flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Codes in Florida Panhandle made buildings vulnerable to Hurricane Michael

Codes and Standards

Codes in Florida Panhandle made buildings vulnerable to Hurricane Michael

Less stringent codes in northern parts of state linked to devastation


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | October 23, 2018

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

Codes and Standards | Aug 30, 2021

Facebook’s new $800 million Arizona data center to save big on water

Will restore more than 200 million gallons of water per year to river basins.

Codes and Standards | Aug 26, 2021

California may require solar on new high-rise residential and commercial buildings

State energy commission approves proposal; Could become law in 2023.

Codes and Standards | Aug 25, 2021

Study finds racism, discrimination common in construction industry

NIBS to share best practices with industry leaders to improve worker treatment.

Codes and Standards | Aug 24, 2021

White paper addresses insulated metal panel specifications for roofs and walls

Pertains to provisions of the National Building Code of Canada.

Codes and Standards | Aug 24, 2021

KTGY releases free resource to reduce carbon footprint in multifamily developments

Helps navigate Denver Green Code measures—a series of voluntary codes.

Codes and Standards | Aug 19, 2021

Massive infrastructure bill includes hundreds of millions for building energy efficiency

Funds allotted for updated code implementation, construction technology, K-12 efficiency programs.

Codes and Standards | Aug 18, 2021

Fannie Mae green bonds program could be greenwashing

Analysis shows significant number of green bond properties become less efficient.

Codes and Standards | Aug 17, 2021

Three Texas cities head list of most environmentally vulnerable

Hazard analysis includes natural disasters and government response categories.

Codes and Standards | Aug 16, 2021

Bill would reform New York’s public contracting process

Council on Public Contracting Reform to have contractor representation.

Codes and Standards | Aug 12, 2021

AGC pushes for more environmentally friendly construction

Contractor trade group supports government investment, tax incentives to reduce carbon footprints.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021