Texas Tech University is no longer offering debris impact testing services for standards compliance. Components used, including louvers, curbs, anchors, supports, etc., should be tested and rated for these wind and impact forces. Design forces include requirements for tie-downs to the foundation and adequate foundation sizing to resist the design overturning and uplifting forces. Corresponding walls and roofs must withstand impact from a 15 pound (6.8 kg) wooden 2x4, propelled at 100 mph (161 km/h) and 67 mph (108 km/h), respectively. Designing for these conditions requires much thought and involves forces from all directions. Hurricanes generate wind speeds from 74 mph (119.1 Km/h) to more than 150 mph (241.4 km/h), while tornadoes generate wind speeds to more than 250 mph (402 km/h). Wind speeds in ICC-500 are much higher than wind speeds in ASCE-7 or the International Building Code. So, are we designing these shelters correctly? Are we using best practices? Where do we find information on details of the MEP design? For the purpose of this article, I will only consider facilities designed to code, so the terms are not differentiated, and the design and construction of every facility should follow the code as best as it can be interpreted. Some state codes, like Indiana’s, define “storm shelter,” “safe room,” and “best available tornado refuge area” as different entities. Storm shelters are required at all 911 call stations emergency operation centers and fire, rescue, ambulance, and police stations as well as educational occupancies through grade 12 with occupant loads of 50 or greater. Storms and storm shelters aren’t new, but including storm shelters as part of education facility design and construction is new to our industry as our country, states, and/or municipalities adopt the latest building codes. Or should I even be using latex or vinyl gloves for an absolute best practices approach? I must patiently and carefully separate the filters without licking my fingers to keep my fellow employees happy and healthy. I don’t believe my fellow employees would appreciate this approach. When making coffee at the office, can I lick my fingers to help separate the filters, like I do at home? No.
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