I am told that in the coastal regions of the Gulf there are certain Hurricane Regions and  building rules specific to those regions and the occasional hurricane that wanders through there. 

I need to know where I can find the controlling doc's that govern this and if anyone is buildig in that area currently and having to comply with them.

Thanks,
Greg

Greg;


we comply in all Gulf bordering states


International Code:


The following link is wind map for Florida

http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/bldg/pdf/state/Wind_borne_MAP021407v2.pdf

I am building with SIPS in one of those fabled regions that you have heard tale about. Wind speed to be designed for here in my part of so. Louisiana is 105, but we're 80 to 100 miles inland.

Greg,

You want to reference the International Building Code (IBC) and FEMA recommendations for building in flood zones. If you are in Florida you would reference the Florida Building Code which is very similar to the IBC except for its referral to "high velocity wind zones" which are only found in the Miami/Dade county area and parts of Broward county.

Greg;

when using an alternative buiding method in hurricane prone areas, you will need to have permit plans (structural) signed and sealed by a licensed engineer or architect in that state

Thanks, guys. I have found information on Texas Dept. of Insurance certification. We have our plans stamped here already, it's a requirement on projects where the builder or homebuyer is using bank money.

I think the code is less the issue than the insurance cert. We have been doing this for a while and code compliance is not an issue rather insurance certification. So, I will reach out to the Tex. Dept. of Insurance and see what we need to do to be on their gold star list. This should translate to other regions, but that is probably a pipe dream...

Thanks, again.

Hello Greg,

At our office located in Galveston Texas we design structures in compliance with the 2006 IRC and 2006 IBC (multifamily and commercial) with the Texas Revisions. Compliance with these codes is essential to being able to get an insurance certificate (WPI-8). WPI-8 certification is required for:
structural
roofs
siding
windows
exterior doors (including garage doors)
and now fences.

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) requires each of these items to receive a WPI-8. Only engineers appointed by the TDI are allowed to perform these inspections. I am one of these; however, the TDI list all appointed engineers on their web site.

Based upon structural testing done in my lab in Austin (ASTM E72, and ASTM E1886) SIP's perform quite well in hurricane wind zones and are far superior to wood frame construction and cost less that wood frame construction that has sufficient "hurricane ties" to comply with the IRC. TDI currently has no SIP product evaluations and they do not have a specific product acceptance criteria for SIPs. I have worked with one of my former graduate school classmates at TDI (Paul Bove) do develop an acceptance criteria for SIP data evaluation. We have agreed that until TDI can develop their on acceptance criteria TDI would accept the same acceptance criteria used by the International Code Council (ICC). The Acceptance Criteria for ICC is is called AC04 and is available free on line at the ICC web site.

If you have any specific questions please feel free to contact me off line.

Matt B. Phelps, P.E., R.S.
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL
1407 39th St.
Galveston, Tx. 77550
409-766-7500 (office)
512-748-8199 (mobile)
[email protected]

Thanks, Matt.

Found another manufacturer's panel on the TDI website. I will reach out to the group and try to get my arms around the submission process. Thanks for the heads up on the engineer information. Will look into that as well.

Greg