BASC Search | Building America Solution Center

Wrong – The vinyl siding at this gable was installed over rigid foam instead of wood sheathing and neither had the structural strength to resist hurricane wind pressures.

Wrong – The vinyl siding at this gable was installed over rigid foam instead of wood sheathing and neither had the structural strength to resist hurricane wind pressures.

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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.

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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Wrong – This gable end wall failed because connectors were missing at points of support (blue circles) and the outlookers were not connected to the end truss (yellow circle)

Wrong – This gable end wall failed because connectors were missing at points of support (blue circles) and the outlookers were not connected to the end truss (yellow circle)

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Moisture-resistant plastic and fiber cement exterior trim and cladding are indistinguishable from wood building elements.

Moisture-resistant plastic and fiber cement exterior trim and cladding are indistinguishable from wood building elements.

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Get a Storm Ready Roof

Video

Video explaining why having a strong roof is so important in hurricane zones and recommendations on how to construct a roof that will stand up to hurricane force winds from LSU AgCenter.

Adequately designed and constructed freestanding cantilevered wall system.

Adequately designed and constructed freestanding cantilevered wall system.

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

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

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Adequately designed and constructed tie-beam/tie-column masonry wall.

Adequately designed and constructed tie-beam/tie-column masonry wall.

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Firewall separation. Results from building corners being discontinuous with tie-beams.

Firewall separation. Results from building corners being discontinuous with tie-beams.

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Detail A - Typical truss web bracing

Detail A - Typical truss web bracing

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Detail B - Typical wood gable-wall bracing

Detail B - Typical wood gable-wall bracing

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Observed roof bracing for gable roof overhang and recommended modification

Observed roof bracing for gable roof overhang and recommended modification

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

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

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

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Upper-floor tie to lower floor for two-story building. Floor tie anchor and nailed wall sheathing.

Upper-floor tie to lower floor for two-story building. Floor tie anchor and nailed wall sheathing.

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Example of masonry construction. Wall separated from building envelope due to inadequate vertical wall reinforcing in connection to horizontal tie-beam.

Example of masonry construction. Wall separated from building envelope due to inadequate vertical wall reinforcing in connection to horizontal tie-beam.

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Wind uplift pressures on gable end overhang with ladder framing

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Construction layers in a typical framed wall.

Construction layers in a typical framed wall.

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Rebar type and placement to reinforce masonry walls.

Rebar type and placement to reinforce masonry walls.

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Wrong – This roof structure failed due to inadequate bracing

Wrong – This roof structure failed due to inadequate bracing

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

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

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Wrong - During high winds air entered the home elsewhere and pushed out the door which was inadequately anchored to the wall.

Wrong - During high winds air entered the home elsewhere and pushed out the door which was inadequately anchored to the wall.

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Right - Anchorage to increase the wind uplift resistance of outlookers forming the overhang at a gable end truss wall.

Right - Anchorage to increase the wind uplift resistance of outlookers forming the overhang at a gable end truss wall.

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

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

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Roof tie-down details for truss-to-wall connections from Fortified Home

Roof tie-down details for truss-to-wall connections from Fortified Home

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Wrong – The roof sheathing was inadequately fastened and gave way causing the gable end wall to fail

Wrong – The roof sheathing was inadequately fastened and gave way causing the gable end wall to fail

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Wrong – This house under construction is lacking wall to truss bracing and the bottom chord of the scissor trusses is several feet above the top of the end wall top plate

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

Reference

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

Reference

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.

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