Commercial Architecture May 2018 - 19

FEATURE

fenestration

The Pythian Apartments is an adaptive reuse project that now houses 69 apartments in downtown New Orleans. The challenge was to provide impact products
that worked in the original historic portion of the building and in the 1960s addition.
Photo: George Long Photography

critical to assess how commercial-building products, par-

in which aluminum materials were slightly overstressed

rainfall totalled 60.58 in. near Nederland, TX. Hurricane

ticularly impact products, stood up to the test in 2017

but, on a whole, impact products continue to successfully

Irma, on the other hand, moved faster with higher sus-

and what we can do differently moving forward.

perform."

tained winds than Harvey, and the maximum rainfall
reached 16 in. near Fort Pierce, FL.

CODES AND IMPACT PRODUCTS

WATER STILL INTRUDES

Since the mid-to-late 1990s, the objective of impact prod-

While building codes and impact-resistant products have

seasons led to a greater understanding of severe wind-

ucts has been to protect the building envelope from rapid

successfully improved the structural integrity of build-

driven rain by 2010, but most of this knowledge has not

internal pressurization. Hurricane Andrew changed the

ings, an issue that continues to surface is water intru-

yet been worked into the codes. Moreover, building activ-

game in 2002, resulting in updated codes and changes

sion. Prior to 2002, water intrusion was not an issue if

ity continues to take place within FEMA's (Federal Emer-

in impact-product technology. In 2004, when Hurricanes

the building structure itself wasn't able to survive high

gency Management Association, Washington) 100-year

Charley, Ivan, Frances, and Jeanne all hit the state of

and sustaining winds. Now that buildings are built to

floodplain, and buildings that are built above or outside

Florida, those updated codes and impact products were

meet and, in many cases, exceed codes, severe wind-driv-

of the 100-year floodplain are still susceptible to

put to the test. But, it wasn't until Hurricane Irma in 2017

en rain and heavy flooding have become an increasing

flooding.

that a storm truly challenged the strength of buildings

challenge.

constructed to comply with 2002 codes.

Forensic research after the 2004 and 2005 hurricane

Windows and doors are critical to preventing water

The speed of a storm can determine the amount of

intrusion in a building. However, even when built to

"If we look back at the past two decades, impact prod-

rain a region will experience. In general, fast-moving

meet or exceed state building codes, water resistance is

ucts have done an excellent job of protecting the building

storms produce less rain and resulting water damage.

not guaranteed. According to the American Architectur-

envelope from potentially detrimental consequences,

Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall near the towns

al Manufacturers Association (AAMA), Schaumburg, IL

like damage to or full loss of a building's roof," said Barry

of Rockport and Corpus Christi, TX, on Aug. 26, 2017,

(aamanet.org), "In tropical storms and hurricane

Wampler, Orlando, FL, branch manager for YKK AP

moved extremely slow over the course of four days and,

wind-driven rain conditions, the product selected to meet

America Inc., Austell, GA (ykkap.com). "During the

as a result, caused widespread, unprecedented flooding

the state and local code requirements may still experi-

2004 active hurricane season there were minor instances

and severe damage. According to The Weather Channel,

ence water leakage because these extraordinary condi-

commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

MAY 2018

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T URE

http://www.aamanet.org http://www.ykkap.com http://www.commercialarchitecturemagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture May 2018