Storm & Security

FIELD/WORK | by George Rosado | Putting Up a Solid Front Cladding and glazing materials with the strength to weather severe storms provide protection and aesthetics. The National Weather Service recently an‐ nounced the expansion and retooling of the country's severe weather warning system in response to challenges experienced last year. In June, the mid-Atlantic and Midwest derecho was one of the most destructive, fast-moving thunderstorm complexes in U.S. history.1 In October, Superstorm Sandy, now the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, wreaked havoc along the Eastern Seaboard, affecting 24 states and causing upwards of $50 billion in damage. And, more than 935 tornadoes touched down in 46 states, causing more than $1.6 billion in damage. It's becoming more difficult to accurately predict the immediate future with so many anomalies. Consequently, the National Weather Service is encouraging property owners across the country to prepare for the worst. In response, architects working in storm-prone regions are taking steps to protect building envelopes with materials that meet or exceed the criteria set by Florida's Miami-Dade County Building Code—the toughest in the industry. Many are finding their ideal solutions by pairing Reynobond® Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) and Reynobond with KEVLAR® hurricane-impact panels with hurricane-resistant curtain walls, entrances, windows and storefront framing systems manufactured by Alcoa Building and Construction Systems' (BCS) sister company, Kawneer—allowing them to design structures that can withstand severe weather conditions. Alcoa's Reynobond with KEVLAR is a light, flexible aluminum composite panel that can withstand hurricane-propelled debris and similar types of impact—without the use of additional backer materials. These panels are certified under the Miami-Dade County Above: By combining two materials, architects were able to create a sleek, modern design while protecting the Cultural Arts Center's structure and meeting Florida's stringent building codes. Photo: East Coast Metal Group, Inc., Miami, FL. Right: When rebuilding, the Henryville school system requested the restoration contractor specify entry and window products because of their proven durability and strength. Photo: FotoGrafix/Viken Djaferian, Wausau, WI Building Code to withstand the impact of a nine-pound two-by-four timber traveling at 50 feet per second, while Reynobond ACM panels meet the Miami-Dade standards for "small" wind-borne debris. A lightweight aluminum composite material, Reynobond with KEVLAR is engineered to provide protection for a building structure. Reynobond's superior strength-to-weight ratio has been enhanced by the extraordinary high strength of DuPont™ KEVLAR, which is five times stronger than steel on an equal weight basis. The pairing provides a smart alternative to traditional fascia materials such as brick and stucco. Reynobond with KEVLAR provides the same durability and versatility as traditional Reynobond material and is available in the same extensive color palette, so the materials can be seamlessly matched. 18 STORM & SECuRITY PROTECTION / FORECAST 2013

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