Hurricane Damage May Betray Need for Building Codes Updates

Costs are mounting from two major hurricanes in Florida, and a third storm is now on the way. Are building codes in that state designed to adequately meet the stresses created by occasional severe storms, and how can home construction be improved to make homes sturdier? What about the demands created by natural events like earthquakes in the Northwest? J. Daniel Dolan, professor of civil and environmental engineering, is working on a Department of Naval Research grant to strengthen and toughen low-rise construction during hurricanes and other high-load events. Such buildings under seven stories make up 85 percent of the structures in the U.S. Dolan hopes the work will eventually lead to improved structural performance of buildings without driving building costs significantly higher. Dolan is also involved in writing and updating design and building codes in the U.S. Contact Dolan at 509.335.7849, or e-mail jddolan@wsu.edu.