

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

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

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Ivan in Alabama and Florida Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 489

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FEMA mitigation assessment team report following Hurricane Ivan in Florida and Alabama including observations, recommendations, and technical guidance.

Mitigation Assessment Team Report: Hurricane Michael in Florida: Building Performance Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA P-2077

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FEMA Mitigation Assessment Team Report describing damages from Hurricane Michael in Florida in Oct. 2018 and recommendations for future hurricane preparedness.

Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations Recommendations and Technical Guidance, FEMA 549

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Guide discussing observations, recommendations, and technical guidance as a result of Hurricane Katrina

Taking Shelter from the Storm - Building a Safe Room for Your Home or Small Business, FEMA L-233

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A guide for homeowners on determining the risks from tornadoes and hurricanes and selecting a safe room type and location, as well as providing detailed plans for safe room construction.

The Effects of Windborne Debris on Saferoom Wall Panels and Fenestration Systems

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Projectile missile testing of various wall panel configuration to understand how the different wall constructions would perform when struck with wind driven debris from a hurricane.

Wall Bracing, R602.10

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A guide describing how to do wall bracing calculations and evaluations.

Required Length of Bracing, R602.10.3

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Table in the IRC describing bracing requirements for specified wind speeds and building story locations.

Retrofit Improvements: Flash and Seal Roof Penetrations

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Fact sheet describing flashing of roof penetrations to make a home more resistant to high winds, hurricanes, and rainwater intrusion.

Wall Bracing Examples

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Document describing wall bracing techniques and suggestions for the city of Verona, WI building department.

House Siding Options, Plus Costs, Pros & Cons 2020

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A starting point for ballparking and comparing the cost of different siding materials and a brief overview of the pros and cons of different siding materials.

Resistance of Exterior Walls to High Velocity Projectiles

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Report describing the testing of various siding materials for their ability to resist bullets from small firearms.

Assessing the Impact of Thickness of the Performance of Stucco Cladding

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A report that evaluates the force it takes to crack stucco of various thicknesses.

ICC-ES Evaluation Report, ESR-1679

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ICC-ES Evaluation Report reviewing proprietary steel shear wall panels developed by Simpson Strong-Tie Company to resist vertical and lateral loads in walls resulting from wind or earthquakes.

APA Building for High Wind Resistance in Light-Frame Wood Construction

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A publication highlighting recommendations that contribute to improved overall performance in the structural shell and focus on good connection details to tie together exterior walls, roofs and floors.