from Northeast Florida Builders
Association
Florida’s building codes reflect a respect for these extremely dangerous conditions and make provisions for homes to withstand hurricane-force winds. The recent damage caused by hurricanes, however, reminds us just how vulnerable we are.
It’s no surprise, then, that many homeowners are turning to specially constructed storm rooms for additional protection.
Lighter than other above-ground steel and concrete shelters and installed in about four hours at a cost estimated below $7,000, the DuPont Stormroom with Kevlar is a panelized system. When properly installed, the Stormroom can help absorb the impact of wind-driven debris. The rooms meet FEMA standards requiring that storm shelter rooms be designed to withstand the impact from a 15-pound 2-foot-by-2-foot structural timber moving at 100 miles per hour.
Five times stronger than steel and yet incredibly lightweight, Kevlar is the same material found in the bullet-resistant vests used by police and military forces. The Dupont Stormroom system is anchored with Simpson Strong-Tie anchoring to help address the threat of wind uplift. The rooms can be finished both inside and out to match the walls of a home. The shelter is ventilated and electricity and plumbing can be installed. Cell phones can be used inside the room.
Particularly in those states most vulnerable to tornadoes and hurricane-force winds, new building codes require construction practices that provide better tie-down solutions for roofs and wall structures. Stormtech Systems is a patented structure stabilizing system. This protection concept uses a cable system to augment the structure of a building so it can resist winds up to 160 mph. The Stormtech System is installed by attaching galvanized steel cables into anchors set into the foundation. The cables are run through a series of brackets that are attached to the rafters of the structure. The entire system is then tightened using the turn buckles.