Designing and Constructing Buildings For Hurricane Melissa's Sisters and Brothers

Contributed

As a hurricane-prone region, Jamaica must prioritize the safety of its citizens and protect property by adopting and enforcing robust building standards.

The proposed standards herein aim to mitigate the impact of hurricanes and ensure the resilience of buildings across the country. 

The Jamaica Building Code (JBC) should set standards for:

1. Buildings' architecture must be designed to withstand/deflect wind pressures and resist wind forces, with structural connections and materials that can endure winds of up to 200 mph.
2. Buildings must be elevated to protect against floodwaters and storm surges.
3. No more construction on former cane or swampland without demonstrably adequate drainage facilitation.
4. Buildings must be constructed with materials and designs that ensure structural integrity, including wall thickness, material quality, and steel composition.
5. Jamaica should be classified globally as a High Velocity Hurricane Zone, from Negril Point to Morant Point, due to its location in a hurricane-prone region. 
6. This classification would require stricter building codes and regulations to ensure buildings can withstand high winds and storm surges.
7. Buildings must be equipped with hurricane impact-resistant windows, roof and doors that can withstand debris impact and wind-borne debris.
8. Roof coverings must meet wind resistance and impact protection testing standards, with a minimum rating of Category 3-5 wind protection.
9. Roof-to-wall connections must be designed to resist wind forces and prevent roof failure.
10. Leak-proof roof systems, including concrete slab, asphalt, and shingle roofs, must be designed to prevent water damage.

To ensure compliance with building codes, Jamaica should establish:

Establish an efficient, independent, and appropriately staffed Building Commission department in every parish. They will oversee construction and enforce building codes.

Regular inspections of construction sites, both proposed and in progress, would be required to ensure compliance with building codes, inclusive of structural integrity.

Jamaica's current building code should be revised immediately to incorporate the latest hurricane-resistant engineering research and lessons from recent hurricanes, such as Gilbert and Melissa.

A revised building code would likely affect insurance stipulations and claims, with mandatory safety inspections and approvals for housing schemes and multi-family building and office development projects.

Public enlightenment, awareness, and education campaigns should be implemented to inform citizens about the importance of hurricane-resistant building standards and the need for compliance.

Hurricane-resistant building standards in Jamaica is crucial to protecting lives and property from the devastating impact of hurricanes. 

The proposed standards would provide a comprehensive framework for ensuring the resilience of buildings across the island. 

It is essential for Jamaica, the Caribbean, and the world to work together to adopt and enforce these standards, with a focus on public enlightenment, education, and responsible media coverage.

I hope the Department of the Built Environment at UTech JA and other Universities' cooperation with the sectors that have real economic and political power in society will get on board.

The time to act is now; another hurricane could be just around the corner or mere months away.

mics 🖊 pen

Editor's note

This is a discussion that patriotic and intelligent Jamaicans should have, and we should not waste time behaving as if national elections are just around the corner.

Let us hear from the people in the construction field. Add your comments to the blog.

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