Wind-Resistant Profiles
In a Category 5 hurricane, a 90-degree corner is a structural liability.
Tornadoes, hurricanes, and severe cyclonic storms exert devastating lifting and tearing forces on traditional homes. The vast majority of structural failures in high wind events begin when the wind catches under roof eaves, generating tremendous uplift that tears the roof off. Once the roof fails, the walls collapse inward or outward immediately.
The Danger of Right Angles
Flat walls intercept wind, building immense positive pressure on the windward side and severe negative pressure (suction) on the leeward side. To survive winds exceeding 200 mph (320 km/h), architecture must become aerodynamic.
Monolithic Domes
The ultimate high-wind survival structure is the monolithic concrete dome. Constructed by inflating a heavy-duty fabric form, spraying it from the inside with polyurethane foam, laying a grid of steel rebar, and finally spraying shotcrete (pressurized concrete). The result is a single, continuous, jointless structure.
- Aerodynamics: Wind simply slips over and around the curved surface. There are no eaves for the wind to grab, and no flat walls to absorb direct impact pressure.
- Structural Unity: Because the walls and roof are one continuous piece of steel-reinforced concrete, uplift forces are distributed into the massive foundation below.
- Debris Deflection: In tornadoes, flying debris acts like missile strikes. A curved, 4-inch thick concrete wall causes debris to glance off rather than penetrate.
Tension Systems & Tiedowns
For those who cannot build domes, standard rectangular frames must be heavily modified. The entire structure must be locked together in a continuous load path from the roof ridge down to the foundation. Tactical tiedown straps, hurricane clips, and anchor bolts ensure that lifting forces on the roof pull up on the heavy concrete foundation, rather than just pulling the roof off the walls.
- Glazing Defense Polycarbonate shields or impact-laminated glass
- Roof Sheathing Attachment Ring-shank nails every 4 inches
- Door Reinforcement Outward-swinging, multi-point lock steel