IMPACT PROTECTION
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WHEN DO YOU NEED IMPACT PROTECTION?
Any structure that is located in a Wind-Borne Debris Region (WBDR), is an area that is at risk of being impacted by high winds and debris during a hurricane.
Wind-Borne Debris Region (WBDR)
Within 1-mile of the coastal mean high water line where the basic wind speed is equal to or greater than 130mph (and Hawaii).
In areas where the basic wind speed is equal to or greater than 140mph.
To mitigate the risk of damage caused by high winds and debris, hurricane impact protection measures such as impact-resistant windows, doors, and shutters are often installed in WBDRs.
What is the difference between Hurricane Prone Region vs
Wind-Borne Debris Region (WBDR) vs High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)?
Hurricane Prone Regions
are defined as:
The U.S. Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico coasts where the basic wind speed is greater than 115mph. Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
The basic wind speed can be found using the ASCE Hazard tool at: ASCE 7 Hazard Tool
Wind-Borne Debris Region (WBDR)
Are defined as those areas within the Hurricane Prone Regions located:
Within 1-mile of the coastal mean high water line where the basic wind speed is equal to or greater than 130mph (and Hawaii).
In areas where the basic wind speed is equal to or greater than 140mph.
High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)
Specifically defined as Miami-Dade, Broward and Coastal Palm Beach Counties. As in previous editions of the FBC, a single wind speed is used for the HVHZ for each Risk Category Map.
The design wind speeds in the HVHZ are as follows:
Miami-Dade Broward
RC I 165mph 156 mph
RC II 175mph 170 mph
RC III 186mph 180 mph
RC IV 195mph 185mph
Impact products for HVHZ market (Miami-Dade and Broward counties) must be tested to a more rigid FBC/Miami-Dade TAS protocol standards.
The HVHZ was established in response to Hurricane Andrew, a Category 5 hurricane that devastated South Florida in 1992. In the aftermath of the storm, it became clear that many buildings in the region were not built to withstand the high winds and flying debris associated with major hurricanes.
"RC" - Risk Category
NOTE: Essentials Facilities that falls on Wind Zone 3&4, 150 mph or greater or 140mph and within 1-mile of the coastline are required to comply with Level-E (80 ft/sec) Impact Protection.
TEXAS IMPACT REGION
Windborne debris protection is required on Seaward and Inland I zone. Protection is not required on Inland II.
Small-missile protection above 30ft grade is required. Protection is NOT required above 60 ft.
Texas Building Code adopted IBC 2015 which references ASTM standards on impact protocols.
The states that have areas falling under the Wind-Borne Debris Region (WBDR) include:
Alabama: The Alabama Department of Insurance has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "coastal high hazard areas," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These coastal high hazard areas are located in Baldwin and Mobile counties.
Florida: The Florida Building Code has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "coastal high hazard areas," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These coastal high hazard areas are located in most of the counties along Florida's coastline, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Levy, Dixie, Taylor, Wakulla, Franklin, Gulf, Bay, Walton, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia counties.
Georgia: The Georgia Department of Community Affairs has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "Coastal Georgia High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ)," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These Coastal Georgia HVHZ areas are located in Chatham, Glynn, and Bryan counties.
Louisiana: The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council has designated certain areas of the state's coastal parishes as "coastal high hazard areas," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These coastal high hazard areas are located in Cameron, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Vermilion parishes.
Mississippi: The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "coastal high hazard areas," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These coastal high hazard areas are located in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties.
North Carolina: Per North Carolina Building Code, the following counties fall under the Wind-Borne Debris Region: Beaufort; Brunswick; Carteret; Craven; Dare; Hyde; New Hanover; Onslow; Pamlico; Pender; Tyrrell; Washington
New Jersey: New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (UCC) has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "Coastal A Zones," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These Coastal A Zones are located in Atlantic, Cape May, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union counties.
South Carolina: The South Carolina Building Codes Council has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "coastal high hazard areas," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These coastal high hazard areas are located in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, and Jasper counties.
Texas: Texas Department of Insurance has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "coastal high wind zones," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These coastal high wind zones are located in Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Aransas, San Patricio, Refugio, Calhoun, Victoria, Matagorda, Brazoria, Galveston, and Jefferson counties.
Virginia: Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has designated certain areas of the state's coastal counties as "Coastal A Zones," which are subject to the WBDR requirements. These Coastal A Zones are located in Accomack, Gloucester, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Richmond, and Westmoreland counties.
HVHZ stands for "High Velocity Hurricane Zone," which is a subset of the Wind-Borne Debris Region (WBDR) in Florida. The HVHZ is an area that has been designated as being at higher risk for hurricane damage, and as a result, has more stringent building code requirements.
The counties in Florida that fall under the HVHZ include: Miami-Dade County; Broward County; (Monroe & Coastal Portion of Palm Beach County)
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