Windstorm Preparedness:
Sites or buildings

When selecting a location for a building, expanding or renovating facilities or purchasing existing structures, keep these tips in mind to reduce windstorm exposures.

• Buildings located next to open terrain such as fields, large bodies of water, parking lots and airport runways allow winds to blow unimpeded and strike with full force. Where possible, give preference to developing structures in built-up areas, with hilly or wooded terrain, or where man-made beams and embankments exist. Sometimes referred to as "ground roughness," these qualities help deflect and reduce wind gusts.




• To reduce risk of damage from falling or sliding masonry, avoid unreinforced parapets and decorative facades. Consider new roof coverings for those that are aging or deficient. Closely monitor contractors during construction projects to ensure product selection and installation follow proper specifications.




• When purchasing doors, choose rugged framing and sturdy products that will resist wind forces. If open doorways and open sides are preferred in your building, roof design should provide for increased resistance to uplift in order to accommodate the high winds that will enter the building.




• Consider replacing large expanses of windows with narrower windows and wall construction. Also consider replacing glass windows with laminated glazing systems that meet the criteria for missile resistance. Tightly install windows, doors, air conditioners and vents. Maintain well-sealed joints, replacing caulk and joint-covering trim as needed. Place shutters over windows to deflect wind-driven rain and protect the window glass.




• In high wind areas, reduce the vulnerability of your roof by using materials that have a good record for wind-resistance, such as poured reinforced or monolithic concrete. (Affiliated FM customers should check with Affiliated FM engineers to find out about the best options for roof design.) When using deck and above-deck components, be sure to select proper materials and ensure sufficient fastening (preferably with screws). Inadequate fastening can result in a roof loosening, peeling or blowing off buildings.




• Roof gravel, which can add resistance to wear and ultraviolet radiation, can be blown off the roof in high winds and can break windows, damage equipment and mar building surfaces and door glazing. Prevent loose stones from blowing off roof by applying gravel over hot asphalt or coal tar and, once set, removing any remaining gravel from the site.




• The most important single component of a roof system is its flashing. Flashing acts as a weather seal along the perimeter of a roof, at the junction of a roof and wall, and at junctions of roof covering and structures such as skylights and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment. During installation, prior to a storm and periodically throughout the year, make very sure that flashing is properly secured around the entire roof and at any auxiliary rooftop structure. When inspecting flashing, pull out on the lower edge; if it feels loose, resecure it by appropriate weather-resistant fasteners driven through washers.