Recent research results on the status of hurricanes are in.
The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) recently reported that hurricanes will likely intensify by as much as 10%. Meanwhile, the global proportion of hurricanes that reach “very intense” (Category 4 and 5) will also likely increase.
Put another way, there is now a critical need for disaster-resilient buildings, with safer buildings being recognized as a way to protect against natural disasters and to minimize the community, environmental and financial impact. But the question is: how should a building be designed to withstand a hurricane?
When it comes to disaster-resilience, robust building materials are critical — materials that not only can withstand wind, water, fire and earthquakes, but also are energy-efficient and, in short, versatile. This is exactly why concrete has been cited as “especially suited” to provide this resistance and why it has been the top choice among builders who are building with resiliency in mind.
This blog post will serve as a roundup of numerous case studies where insulated concrete forms (ICFs) have withstood hurricanes, including Category 5 hurricanes.
How Should A Building Be Designed to Withstand A Hurricane? ICF Case Studies
It is the combination of the strong, steel reinforced concrete core and the layers of rigid foam makes Insulated Concrete Forms one of the strongest and most durable wall systems available today. Element ICFs withstand winds of up to 300 mph.
The Famous ICF Home That Survived Hurricane Michael (Fall 2018)
“The Mexico Beach House” — the ICF home that survived a Category 4 hurricane (Hurricane Michael in fall 2018) was featured in major media outlets from New York Times to CNN.
As a point of reference, 54% of the rest of the homes in the panhandle were entirely destroyed.
Read more here.
The ICF That Home That Survived TWO Category 5 Hurricanes
This ICF home survived not one, but two hurricanes — both Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Irma just one year later. In this article the owner of this incredible home speaks about his experiences first-hand and how he designed his home within a pragmatic and affordable budget.
The Element ICF Home That Survived Superstorm Sandy
This Element ICF home survived Superstorm Sandy, while the house beside it was entirely washed away. Watch this short clip to learn more:
The Federal Alliance For Safe Homes (FLASH) also selected Element ICFs for the walls to demonstrate best-in-class hurricane and wildfire safe construction, which you can read more about here.
Wrapping It Up
Hurricanes are on the rise. Building with disaster-resilience in mind is critical, which is why builders are choosing ICFs. Offering greater structural strength than wood and protection against both wind and fire, it’s easy to see why.
Recommended Further Reading:
