Architect Butch Grimes, who examined the wreckage after a half-mile tornado struck Tuscaloosa, Ala., believes toughening building codes can reduce damage from twisters.
“The damage we had on the edges [of the tornado] could have been avoided with simple construction techniques,” Grimes told Scientific American.
The strongest hurricane winds on the coast can reach 180 mph, while the strongest tornadoes, category EF-5, have wind speeds of 200 to 250 mph. Tornadoes that strong are rare, with more common lower-category EF-2 or EF-3 tornadoes having wind speeds in the 100- to 150-mph range. The lower wind speeds, around hurricane strength, are most common on the edge of tornadoes.
“It’s probably not practical to design for EF-5 damage,” Grimes said. Weaker storms, however, can and should be designed for as coastal areas have been doing for years, he said.
Hurricane clips are one potential quick fix. In Alabama, the clips are required for buildings built within 5 miles of the Gulf of Mexico but remain optional farther inland. Reinforced windows could be another effective measure.
(http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tornado-survival-could-improve-with-better-building-codes/)
Related Stories
| Sep 26, 2013
OSHA encourages comments on respirable crystalline silica rules
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rulemaking for respirable crystalline silica has been published in the Federal Register.
| Sep 26, 2013
EPA’s final rule on updated ASTM standard likely to be withdrawn
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to withdraw a direct final ruleissued in Augustregarding an ASTM standard for Phase I Environmental Site.
| Sep 26, 2013
A primer on RoofPoint green-rating system for commercial roofs
The RoofPoint green-rating system can be used to construct more energy-efficient and sustainable commercial roofs.
| Sep 26, 2013
ConsensusDocs releases updated federal subcontract to help construction firms perform federal work
The newly revised ConsensusDocs standard subcontract (ConsensusDocs 752 for federal work) will make it easier for general contractors and subcontractors to perform federal work.
| Sep 18, 2013
Proposed Boston casino development approval will depend partly on sustainability
The movement toward green building has been slow to catch on in the casino industry, but that could change with Suffolk Downs, which plans to build a $1 billion casino in Boston.
| Sep 18, 2013
Regulations could ease firefighters’ fear of roof solar panels
The local fire chief says solar panels are partly to blame after a 300,000 sf refrigerated warehouse in Delanco, N.J., burned down.
| Sep 18, 2013
New AISC design guide on structural stainless steel now available
For the first time in the U.S., design professionals now have an authoritative resource on structural stainless steel with AISC Steel Design Guide No. 27, Structural Stainless Steel.
| Sep 18, 2013
DBIA’s ‘Design-Build Done Right’ best practices project seeks industry input
The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) is seeking industry input on its project to create a design-build best practices document.
| Sep 11, 2013
USGBC Florida Chapter survey to help contractors adopt sustainable practices
Contractors in Florida could benefit from a data collection project by the state's chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.
| Sep 11, 2013
Disability, vet hiring standards for contractors are goals, not quotas
Contractors that fall short of new federal hiring rules concerning veterans and disabled persons will not necessarily incur penalties, says Patricia Shiu, director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
