County of Hawaii:  Department of Public Works - Hurricane-Resistant Construction
Home Page | Site Map | Contact Us | Public Works | Main Permit Page

PRESCRIPTIVE DETAILS FOR HURRICANE-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
(1991 UBC APPENDIX CHAPTER 25)

  1. Foundation shall be concrete slab on grade, continuous raised exterior concrete footing, cripple walls supported by concrete footing or wood piles. Other types of foundations as approved by the Building Division may be used.
  2. Provide a complete load path at 4’ o.c. with required nailing as called for in Chapter 25 of the UBC Appendix.
  3. Wall studs shall align with the roof framing member.
  4. All metal connectors and fasteners shall be corrosion resistant.
  5. Shear walls (4’ min.) shall be installed at each corner or as near thereto as possible.
  6. Exterior shear wall width shall be at least half of the exterior wall length. Transverse shear walls shall be provided between the end walls at a spacing not to exceed the building width. The length of the interior shear wall shall be not less than 60% of the building width.
  7. Wall sheathing shall conform to Table No. A-25-1.
  8. When wall openings exceed 6’ in width, tie straps and studs shall be doubled at each edge of opening.
  9. When wall openings exceed 12’ in width, a special design is required.
  10. Detached garage not exceeding 600 square feet need only comply with the roof framing member to wall studs hurricane construction requirements.
  11. Garage may have an opening width of 20’ when constructed in accordance with the following:
    1. Beam over opening connected to minimum 4 x 4 wood post with an approved 3/16" steel post cap with two 5/8" diameter through bolts to the posts and to the beams.
    2. Approved column bases shall be a minimum 3/16" steel plate embedded not less than 8" into the concrete footing and connected.
  12. The roof shall be sheathed with ½" thick CDX plywood when the truss spacing is 2’-0" o.c.
  13. Roofing shall be approved type able to withstand the hurricane loads and shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or Chapter 32.
  14. Roof overhang shall not exceed 3’ except at gabled ends where it shall not exceed 2’.
  15. Gable roof shall be braced. See Figure A-24-9-1 & 2.
  16. Gabled-end wall studs shall be attached with approved mechanical fasteners.

NOTE: Deviations to the above prescriptive requirements allowed when designed and stamped by an architect or structural engineer licensed with the State of Hawaii. Design calculations shall be submitted when requested by the County.

Home Page | Site Map | Contact Us | Public Works | Main Permit Page
©Copyright 2003 County of Hawaii, Hawaii