Building Management Hawaii - (Page 24)
WindoWs /doors
Reassessing Hurricane Preparedness
Study shows failure of windows, doors increases risks
BY ANDREW KEENAN
L
ast year's storms are a clear indication that we need to
take hurricane preparedness more seriously. We only
need to go back to 1992, when Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai
with sustained winds of 145 mph. Let's examine what can
be done with windows and doors to prevent hurricane
damage to your home.
A study by the University of Colorado in the mid-1990s
looked at hurricane damage to residential structures and
risk mitigation. Specifically it looked at the damaged
caused by hurricanes Iniki and Andrew.
Modern homes are constructed with more and larger
openings than older homes. Entry doors are often double,
sliding glass doors that replace regular doors, and attached
garages often have double-width doors to hold two cars.
The greater number and size of openings place homes at
increased risk from hurricane forces.
For example, according to the University of Colorado
report, nearly every residential house or apartment in south
Florida has at least one sliding glass door and frequently
more, sometimes placed in adjacent walls. Sliding glass doors
are at least 6 feet wide. Typical single family homes have
attached garages many with double wide garage doors. Storm
shutters for glass openings and doors are very uncommon.
24
February-March 2015
BMH
Failure of windows and doors exposes the
entire structure to increased force and loads. It has
been estimated that an opening of only 5 percent
in the windward side of a building will allow full
pressurization of the interior, exerting uplift pressure
on the roof and horizontal pressure against the interior
walls. Because storm shutters for glass openings and
doors are uncommon, thousands of houses affected
during Hurricane Andrew in south Florida required
interiors and furnishings to be completely removed and
replaced because just one sliding glass door failed.
The University of Colorado's report concludes that
"wind-borne debris must be recognized as a significant
factor in home damage, and even structural failure.
Once the envelope of a home is punctured by debris,
the interior of the home is exposed to the same forces of
wind and water as the exterior. On the one hand, steps
should be taken to reduce or control potential sources of
debris. At the same time, homes should be constructed
or retrofitted to strengthen doors and protect windows
against debris penetration."
For new construction, new building codes are addressing
the structural connections in the home, specifically the roof
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Management Hawaii
Editor’s Note: Energy Management
Insider’s Guide to Picking a Security Company for Your Property
Industry News
Dealing with Graffiti and Glass Damage
Hawaii’s High-Tech Roofing Products
Building and Management Expo Set
Installing New & Improved Windows
Window Film Cuts Glare, Energy Bills
Reassessing Hurricane Preparedness
An ESA Can Deliver Peace of Mind
Checking a Building’s Energy Score
Managing PV Energy Consumption
The Ultimate Energy-Efficient Building
What to Know About Chiller Plants
New Trends Emerge in HVAC Systems
Walk-throughs Vital to Engineers
Trapped in the Web of Act 326
Faces: The IREM Banquet
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