Recommendations and Technical Guidelines for Midwest Tornadoes quiz

Quiz Questions:

   
1. Which one of the followings did the BPAT (Building performance assessment team) recommended for reducing future tornado damage to property and providing personal protection.
       
    Proper construction techniques and materials must be incorporated into the construction of residential buildings to reduce their vulnerability to damage during extreme wind events. Existing construction techniques proven to minimize damage in wind-prone areas are not always being utilized in areas that are subject to tornadoes.
    Construction should be regulated and inspected to ensure that residential buildings meet the most current building code requirements, including those regarding structural seismic issues.
    For engineered buildings, the engineer should review connections to ensure adequate capacity for moderate to severe uplift and lateral loads that may be in excess of loads based on the building codes currently in effect.
    Cities and appropriate local governments should adopt the 1997 UBC or 1996 NBC as the model building codes.
    Cities and appropriate local governments not already using the 1995 CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code should do so immediately.
    The International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC) should be adopted upon their release in 2000.
    Shelters are the best means of providing near absolute protection for individuals who are attempting to take refuge during a tornado.
    All shelters should be designed and constructed in accordance with either FEMA 320 or The National Performance Criteria for Tornado Shelters.
    All of the above
       
2. According to the tornado classification and pictures in page 28, in a F-3 tornado, roofs and some walls torn from structures, some small buildings are destroyed, non-reinforced masonry buildings are destroyed, most trees in forest are uprooted.
       
    True
    False
       
3. Figure 3-3 is an example of
       
    A load uplift tornado damage to a house
    A load inward tornado damage to a house
       
4. Engineered shelters not only provide the best protection against loss of life for individuals subjected to a tornado, but also furnish the only protection reliably capable of providing survival.
       
    True
    False
       
5. Figure 6-1 shows:
       
    An above ground engineered shelter that was struck by a strong tornado in Oklahoma
    A masonry home during construction
    None of the above
       
6. In Figure 6-15 Ballast roof covering on a community shelter in Wichita, Kansas was a potential source of deadly windborne missiles to those seeking to access the shelter.
       
    True
    False
       
7.

A general recommendation for buildings that could be in a tornado path would be:

  1. Design buildings to the most current building codes and standards that provide greater protection against moderate tornado-generated winds.
  2. Provide safe refuge in the event of a severe or violent wind storm or tornado in the form of engineered shelters.
       
    Ture
    False
       
       
8. Sheathing at areas of discontinuity should be fastened in a manner that will resist uplift forces with a factor of safety over the design wind pressure stipulated in applicable building codes and standards. Some current building codes reflect an increased fastener size intended to address high wind areas.
       
    Ture
    False
       
9. The masonry industry should consider re-evaluating attachment criteria of masonry, specifically regarding product usage. Greater emphasis should be given to code compliance for the bond between the mortar and brick tie, the mortar and the brick, and to the spacing of brick ties.
       
    True
    False
       
10. Garage doors are an extremely important residential building component. Failure of these doors led to catastrophic progressive failures of primary structural systems that could have been avoided. New garage doors should be installed with improved resistance to moderately high wind loads. Retrofits should be made to improve the wind resistance of existing garage doors, specifically double-wide garage doors. These retrofits and new doors may reduce the roof and wall damage that was observed in homes that experienced garage door failures.
       
    Ture
    False
       
11. The Federal Government (HUD) should review its standards and enforcement program in an effort to improve the performance of manufactured homes in moderately high wind events, such as in inflow areas of severe to violent tornadoes and the tracks of moderate tornadoes. Specifically, the capacity of anchoring and strapping equipment and systems needs to be evaluated to eliminate the discontinuity between the Federal standard and the State and local installation and enforcement process.
       
    True
    False
       
12. Consideration should be given to permanently connecting the manufactured home unit to its foundation. The BPAT concluded that newer manufactured homes on permanent foundations performed as well as conventional stick built homes in resisting lateral wind loads, as long as there was an adequate connection of the chassis and perimeter joists to the permanent foundation.
       
    True
    False
       
13. For non-residential buildings, the BPAT recommends using threaded fasteners to attach joists and metal decking to supporting frames and walls. In many of the roof system failures observed by the BPAT, current welding practices were insufficient in carrying loads and weld failures were common.
       
    True
    False
       
14. To reduce the number of missiles generated from roofs on essential facilities (e.g., hospitals) and buildings such as schools, aggregate ballast and paver surfacing should not be used. Enhanced wind design for the roof covering on essential facilities should be considered for those facilities located in tornado-prone areas.
       
    True
    False
       
15. When wood construction is not utilized, reinforced concrete and partially reinforced masonry with adequate ties to foundations and roofs should be used in areas with a high probability of being hit by a tornado. Ties between concrete and other materials should be made with drilled-in fasteners or cast-in-place fasteners.
       
    True
    False
       
16. Diaphragm action to resist shear forces must be maintained and reinforcement must be properly placed in concrete and masonry walls to reduce the possibility of collapse. Masonry walls should be engineered and constructed to support the specific architecture of the building.
       
