Blockwork house to resist high winds: construction details.

Although single leaf masonry construction is frequently used in high wind and cyclone prone areas, it is not covered by an existing SAA code. Therefore, construction details necessary to resist high wind forces have been outlined. The design has been based on a wind speed of 42 metres per second which covers most exposed locations not in the defined cyclone area, and also is the design wind speed for terrain category 3 of a cyclone prone area. Details are given for holding down the roof and walls against vertical uplift forces as well as for bracing walls to resist horizontal racking forces. Examples of suitable water-proofing and foundations are also included, together with a statement on the cost of the wind resistant features. The construction details relate to a particular three bedroom house, and include sufficient detail for that house to be built. However, the overall concept of wind resistant features can be extended to single leaf masonry houses of other plans .550.