47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

3.7 Checklist for BuildingVulnerability of CriticalFacilities Exposed to HighWindsThe Building Vulnerability Assessment Checklist (Table 3-8)is a tool that can help in assessing the vulnerability of variousbuilding components during the preliminary designof a new building, or the rehabilitation of an existing building.In addition to examining design issues that affect vulnerability tohigh winds, the checklist also examines the potential adverse effectson the functionality of the critical and emergency systemsupon which most critical facilities depend. The checklist is organizedinto separate sections, so that each section can be assignedto a subject expert for greater accuracy of the examination. Theresults should be integrated into a master vulnerability assessmentto guide the design process and the choice of appropriate mitigationmeasures.Table 3-8: Checklist for Building Vulnerability of Critical Facilities Exposed to High WindsGeneralVulnerability Sections Guidance ObservationsWhat is the age of the facility, andwhat building code and edition wasused for the design of the building?Substantial wind load improvements were madeto the model building codes in the 1980s. Manybuildings constructed prior to these improvementshave structural vulnerabilities. Since the 1990s,several additional changes have been made, themajority of which pertain to the building envelope.Older buildings, not designed and constructed inaccordance with the practices developed sincethe early 1990s, are generally more susceptible todamage than newer buildings.MAKING CRITICAL FACILITIES SAFE FROM High Wind3-147