FEMA P55 Coastal Construction Manual, Fourth Edition - Mad Cad

1 CHAPTER TITLE
COASTAL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL
9Designing the Building
This chapter provides guidance on design considerations for
buildings in coastal environments. The topics discussed in
this chapter are developing a load path through elements of
the building structure, considerations for selecting building
materials, requirements for breakaway walls, and considerations
for designing appurtenances. Examples of problems for the
development of the load path for specific building elements are
provided, as well as guidance on requirements for breakaway
walls, selection of building materials, and appurtenances.
9.1 Continuous Load Path
COASTAL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL
CROSS REFERENCE
For resources that augment the
guidance and other information in
this Manual, see the Residential
Coastal Construction Web site
(http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/
mat/fema55.shtm).
In hazard-resistant construction, the ability of the elements of a building, from the roof to the foundation,
to carry or resist loads is critical. Loads include lateral and uplift loads. A critical aspect of hazard-resistant
construction is the capability of a building or structure to carry and resist all loads—including lateral and
uplift loads—from the roof, walls, and other elements to the foundation and into the ground. The term
“continuous load path” refers to the structural condition required to resist loads acting on a building. A
load path can be thought of as a chain running through the building. A building may contain hundreds of
continuous load paths. The continuous load path starts at the point or surface where loads are applied, moves
through the building, continues through the foundation, and terminates where the loads are transferred to
the soils that support the building. Because all applied loads must be transferred to the foundation, the load
path must connect to the foundation. To be effective, each link in the load path chain must be strong enough
to transfer loads without breaking.
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