Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Project
Implemented by the Organization of American States
Unit of Sustainable Development and Environment
for the USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Caribbean Regional Program

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Minimum Standards Checklist

Minimum Standards for Constructing/Retrofitting Homes to Withstand Hurricane Winds up to 130 mph (Class III Hurricane)

A. Foundation:

  1. Solid cement/concrete pillars firmly embedded 18 inches in ground with ½" steel reinforcement bar extending 12-14 inches (300mm - 350mm) above foundation or
  2. Wooden pillars (6"x 6"minimum or 8" diameter) treated lumber, sunk more than 4 feet into the ground

B. Walls:

  1. Wall plate/sill attached to cement foundation/pillars by min. 12-cm anchor bolts or
  2. Wall plate/still attached to wooden pillars by straps and nails
  3. Floor joists toe-nailed to wall plate
  4. Wall uprights (studs) fixed to sill and top wall plate with hurricane straps
  5. Wall uprights located at 2' 0" centers
  6. Double studs around doors and windows, cross braces at corners

C. Roof:

  1. Hip or gable shaped roof with at least a 22° - 30° degree slope.
  2. Overhang NTE 8" unenclosed, or 18"enclosed
  3. Ventilation installed in gable ends facing away from the hurricane winds
  4. Rafters attached to wall plate with twisted metal straps
  5. Rafters located at centers NTE 2' 0"
  6. Every second set of rafters connected by collar ties beneath the ridge board
  7. Cross-laths (purlins) located at centers NTE 2' 0"
  8. Galvanized sheets of ideally 24 gauge and no thinner than 26 gauge.
  9. Galvanized sheets to overlap longitudinally at least one complete corrugation, and laterally 6"-8".
  10. Galvanized sheets nailed at top of every corrugation at eave and ridge board and every second corrugation on lath/purlins
  11. Ridge is capped and nailed at every corrugation
  12. Dome head galvanized nails or washered bolts used for roofing
  13. Patio/veranda roof is separate from house roof

D. Windows/Doors

  1. Shutters made and attached for rapid closing or
  2. Shutters pre-made and stored to be nailed in place before storm strikes
  3. Family trained to either keep all entrances closed throughout storm period and/or open entrances on opposites sides of house to allow air pressure to neutralize.

Summary

Building meets all minimum hurricane resistance standards of Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Program:

 

__________________________________ _____________________________
(Signature and Date)                                                     

Building fails to meet minimum hurricane resistance standards of Caribbean Disaster Mitigation Program. The following items must be completed in order to qualify for final loan disbursement:

1)
2)
3)

 

__________________________________
(Signature and date)

CDMP home page: http://www.oas.org/en/cdmp/ Project Contacts Page Last Updated: 20 April 2001