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To: matt04
I’ve walked through some houses under construction in Fl. The amount of bracing, rebar and concrete is very impressive.

The post-Andrew building codes are excellent. When I had to repair my home after said storm (northern eye wall hit my house, 165 MPH winds), I rebuilt what I could to the new standards.

Just a note, there were some concrete block buildings that failed under those wind speeds, but I dont know if we will ever see sustained speeds like that in a storm for a long time. Irma had that look, but Cuba took a lot out of her.

1,680 posted on 09/10/2017 8:16:39 AM PDT by Paradox (Don't call them mainstream, there is nothing mainstream about the MSM.)
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To: Paradox

As you and others have mentioned concrete block construction, I will use a reply to explain to those not familiar with construction the variables to understand when you see masonry units like concrete block.

Concrete block wall that are not significantly reinforced with reinforcing steel in mortar filled cells is actually somewhat brittle without much flexural strength. Sometimes walls are built with lightweight block, which is even a weaker material.

That being said, a well reinforced concrete block wall with reinforcement in both horizontal and vertical spacing along with structural tie back is one of the strongest methods short of solid reinforced concrete to build a blast wall or other highly resilient wall.

If you see a concrete foundation with vertical reinforcing steel sticking up vertically before the upper all construction has started, that indicates the continuity of vertical reinforced wall construction.


1,691 posted on 09/10/2017 8:26:59 AM PDT by KC Burke (If all the world is a stage, I would like to request my lighting be adjusted.)
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