Are these included in my Windstorm Certificate

Are these included in my Windstorm Certificate on the Texas Coast?

  • Wind-resistant roofing material conforming to ASTM D 3161 (or better) requirements.
    Choose products that have been tested to ASTM D 3161 and have a 110-mph wind resistance or higher. Download ASTM Fact sheet
  • Class 4 impact-resistant roofing material.
    Roofing products are tested for impact resistance using the UL 2218 impact resistance test. Approved products are classified 1 through 4, Class 4 being the most resistant. In an area where windborne debris is likely, Class 4 would be the better choice.
  • A secondary water barrier under the roofing material.
    A secondary water barrier provides protection if the roof covering is damaged. This is achieved by installing self-adhering flashing tape or modified polymer bitumen strips on top of the joints in the roof deck. The underlayment should be a 30# roofing felt, which is thicker and heavier than 15# felt.
  • Are gable ends braced to withstand severe windstorms?
    Collapse of a gable end wall is a common failure during hurricanes. To accommodate the strong pressures of hurricane force winds, gable ends need additional bracing. Information on this procedure is available from the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (www.flash.org).
  • Truss-to-wall connectors and wall-to-foundation connectors.
    The only way to create a wind-resistant home is to secure all connections – roof-to-wall, floor-to-floor, and wall-to-foundation. This is accomplished by installing hurricane clips at those intersections.
  • Impact-resistant windows or hurricane shutters.
    Impact-resistant windows are designed to resist a combination of impact and continuous wind pressure. Always use products that have been tested to one of these standards – ASTM E 1886 or ASTM E 1996 – and have been designated as such through a recognized product approval system.
  • Garage door/doors that impact resistant.
    Garage doors are particularly vulnerable to high winds, because of the long span of the opening they cover and the lightweight material they are made of. Two options are available for strengthening garage doors: replace the door and track with a system that is designed to withstand high winds and wind-borne debris; or use a tested and approved impact resistant covering. In Texas, garage doors must be tested in accordance with ASTM E 330. Glass panels should be rated with ASTM E 1996 standards.
  • Skylights that are impact resistant.
    Skylights are extremely vulnerable to wind borne debris and hail. Skylights should be tested in accordance with ASTM E 1886 and ASTM E 1996 or other approved standards.
  • The required upgrades to qualify for all insurance credits or discounts offered.
    Investigate construction credits and discounts available through your insurance company and then review with your builder.
  • A safe room.
    A safe room, or storm shelter, provides the highest degree of protection for you and your family from the dangerous forces of extreme winds and debris impacts. Safe rooms can be site-built or manufactured and can be installed in new or existing homes.
  • Continuous load path construction.
    When a house is being constructed, it is an opportune time to build in a continuous load path, creating a structure highly resistant to extreme wind force. Balloon framing and the use of hurricane straps or clips connecting all intersections including the foundation can easily be designed into the structure at this time.
  • 5/8” thick plywood decking attached with 10d common nails spaced 4” O.C. at the edges and gable ends and 6” O.C. in the field of panels. Use this method to make your roof more impact resistant.
  • Impact-resistant exterior wall surfacing.
    Some siding manufacturers market their products as impact-resistant, but at this time a safer choice might be a hard surface such as brick, stone, or stucco.
  • Porch exterior walls properly connected to the foundation.
    Porch walls should be treated as any other exterior wall and anchored to the foundation. If blown loose it can be a threat to the main house in high wind situations.

Texas Windstorm twia-overview Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) provides wind and hail insurance to 14 Texas gulf coast counties.

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