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Posted by Maureen K. Fleury Jul 19, 2008 |
According to Science Daily, New Jersey School of Architecture professor Rima Haher says “building design and construction can be significantly improved to reduce wind pressures on building surfaces”.
She goes on to explain that buildings which are square or hexagonal or octagonal are good at reducing wind loads.
The style of roof makes a difference too. The best one is a four-sloped hip roof, rather than a gable roof with two slopes Wind has a tendency to lift up roofs so it is important to have your roof securely fastened to your house with nails and not staples Florida has already banned stapled connections to roofs. To prevent wind from lifting up roofs, do not have large eaves or overhangs.
For wind, it’s a matter of not allowing it to get into or under your house. It is a myth to open your windows during a tornado in order to equalize pressure. It is also essential to have your house strongly connected to its foundation.
In areas that are prone to flooding, an open foundation with an elevated structure is good.
hI watched a TV program where architects and scientists researched the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami in order to design a tsunami-friendly house. Rather than resisting the water, the house has saloon-type doors at both ends. The pressure from the water hitting the house will cause the doors to open and the water will run through the house.
Source:
New Jersey Institute of Technology (2008, July 13). Architect Professor Advocates Best-building Practices For High Wind Regions. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 18, 2008/releases/2008/07/080709110842.htm
