FEMA P55 Coastal Construction Manual, Fourth Edition - Mad Cad

Volume II Designing the builDing envelope 11
Building integrity in earthquakes is partly dependent on the performance of the building envelope. Residential
building envelopes have historically performed well during seismic events because most envelope elements
are relatively lightweight. Exceptions have been inadequately attached heavy elements such as roof tile. Tis
chapter provides recommendations for envelope elements that are susceptible to damage in earthquakes.
A building’s susceptibility to wildfre depends largely on the presence of nearby vegetation and the
characteristics of the building envelope, as illustrated in Figure 11-3. See FEMA P-737, Home Builder’s Guide
to Construction in Wildfre Zones (FEMA 2008), for guidance on materials and construction techniques to
reduce risks associated with wildfre.
COASTAL CONSTRUCTION MANUAL
Figure 11-2.
Numerous wind-borne
debris scars on the
wall of this house and
several missing asphalt
shingles. Estimated
wind speed: 140 to 150
mph. Hurricane Charley
(Florida, 2004)
Figure 11-3.
House that survived a
wildfre due in part to
fre-resistant walls and
roof while surrounding
houses were destroyed
SoURCE: DECRA RooFING
SySTEMS, USED WITH
PERMISSIoN
11-3