"Hurricane Hardened"

[dsdsds]

Since last years storms here in florida, the term "hurricane hardened" is being thrown around by various clients and government agencies. Is there a technical definition for a "hurricane hardened" structure or is it purely a laymans term which would translate into using the correct design wind speed and a 1.15 importance factor? Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

[JAE]

FEMA 361 provides info on severe storm shelters that can be applied to buildings. I believe this has a lot of focus on tornados, but they do have info on hurricanes. Also, I would think that some of our Florida engineers here would have some insight (Ron?).

 

[UcfSE]

I'm working in Orlando and have never heard of the term "hurricane hardened".

 

[JAE]

Might be the local media personalities trying to look "smart" on TV!

 

[AlohaBob]

I see plywood being screwed down over windows. I see glass windows being taped with a very sticky tape to prevent glass shards blowing out and harming people. I see buildings designed to earthquake standards with minimal prescriptive loadpaths provided regardless of calculated loads. There's roofing standards for high wind areas. There's concerns for trimming trees of excessive foliage or susceptible breakage. Tie down loose furniture in yards. I even saw one homeowner placed concrete anchors in the ground around the house, then lashed the roof down with chords or wire. Hurricane means very low eye pressure associated with high tides. Buildings within the high surge areas must be designed for water surge loads. I suppose these are just a few things that may be applicable.

 

[boo1]

check link at

http://www.fema.gov/fima/tsfs02.shtm

 

[boo1]

Online Free Download for Hurricane Resistant Construction SSDT-1099 at:

http://www.iccsafe.org/cs/standards/is-hrc/SSTD10/index.html

 

[DGpe]

If you take a look at our code, most chapters include specific sections for "High Wind Velocity Zones". These are specific requirements for Miami-Dade, Browrd and Monroe counties. Maybe materials used in these areas are what they refered to as "hurricane hardened".