Strategies for Mitigating Damage to Metal Building Systems

Abstract

Hurricanes Camille (1969), Frederic (1979), and Elena (1985) subjected the Gulf coastal region to wind‐speed regimes at or near design level events. Additionally, during the time interval, the wind‐load provisions of ANSI A58.1 and the industrial standard for Metal Building Systems (MBMA) had undergone extensive revisions. Tens of thousands of steel‐framed, pre‐engineered buildings were affected by these three hurricanes, providing valuable field evidence to assess structural performance. The object of this paper is to review the damage patterns inflicted by these major storms and suggest mitigation strategies for reducing the damage to metal building systems. The structural performance of metal buildings is well understood, and, for the most part, adequate code provisions are currently in place to ensure satisfactory behavior in high winds. The unique manner in which metal buildings are engineered, fabricated, marketed, sold, and erected suggests that much of the effort needed to mitigate wind damage primarily falls on the shoulders of the franchised dealer or his engineer of record.