Florida lawmakers and code policy officials have questioned the state’s approach to building codes in the wake of Hurricane Michael.
The Category 4 storm, with sustained winds of 155 mph, decimated coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle. Statewide codes have hurricane-resilient provisions, but they vary by region.
New office buildings and homes in Miami-Dade County must be designed to withstand winds around 175 mph. Along the stretch of the Panhandle hit hardest by Michael, though, the design standard varies from 120 mph to 150 mph.
In hard-hit Mexico Beach, some homes constructed under the latest code instituted in 2002 were destroyed. Code requirements have been based on storm history and the likelihood of future hurricanes striking a particular area. The Panhandle had seen few big storms since the 1800s, and Michael is the first known Category 4 hurricane to strike the region. Lawmakers and code officials now say codes may have to be strengthened in the northern part of the state.
Related Stories
| Feb 22, 2012
ACI BIM manual for cast-in-place concrete in development
The improved communication, coordination, and collaboration afforded by BIM implementation have already been shown to save time and money in projects.
| Feb 20, 2012
Comment period for update to USGBC's LEED Green Building Program now open
This third draft of LEED has been refined to address technical stringency and rigor, measurement and performance tools, and an enhanced user experience.
| Feb 20, 2012
GAF introduces web portal for architects and specifiers
The new portal offers a clean look with minimal clutter to make it easier to find the technical information and product data that architects need.
| Feb 17, 2012
AGC advocates for federal procurement reform
Ensure that small business goals take into consideration actual small business capacity in relevant specialty markets.
| Feb 17, 2012
Codes not to blame for Anchorage roof collapses following heavy snows
Design or construction problems likely contributed to the collapses, according to city officials.
| Feb 17, 2012
Comment period opens March 1 for LEED 2012 update
USGBC says that LEED's strength comes from its continuous evolution.
| Feb 17, 2012
OSHA training videos on proper respirator use available online
17 short videos to help workers learn about the proper use of respirators on the job.
| Feb 17, 2012
Union/employer collaboration on the rise aimed at exceeding OSHA safety standards
Unions have learned to help employers win contracts with bids made competitive through good safety practices.
| Feb 16, 2012
Gain greater agility and profitability with ArchiCAD BIM software
White paper was written with the sole purpose of providing accurate, reliable information about critical issues related to BIM and what ArchiCAD with advanced technology such as the GRAPHISOFT BIM Server provide as an answer to address these issues.