Cyclone Design

Studio Nimbus is built in the tropical cyclone zone. The dense rainforest itself provides considerable protection. Our personal post-cyclone observations clearly suggest that in many instances particular types of dense vegetative barriers appeared to reduce damage to nearby dwellings. Our 2 rectangular “pods” are constructed with blocks filled with reinforced concrete, very thick poured reinforced concrete ceilings and seriously strong doors. Water tanks, in the dominant exposed weather direction provide a 45 tonne protective barrier for the “pods” and should disrupt damaging high speed laminar wind flows. The exposed “pod” windows can be fitted with bolt on shutters making the “pods” massively strong cyclone shelters.

Triangular “wings” on balcony corners in the main structure create turbulence and to the reduce vacuum effect on windows from high speed wind. The five large, double-glazed massively framed, three pane stacker doors are protected by being inset on 2.4m deep balconies. Chain driven awning windows offer secure / robust three point window attachment. High level exhaust fan outlets assist in rapid pressure equalisation. Awning windows have the advantage that they can provide ventilation during heavy rain and are relatively secure in high winds. The computer designed bolted / welded and cross braced massive steel frame is meant to withstand considerable lateral forces.

Our Cyclone Shield system uses inexpensive standard 6 standard 3m farm gates on top of the balcony railing to provide additional seasonal cyclone protection. The galvanised pipe and welded mesh gates are 1100mm high and 2980 mm wide. As our steel balcony 75m m X 75mm posts are 3070mm apart, the gates make an ideal fit. If you design your place to use standard readily available sizes things are really much cheaper.

The Cyclone Shield System uses a 75m x 75mm jockey wheel clamp and a small steel plate around each post and 38mm muffler clamps to hold each gate in place. It takes a couple of minutes to tighten the eight nuts holding each gate. Wings nuts could be substituted so that everything could be assembled without tools.

The gates protect from flying debris and disrupt laminar wind flow. If a severe blow is expected, chicken wire can be stretched over each gate. The gates are only put up if a cyclone is imminent. The rest of the time they can just be stacked outside. In extreme weather events the shields provide some additional cross bracing for the balcony areas. The shields also help dampen potential harmonic vibrations resulting from prolonged constant high speed winds.