47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

etween the hospital and the medical office building (MOB). TheEIFS debris also broke a large number of windows in the MOB(see Figure 3-56). Glass shards from the MOB punctured the roofmembrane over the dialysis unit. The costly damage resulted inloss of several rooms in the MOB and hampered functioning ofthe hospital complex.Figure 3-56:EIFS debris blown offthe hospital building inthe background (redsquare) broke numerouswindows in the MOB inthe foreground. HurricaneIvan (Florida, 2004)Reliable wind performance of EIFS is very demandingon the designer and installer, as wellas the maintenance of EIFS and associatedsealant joints in order to minimize the reductionof EIFS’ wind resistance due to waterinfiltration. It is strongly recommended thatEIFS be designed with a drainage system thatallows the dissipation of water leaks. For furtherinformation on EIFS performance duringhigh winds and design guidance see FEMA 489and 549.Another issue associated with EIFS is the potential for judgment errors.EIFS applied over studs is sometimes mistaken for a concretewall, which may lead people to seek shelter behind it. However, insteadof being protected by several inches of concrete, only twolayers of gypsum board (i.e., one layer on each side of the studs)MAKING CRITICAL FACILITIES SAFE FROM High Wind3-67