The 'New American Home' was built in accordance with the 2001 Florida Building Code, and withstood the recent Florida hurricanes.
The absence of damage to the 2005 New American Home is in direct relation to the successful development of the 2001 Florida Building Code, which was adapted as a result of Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
A few of the items that make the code work are as follows: the tile roof is a composite system consisting of a foam adhesive process which requires no nails or wires penetrating the tile, Icynene insulation applied directly to the roof sheathing eliminates the positive and negative pressure on the roof, windows are fastened to 2x wood bucks which are set with tap cons directly to the solid core masonry jambs, all structural columns are formed and poured concrete and the beams are all double solid filled lentils, structural dowels are located at 4'-0" o.c. and at each side of all openings.
"Perhaps one of the most important items is having a conscientious builder responsible for seeing that the code is followed in its entirety and subcontractors that are focused on doing the job right."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: The New American Home Weathered Florida's Hurricanes, Will Be Ready for Tours
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Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research