As an example of how conformance with the new codes made houses better able to withstand the onslaught of Hurricane Charley, Graber noted that in modern, code-compliant structures in the Punta Gorda downtown area, concrete masonry withstood the high winds. By contrast, he reported that structures that were not built to current codes “suffered significant damage, because the concrete masonry was not reinforced to current construction standards even though the walls were substantial.”
“In virtually all cases, the modern reinforced concrete masonry structures were able to withstand the wind forces and performed very well in these conditions,” said Graber, who has more than 14 years of experience investigating high-wind disasters.
“The true test is when a structure is out in the open, unprotected by adjacent structures or trees,” he said. “We’ve seen numerous reinforced concrete masonry structures in these situations and they performed admirably. Over and over again, in talking to people who rode out the storm, we heard comments like, ‘Thank goodness we were in a block house; it kept us safe.’”
The National Hurricane Center suggests that home owners in hurricane areas contact local building code officials to find out what requirements are necessary for home improvement projects.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency encourages construction with strong, impact-resistant materials, such as concrete masonry, within homes and other structures located in hurricane-prone areas.
“Residents of South Florida saw again the importance of building with hurricane-resistant construction” said Jim Gulde, president of Masonry Information Technologists, Inc., who was also on site in Punta Gorda.
“Code changes have helped to limit the amount of damage to property and potentially saved lives,” said Gulde. “The real story is that hurricane-resistant materials like reinforced concrete masonry did great.”
The National Concrete Masonry Association is a member of the Concrete Home Building Council. For more information on the council, e-mail Dawn Faull at NAHB, or call her at 800-368-5242 x8362.
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