Mike Silvers, CPRC, Silvers Systems Inc. & FRSA Director of Technical Services
Shortly after I started consulting for FRSA, Hurricane Irma hit Cudjoe Key on September 10, 2017. My first
column was about the experience of observing the devastating effects that it left behind. As I am writing this I am watching newscasts of Hurricane Michael slamming into Panama City and the adjoining areas. The early reports indicate that this damage may be even more severe than that caused by Irma. When I wrap up here I will begin making preparations to drive to the Panhandle. As those of you who have witnessed the aftermath of a major hurricane know, the impact is very sobering. It is something you won't forget.
Michael made landfall I as a category 4 hurricane with sustained wind speeds in the 140 mph range. This is
approximately the wind design speeds for that area. Irma had similar wind speeds, but they were still below the wind design speeds in the Keys, which are in the 180 mph range. So, with Michael there should be a good opportunity to see how structures, components and cladding designed for those speeds performed. I am trepidatious about what we may encounter, but also anxious to learn all we can from this unfortunate occurrence.
Somewhat ironically, I was recently part of a very knowledgeable group presenting FRSA's position on maintaining ASCE 7-10 as the Referenced Standard for design loads in the Florida Building Code (FBC) to the
Florida Building Commission. The Commission meeting was scheduled to last two days, but partially due to the
then building tropical storm, and the fact that many of the attendees live in Michael's predicted path, the business understandably moved through rather quickly. The Commission voted to adopt the much more complicated and considerably more stringent ASCE 7-16 as the wind design Referenced Standard for the 2020 Florida Building Code, although its final adoption will not be complete until after the public comment period. The adoption process makes it highly unlikely that the current ASCE 7-10 can be retained. In a future column, I will go into more detail on how ASCE 7-16 and the requirements of section 707.3.2 and its Roof Diaphragm Analysis may cause a perfect (not in a good way) storm for Florida's roofing industry. We will hopefully gain important information from our observations that will help in promulgating better and more implementable Referenced Standards for future Florida Building Codes. FRSA has a history of improving roofing applications and has been the leader in common sense improvement to our roofing related codes.
I had the need to return to the Keys a few months after my initial post-hurricane visit. What I found was an incredibly resilient group of residents striving to return their community and lives to somewhat normal. I trust that when the dust settles from Michael, we will find the same effort in the Panhandle. Florida's roofing industry and its licensed roofing professionals will be a very important part of that recovery.
Michael J. Silvers, CPRC is FRSA's Director of Technical Services. Mike is an FRSA Past President, Life Member and Campanella Award Recipient, and a Florida Licensed Certified Roofing Contractor, who brings over 40 years of industry knowledge and experience to FRSA's team. Mike is available to FRSA members who have codes or technical questions and can be reached at 800-767-3772 ext. 169 or by email at silvers@floridaroof.com.
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