special report

Security for When the Next Storm Hits
The NextGen05 Safe and Sound home shows builders
how their homes can weather the storm.

After the destruction left by Charley, Francis, Ivan and Jeanne builders will be looking for ways to brace their homes against high winds. While there might not be such a thing as a completely hurricane-proof home, today’s materials and techniques make it possible to build stronger homes that better resist natural disasters than standard construction.

The NextGen05 demonstration home at the International Builders Show in Orlando, FL, January 13 to 16, 2005, will teach builders about those materials and techniques. With “Safe and Sound” as its theme, the home will showcase proven ways to build a wind- and fire-resistant home that makes its owners feel a little more secure when the next storm hits.

WIND AND FIRE
The project will be managed by Bellevue, WA-based iShow. All American Homes in Rutherfordton, NC, will build the modular home to the specifications of the Tampa, FL-based Institute of Business and Home Safety’s (IBHS)“Fortified . . . for safer living” program (see HP, Winter 2002, page 20). The Fortified program is a set of structural specifications designed to strengthen a home against natural disasters. The specs vary by region, but the Safe and Sound home will be fortified against two major threats faced by Florida homeowners: hurricanes and wildfire.

For a home to earn Fortified certification from IBHS, the specs must be verified by a trained inspector. These specs go beyond the building code in most regions. “The public needs to understand that the code is a minimum standard,” says IBHS’s Kevin Barber, who manages the program. “We want them to know that there’s a program out there that helps builders go beyond code.”

The Safe and Sound home’s disaster-resistant features rely on the latest building techniques and technologies. They include:

• Simonton’s StormBreaker Plus windows to keep deadly winds out of the house. The windows’ laminated glass and steel-reinforced frames can withstand flying debris up to 34 mph, as well as the extreme negative and positive wind pressures experienced in a hurricane.

• Metal strapping to tie the roof, walls and foundation securely together. If wind does get into the home, they will help keep it from blowing the roof off.

• Norbord WindStorm OSB sheathing to provide additional wall bracing. The sheets are long enough to reach from the very top to the very bottom of the wall: something standard sheathing won’t do.

• Decra stone-covered metal roof shingles for storm and fire resistance. They won’t burn, and are warranted to stay in place in 120-mph winds.

• A DuPont StormRoom with Kevlar, a residential in-home storm shelter, to give people a place to hide during the deadly tornadoes spawned by a major hurricane.

COMFORTABLE AND ATTRACTIVE
But the Safe and Sound home doesn’t look like a fortress; instead, it’s comfortable and attractive. Its contemporary floor plan puts the kitchen at the center of the main activity area, while its traditional elevation will look good in any neighborhood.

“Most people want a house that feels like home, while keeping their family safe. They want to do business with a builder that can give it to them,” says iShow president Paul Barnett. That should make the Safe and Sound home a great educational resource. “We expect a lot of interest in this project.”

The International Hurricane Protection Association (IHPA) and Hurricane Protection magazine are pleased to be part of the NextGen05 home as a supporter and media sponsor. Together, we plan to lend our expert advice and counsel in all areas of hurricane protection products, supplies and services.

For more information on how you can get involved as a sponsor, please contact Kerri Caldwell at (773) 775-9293; or e-mail at kcaldwell@lcclark.com