Posted on 09/13/2005 1:00:21 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
- Walls Can Withstand 250 MPH Winds - FORT WORTH, Texas, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- With rescue and relief efforts underway in the Gulf Coast, experts will soon be faced with the challenge of rebuilding cities and communities. Building officials in coastal areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina would do well to learn from Florida. Faced with destruction, deaths and costly rebuilding after an onslaught of storms in the past decade, Florida revamped its building codes and enacted provisions for structures that could withstand punishing hurricane force winds.
NUDURA insulated concrete form technology (ICF) meets Florida's stringent building codes and is being offered at steep discounts to those set to rebuild on the Gulf Coast. Up to nine times stronger than traditional wood framed construction, the wall system can withstand wind forces as high as 250 miles per hour(1).
This "sustainable building technology" provides for the sturdiest of structures, reduced insurance premiums and an incredibly energy-efficient building. "Updated building codes are increasingly calling for high-wind resistance construction," said Bruce Craig, owner of Bullfrog Builders, a company that builds with ICFs in Beaumont, Texas. "The beauty of ICFs is that it offers not only hurricane and tornado protection, which lowers insurance premiums, but it also decreases utility bills by up to 40 percent."
"The gulf states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi will rebuild and we want builders, homeowners and building officials to know that there is better building technology available for coastal areas. While NUDURA technology will not protect from flooding, the strength of the product promises a durable, sturdy home that is virtually hurricane proof -- plus protection from mold and rot that result after flooding," said Cameron Ware, president of FutureStone, a distributor of NUDURA ICFs.
FutureStone is offering a 20% discount to any builder or homeowner that is rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina.
About FutureStone
FutureStone, Ltd. markets NUDURA's ICF products to independent contractors, contractor supply companies, architects/architectural firms, developers and home builders for family residential, multi-family residential, commercial and industrial construction projects. FutureStone provides training and support for NUDURA projects. For more information please visit www.futurestone.com and www.nudura.com on the web.
(1) The Wind Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University tested standard wood and steel framed walls and ICF-built walls. Researchers fired 15-pound lumber "missiles" at wall sections to simulate debris carried in a 250 mph wind. (These wind speeds are typical of tornadoes; hurricane winds tend to be much lower). The ICF walls survived the assault, while the projectiles penetrated or destroyed the wood- and steel-framed walls. Researchers report, "the strength and durability of concrete walls formed with ICFs offer unmatched resistance to the devastation of major storms."
Right. It is called reinforced concrete bunkers.
Canadian company, if I am not mistaken.
Any newer office building associated with an oil refinery will be explosion-proof.
Great idea to spend a bunch of extra money for wind proof building that can still be flooded.
Is it bullet proof or fallout proof?
One of the things that came out of Andrew in Florida, at least in my county, was a requirement for all new homes to be concrete block. Plus some other requirements for roof truss supports, etc.
Stupid name. Sounds too close to that sustainable development BS from the UN.
and the titantic was unsinkable.....
What county do you live in?
You could make it flood-proof, too.
But that would cost quite a bit, and might not look so nice.
Brevard.
According to his home page, Florida by way of Alabama.
My grandmother's old house in Cocoa, Fla (built in the 50's) had concrete block walls and a slate roof on 2x10 slats supported by 2x6 rafters set every 18". It also had real shutters. It's an example of how coastal homes were built before the hurricane lull of the 60's, 70's and 80's.
http://www.azobuild.com/news.asp?newsID=1128
Safety in the round: Circular houses prove sturdy in hurricanes
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/living/home/12376571.htm
DelTec Homes: Round for a Reason
http://www.deltechomes.com/default.asp?pl=http://www.deltechomes.com/testimonials.asp
http://www.brimanlimited.co.uk/Bardoline%20round%20house.jpg
Colonial Survival Style
Thanks for that. My home, that I sold recently, had 2X10 slats on 2X8 rafters with brick walls, built in the mid 60's, in Fort Worth Texas. Wiring sucked and the foundation was another problem, but I think, in general, the quality of construction has diminished to the point of irresponsibility with contractors today. Let's face it, 2x4 purloins and press board is not meant to endure the press of time.....
Are you sure about that requirement? It does not appear to exist. I wanted to read more and found Bevard County Building Codes. It does not appear to have any requirement above that of Florida. Am I missing something?
First (living) floor is 12 feet in the air with a drive under open garage. Access via a central enclosed stairway with outside storage in the rear. Large reinforced concrete pillars at each corner to support the structure above (along with the central stairway structure). Very solid, very tropical looking. Everything that can be flooded is either concrete or easily torn-out and replaced wood. All the plumbing and sewage lines are exposed runs underneath the first floor slab. Electrical and telephone comes off of the pole to service entrances on the first floor level.
Saw a lot of housing very similar to this at the now closed and returned NAS Cubi Point (part of NB Subic Bay) in the Philippines. Odd thing was that the houses were uphill from the shore line and it would have taken a major tsunami to generate water levels high enough to reach most of them. Probably a standard anti-typhoon design.
Could be built fairly cheaply if it was a standardized design. Wishful thinking.
Are they going to be watertight. too? It wasn't the winds that destroyed so many homes in Mississippi, it was the 33 foot storm surge that knocked down THOUSANDS of homes.
A watertight home in a 33 foot storm surge may be designed as a house, but will there after be known as a boat.
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