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Surviving the Storm, Energy efficient framing practices for hurricane and tornado country
comments (1) April 30th, 2011 in Blogs
Michael Chandler, member
9 users recommend
Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) and some custom details combine to make an energy-efficient system that will weather the storm
Photo: Pencil drawings by Michael Chandler
Looking at the pictures and video of the recent tornados leaves a feeling of hopelessness. What can we do as builders to defend against that kind of destructive force? A closer look at how the damage really happens shows a few lessons that we can use to serve our customers better in the event of violent weather.
The damage may be more widespread than you think
The video and news reports we see show only the extreme conditions. Far more common are damages to people and property at the edge of the storm that are far less catastrophic and even preventable. We joke that tornados are somehow magnetically attracted to trailer parks but 15 of the 24 deaths from the April 16 tornados here in NC were in mobile homes. They are very vulnerable to being crushed by falling trees. A fellow builder lost three children when a tree came crashing through his trailer while he was doing a side job that Saturday afternoon, his wife was home with the kids and survived. Another man was crushed when a tree came down on his car, while parked in his driveway. Having good shelter and knowing when to take cover can make all the difference.
Finding Refuge
If you are at risk from a tornado or from the “microbursts” (80-120 mph vertical winds) that accompany hurricanes don’t wait in a trailer or in your car. Find refuge away from the windows in a stronger building that doesn’t have a lot tall trees around it and wait it out there. If you are driving and a tornado is going to overtake you get out of the car and lie down in a ditch or depression so the debris will blow over you and the wind won’t have something to push around. Teach your kids to listen for the “freight train” sound of a tornado or microburst and take cover in a safe area of your home under the staircase, in a windowless powder room or a storm hardened closet. I recently waited out a microburst in my hardened powder room with my wife, child and a family friend. Four people clutching cell phones in a darkened 3x5 room while listening to the trees come down on the hillside above us.
Building a safe haven
We often build safe rooms into master bedroom closets by lining the walls and ceiling with plywood before hanging the sheetrock. Typically we will include a 32x32 tempered awning window for keeping track of conditions outside. A connection to the alarm system, and some form of bolt on the door allow it to protect against burglars and home invasions. Builders have been slow to adopt 24” OC 2x6 optimum value framing due to concerns about the strength of the structure. We have adopted several framing techniques that work with Optimum Value Engineering (OVE) to improve storm survivability while also maintaining good energy efficiency and stiffness.
Read on to see some of our standard strategies.
posted in: Blogs, green building, framing, hurricane, tornado, ove
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Comments (1)
How about a nice Ferro-cement Dome?
Posted: 7:17 am on May 2nd
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