Tornadoes. Floods. Fires and hurricanes.
Natural disasters are occurring more frequently, and the damage they cause is growing. According to Gallagher Re, a United Kingdom-based global reinsurance broker, weather events caused more than $360 billion in damage worldwide in 2022. While nothing can prevent all damage, engineered wood products (EWPs) offer a way to make buildings more resilient to these incidents.
Matt Brown, the director of energy policy and code at APA - The Engineered Wood Association, says engineered wood products can promote sustainable construction practices. Plus, they can help professionals design buildings that meet or exceed code requirements for events such as seismic activity, floods or high winds. APA offers valuable information on how to best use these products.
“We have resources,” Brown says. “They guide you on how to increase the resilience of wood-frame structures. A sound resiliency strategy includes structure, sustainability and energy efficiency.”
APA defines resiliency as designing and constructing buildings that can withstand and recover from severe wind, seismic activity, fire and floods, while promoting sustainability and energy efficiency.
“Engineered wood helps meet these challenges by offering structural resilience, hazard mitigation, stewardship/sustainability, and energy efficiency,” Brown says. He points out that federal organizations such as the U.S. Energy Department, as well as the International Code Council, are including sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives in their regulations.
“A core piece of a solid resiliency plan is to make sure a building is energy efficient and survivable after a major disaster,” he adds.
Consider the potential impact of flooding. Hurricanes have struck some of the country's most populated areas, causing unprecedented water damage. APA points out that a raised wood floor system (with a crawl space) may help prevent structural damage by giving the water somewhere else to go.
“You can have flood dampers that allow the structure to stay (intact), even if the crawl space were to flood,” Brown says. “You can still maintain a space in livable condition.”
APA has information on how to create these resilient systems.
Then think about high winds. Tornadoes, hurricanes and tropical cyclones have caused billions of dollars in damage worldwide in recent decades. Brown points out that APA has numerous resources with recommendations for creating structures resilient to high-wind events, including case studies on rare occurrences like straight-line wind events.
“Builders may not realize how easily they can increase their structural resistance for wind,” Brown says, pointing out that using a tighter nailing pattern when attaching roof and wall sheathing will greatly increase wind resistance in light-frame wood construction.
Where appropriate, APA refers builders to other organizations that can help ensure structural resiliency. For example, consider the potential devastation of a fire. Fires have become all too common in much of the country, especially the Western U.S. APA encourages building professionals to use the extensive resources of the American Wood Council for more information.
Want to learn more about how to build more resilient structures? Watch the APA-hosted free webinar, Resilient Construction with Engineered Wood: Sustainable, Code-Compliant Solutions. It explores how engineered wood products can help designers meet or exceed code requirements while creating strong, energy-efficient structures. The webinar is approved for AIA and ICC continuing education credits.
You can also contact your local APA Engineered Wood Specialist for a complimentary consultation.
