Last month, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) conducted the first side-by-side, high-speed wind performance test of two full-scale, commercial-style buildings, according to Engineering News Record.
Two buildings, similar to those in a strip mall, were used at the IBHS storm simulation lab in South Carolina. One was built according to common construction practices and the other according to wind-resistant practices, which cost about 5% more.
Once the test was over, it was clear that the strong building was mostly undamaged, except for a broken window. The weaker structure suffered significant roof damage, broken windows plus the door and walls blew in.
Stone Panels, Inc. regularly conducts similar kinds of tests on all products, such as the Miami-Dade Missile Impact Test. Stone Panels’ system easily passed the hurricane wind and large missile impact requirements of Miami-Dade Florida building authority. SPI is currently the only lightweight reinforced stone supplier having South Florida building authority acceptance. In order to pass the Miami-Dade County Large Missile Test, a structure must not have a rupture with dimensions greater than 1/16″ by 5″ per Ordinance 93- 141.
Stone Panels, Inc. is the only lightweight stone supplier accepted (and approved) by:
- International Code Council (ICC)
- Miami-Dade County Building Code Compliance Office
- British Board of Agrément (for construction in the UK)
- Avis Technique in France
To learn about SPI’s testing methods, visit the stonepanels.com, which has a testing section that provides a summary of specific tests including Acid Freeze Thaw Exposure, Accelerated Aging and more.
