Mitigation: Every Dollar Above Code Multiplies in the Face of Disasters
It pays to invest in disaster mitigation. That was a message from the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), in issuing the most recent report for its multi-year study, Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2018 Interim Report.
The 2018 report highlights the significant savings that result from implemeting mitigation strategies around safety, the prevention of property loss and disruption of day-to-day life—all matters that NIBS experts say have become increasingly expensive, especially in recent years.
The project team found a national benefit of $11 for every dollar invested. Based on these estimates, communities that consistently meet the latest editions of commonly a commonly adopted code requirements, culminating in the 2018 International Residential Code and International Building Code, have added 30,000 new jobs to the construction-materials industry and an approximate 0.3 percent increase in utilization of domestically produced construction materials for each year of new construction (over
what would have been if buildings were designed as they were in 1990).
The code-related mitigation strategies the project team studied demonstrated that, among others:
• For resistance to hurricane winds, complying with roofing and a variety of openings, including doors and windows, as well as connection detailing requirements in the 2018 I-Codes saved $10 for every dollar invested.
• For resistance to earthquakes, building new buildings stronger and stiffer relative to complying with the 2018 I-Codes saved $12 for every dollar invested.
The report determined that these benefits carry over to all building stakeholders.
AAMA Updates Several Documents
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) recently T updated several test method and specification documents. The AAMA 150648 “Voluntary Test Method for Laboratory Heat Build-Up Effects on Fenestration Products” document was first released in 2004, “describing a standardized test to evaluate heat build-up effects due to infrared (IR) exposure on fenestration products,” according to the association. This is its first update since publication. Changes include aligning Section 7.3.2.1 to ASTM D4803 rather than G179 since D4803 is specifically for building products.
AAMA also updated a document for evaluating the performance and durability of rollers used in the operation of sliding doors and lift and slide doors. AAMA 906-18, “Voluntary Specification for Sliding Door and Lift and Slide Roller Assemblies,” was first released in 2005 and was last updated in 2015.
“The 906 document was updated to reflect testing of large weight capacity rated sliding door rollers, which are now being used in our industry,” says Jan Huml, chair of the AAMA 906 Lift and Slide Roller Assemblies Task Group. “We changed the dwell cycle time because test labs were concerned about injuries during testing, with rollers being tested at weights up to 1,500 pounds per pair with fast dwell speeds.”
Another document updated by AAMA describes minimum requirements for various factors pertaining to rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exterior profiles used in windows, doors and skylights. AAMA 303-18, “Voluntary Specification for Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Exterior Profiles,” was first released in 2000 and was last updated in 2012. It establishes the minimum requirements for dimensional stability, impact resistance, weatherability, heat resistance, weight tolerance, heat buildup and lead compound content of certain rigid PVC exterior profiles.
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