Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/71917
FEMA PROTECTION LEVELS FEMA Wind Hazard Zone I II III IV Basic Wind Speed 130 mph (209 km/h) 160 mph (258 km/h) 200 mph (322 km/h) 250 mph (402 km/h) Tornado Missile Speed 80 mph (129 km/h) 84 mph (135 km/h) 90 mph (145 km/h) 100 mph (161 km/h) Professional Engineer (PE) to qualify alternative configurations. Test specimen anchorage to the building substrate (alu- minum, steel, concrete, masonry or wood) must be in accor- dance with applicable industry standards for the specific substrate as referenced in AAMA 512. Installation details (including anchorage) must be reviewed and stamped by a licensed PE as part of the test report. While the largest test specimen size typically presents the "worst case" for all components of a window system, this is not necessarily true for tornado-mitigating products. Paths for energy absorption vary considerably depending on additional factors such as configuration, aspect ratio, hardware location, and anchor rigidity and substrate. Accordingly, smaller sizes and different configurations can be qualified only by engineer- ing analysis in accordance with AAMA 2501, Voluntary Guide- line for Engineering Analysis of Window and Sliding Glass Door Anchorage Systems, and AAMA 2502, Comparative Analysis Procedure for Window and Door Products. Clearly, given an (fortunately rare) EF-4 or EF-5 tornado, if the entire building is leveled, it makes little difference how well its windows perform. However, hazard mitigation opportunities do exist for buildings exposed to the most common tornadoes. AAMA 512 is intended to complement existing building stan- dards by providing a method for rating fenestration products to withstand a designed event. Although a structure cannot be "tornado proof," an increased level of protection can be provided, says Raj Goyal (Goyal and Associates), member of AAMA's Tornado Hazard Mitigation Task Group. Reducing property loss and personal injuries are critical during extreme weather events. AAMA 512-11 can be obtained through the AAMA online Publications Store, http://pubstore.aamanet.org/pubstore/ ProductResults.asp?cat=0&src=512 Dean Lewis is chief engineer, certification programs, American Architectural Manufacturers Association. AMC AUTOMATED MOTOR COMPANY 1939B WEST COPANS ROAD • POMPANO BEACH, FL , 33064 904-200-8744 • 954-393-2358 • FAX: 954-974-0529 DISTRIBUTOR OF TUBULAR MOTORS FOR AWNINGS, HURRICANE ROLLING SHUTTERS & ROLLER SHADES FROM 6NM TO 100NM MOTORS, STANDARD 4 WIRE MOTORS RADIO MOTORS ALL TYPE OF HARDWARE AMC MOTORS, SOMFY MOTORS, SIMU MOTORS CONTROLS FOR INTEGRATION BUILDING MANAGEMENT CONTROLS SYSTEMS AMC 800-233-1144 alutech.com Made in USA 2012 FORECAST / STORM&SecURITy PROTecTION 17 Let us secure your business the right way with Security Grilles.