New research led by an MIT graduate student at the school’s Concrete Sustainability Hub suggests that the value of buildings constructed to resist wind damage in hurricanes may be significantly underestimated.
The research found that the failure of wind loss models to account for neighborhood texture—the density and configuration of surrounding buildings—may result in a more than 80% undervaluation of structures built with stronger construction methods in Florida. Hazus, a loss estimation tool used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), estimates physical and economic damage to buildings due to wind and the impact of windborne debris.
The tool assumes that all buildings in a neighborhood experience the same wind loading, but buildings come in many different shapes and sizes can be arranged in numerous ways. Their configuration and positioning can amplify or reduce the wind load on buildings within the neighborhood.
In a model developed by MIT researchers, the texture-related loss implications were found to be higher in census tracts along the coast. These areas tend to be more dense and ordered, leading to higher wind load amplifications. Loss implications are particularly high for single-family homes, which are more susceptible to damage and have a higher replacement cost per housing unit.
Related Stories
Green | May 31, 2016
Miami Beach requires developers to meet green standards or pay a fee
Applies to structures larger than 7,000 sf.
Codes and Standards | May 27, 2016
Better enforcement needed for successful implementation of energy efficiency policies
Commercial buildings the focus of recent code initiatives.
Codes and Standards | May 25, 2016
LEED Dynamic is worth the effort, says commercial real estate executive
San Diego office tower is California’s first office building to receive LEED Dynamic plaque in recertification.
Codes and Standards | May 24, 2016
Ontario planning to spend $7 billion on wide-ranging climate change plan
Includes financial incentives to retrofit buildings.
Codes and Standards | May 23, 2016
Facility managers say Internet of Things, analytics will impact maintenance soon
More reliable data needed for optimal results from the technology.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2016
Industry leaders call for wider use of bamboo as a building material
Benefits include seismic resiliency and sustainability.
Codes and Standards | May 19, 2016
Asphalt roofing group publishes updated shingle installation guide
Technical manual provides best practices for roofing professionals.
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2016
EPA proposes new stormwater discharge regulations for construction sites
Would apply to sites of one or more acres.
Roofing | May 16, 2016
New guide focused on increasing energy and structural performance with raised-heel trusses
Higher trusses simplify attic ventilation, leave more space for insulation.
Codes and Standards | May 11, 2016
Current California seismic codes provide safety, resiliency, but needed upgrades present challenge
Los Angeles requires seismic retrofits, but other cities do not.