One of the beautiful things about building a structure from the ground up is that you can design and construct it in any way that suits your needs. When it comes to having a business or office that can withstand the elements and other types of disasters, you will have to consider environmental factors, among other things. Here are a few possible disasters and tips on how you can build a structure that can withstand them.
Earthquakes
In order to build a business or office that can handle the abrupt shaking caused by an earthquake, it is important that your structure has lateral as well as vertical strength and stiffness. Because an earthquake will cause a structure to move from side to side, it is important that it is built with a foundation that is deep enough and has piles that are driven. The foundation must also have a load path that is continuous as this will allow the force of the earthquake to be shared and move as a unit, therefore helping to prevent any breaking apart of the structure.
Fires
Dealing with fire in general can be a particularly devastating event. It can lead to the destruction of your home as well as cause injury and even loss of life. While individual building fires are disastrous, wildfires can be even more troublesome as they can destroy entire communities and can spread very quickly. If you live in a region where wildfires are common, one of the best ways you can protect your structure against them is by building with materials that are resilient when it comes to fires. Concrete can withstand up to 800 degrees, making it an ideal building material in fire-prone areas.
Hurricanes
When it comes to making your location resistant to hurricanes, you can do it at the beginning stages, or you can make adjustments to your current home. You can have shutters installed on your windows in order to keep the hurricane winds from shattering the glass and allowing water to enter your home. However, when it comes to your roof, you want to prevent it from being torn away from the structure by using tied-down strapping.
Tornadoes
As with protecting your building from a hurricane, the foundation must have a continuous load path in order to help prevent the pulling apart of the structure of your building. While wooden homes are the most vulnerable when up against a tornado, even a brick home can be destroyed if the structure can be broken apart. The key is to try to make the entire structure behave as one unit by reinforcing it with steel connectors at the meeting points of your home. This enables the entire structure to share the force of the high winds which makes it very difficult for your home to be ripped apart.
Flooding
If you live in a region that is susceptible to flooding, one of the first things you should consider during the design phase is whether the location is in a flood-free zone. If you can build on a piece of land that has a slight slope to it, then this can help with reducing your chances of flooding. Furthermore, for the structure itself, you should never build low to the ground but always build on stilts or in any way that allows your structure to be off of the ground, so the water can flow through.
Tsunami
Because of the danger and suddenness of a tsunami, one of your best defenses against one is to not build too close to the sea, especially if you live in an area that is prone to earthquakes. Otherwise, you should make sure that you are building your structure in a way that allows the water to pass through in order to prevent flooding. Furthermore, your property should be constructed out of steel or reinforced concrete and strong enough to withstand the tremendous forces of a tsunami.
Snow Storm
As pretty as snow might be when it first falls, a snowstorm can wreak havoc on your property’s structure if you are not properly prepared for it. During a snowstorm, not only will the ground be covered, but so will the top of your building. The problem with that is that the snow, which is water, can cause damage to your roof if it is just left to sit there. One of the best ways to mitigate water damage from a snowstorm is to construct a roof with a slope that is deep enough, so snow cannot sit for too long. A gable roof that is positioned to offset winds may be your best bet.
Intruders
While home invasions are not natural disasters, they can still be devastating nonetheless, and you should definitely protect your property and its occupants against them. Although it is good to have an alarm system, once the alarm goes off, that means that the intruder has already made their way into the structure. The main line of defense is to keep intruders out or at least slow them down by making it extremely difficult to further enter the structure. Burglar bars on your windows and doors is a great way to prevent unwanted entry into your building. However, as an extra means of precaution, you can also build a safe room during the construction process which will allow you a safe place of escape while you wait for help to arrive.
Although there are many different natural disasters that occur in the world, there are also a lot of them that are man-made as well. Protecting your home against nuclear explosions, terrorism, or even intruders requires a lot of forethought and even a bit of imagination. While you can build a bomb shelter or even a safe room or a bunker in order to keep your loved ones safe during any type of attack, you have to almost think the worst in order to be truly prepared. When it comes to protecting your family, you can never be too cautious.
Business insurance is critical for preparing for disaster. Contact us today to learn how we can help.