Effect of Wind on Coastal Construction in Florida

Abstract

The State of Florida's tidal shoreline is 8.426 miles long. Both the east and the west coast of Florida are subjected to several coastal storms each year. The present study was undertaken to develop a consistent and rational wind design procedure for habitable structures located seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line (CCCL). The first objective was to address the apparent inconsistency between the 110mph design criteria and the 110 mph design criteria specified elsewhere. The rationale behind the two regulations was studied in depth, and it was found that a minimum fastest mile wind of 110 mph for most of Florida's coast line is appropriate to ensure a 100-year mean recurrence interval. This provision is being adopted by the Florida Department of Natural Resources (FDNR). The second objective was to recommend a building code best suited for Florida coastal construction. After a thorough comparison, the ANSI Code was found to be the most consistent, user friendly and rational code for wind design of Florida coastal construction. This code is now being adopted by the FDNH for design and analysis of new and existing structures.