    True
    False
       
17. Precast concrete buildings should have anchors to prevent the uplift of hollow core planks and other precast elements. Better performance would have been obtained if drilled-in expansion anchors or through-bolts had been used to attach the walls to the floors. Use of powder-driven anchors to attach bottom plates of walls to concrete should be avoided unless they are very closely spaced to achieve sufficient pull-out resistance.
       
    True
    False
       
18. Undamaged sections of brick veneer walls should be inspected, and where they can be deflected or pulled off, the air space behind the veneer should be grouted and reinforced, or be replaced.
       
    True
    False
       
19. A brick veneer wall system should be designed as a "stand alone" system. Current construction practices for brick veneer need to be improved so that a flexible connection between the framed wall and the veneer does not result.
       
    True
    False
       
20. It may be necessary to fasten brick ties with ring or screw-shank nails to prevent nail pull-out at brick ties.
       
    True
    False
       
21. Architectural features should be appropriately designed, manufactured, and installed to minimize the creation of windborne debris. To accomplish this, the local community may want to further regulate these features to ensure code compliance.
       
    True
    False
       
22. The installation of laminated glass in essential facilities should be considered because of the substantial protection that it offers from modest-energy missiles. Testing should be conducted in accordance with ASTME 1886, based on load criteria given in SBCCI STD 12.
       
    True
    False
       
To better address structural and architectural issues related to moderately high wind events, State and local governments should consider adopting the most current edition of their model building code. Other recommendations related to building codes and enforcement are provided below:
       
23. Cities and appropriate local governments should adopt the 1997 UBC or the 1996 NBC as the model building codes. Amendments that require calculation of wind loads via ASCE 7-95 or the new ASCE 7-98 should also be adopted. Currently, the 1997 UBC & 1996 NBC reference ACSE 7-95, but allow their own UBC/NBC methods to be used; it is important to note that wind calculations from these methods will result in lower loads than calculations from ASCE 7-95 or 7-98. For buildings other than one or two family dwellings, state and local governments should adopt the latest codes that specify the most current engineering standards for wind loads for the design of structural components and cladding.
       
    True
    False
       
24. Governments using a previous version of the 1995 CABO One- and Two-Family Dwelling Code should update to the 1995 version immediately. This will provide some guidance for designing for moderate wind loads.
       
    True
    False
       
25. The International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC) should be adopted upon their release in 2000. Although these codes do not directly address the threat of tornadoes, they address wind load issues using ASCE 7-98 for both non-residential and residential construction, respectively. Use of codes based on ASCE 7-98 will reduce future losses from moderately high wind loads.
       
    True
    False
       
26. Greater emphasis should be given to code compliance, particularly for wall and roof covering wind loads and resistance. Homebuilders and code enforcement agencies should consider developing an active education and outreach program with contractors to emphasize the importance of code compliance for wind resistance.
       
    True
   
False
       
27. State and local governments should consider creating a task force with the different building code groups and construction industry groups to determine if basic wind speed classifications should be reconsidered for tornado-prone areas.
       
    True
    False
       
 
       
28. In case #7 (of Ethics section); It was alleged that Dr. Smith conducted an engineering inspection for his client in December 1998; but did not provide his client with his inspection report until February 2000. This Indicated that he was not acting as a faithful agent for his client and his actions were not in keeping with generally accepted engineering standards and procedures. The Board accepted a Consent Order signed by Dr. Smith for a formal reprimand.
       
    True
    False
       
29. In case #11 (of Ethics section); It was alleged that Mr. Doe, a Texas PE engineer, altered boundary information on Survey plats for a subdivision that had been prepared by a license surveyor, affixed a copy of the surveyor’s seal to the plats and submitted the plats to county officials for approval without knowledge of the surveyor. The Board reportedly suspended his license for one year and fined him $1000.00
       
    True
    False
       
30. In case # 15 (of Ethics section); It was alleged that Jim, the company’s president, designed seven swimming pools and affixed a copy of a Texas Professional engineer’s seal and signature that he had obtained from another source to the plan sheets which were submitted to a city for permitting. Board records did not show that Jim was licensed as a professional engineer in Texas nor that his company had Texas professional engineer as a regular full-time employee. The Board accepted an Agreed Board Order signed by Jim to cease and desist from any and all representations that his company can offer and/or perform engineering services and from the actual performance of engineering services until such time as the company hires a Texas licensed professional engineer as a regular full time employee, and to immediately discontinue the use of the Texas professional engineer’s seal and signature on any and all documents. Jim also agreed to hire a Texas professional engineer to perform after the fact engineering inspections and issue certification reports for the five swimming pools that were permitted and constructed. The company was also ordered to pay a $5000.00 administrative penalty.
       
    True
    False
       
31. In case #17; John was a registered engineer in:
    Texas
    Michigan
    New Mexico
       
32. In case #21; It was alleged that Billy signed his name and affixed his Texas Architectural seal to structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing design plans for renovation of a commercial building. Based upon the size of the building, the structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing designs were required by law to have been performed by a licensed professional engineer; therefore Billy’s preparation of these design plans constituted the unlawful practice of engineering. The Board accepted a consent order signed by Billy and his attorney agreeing that Billy will not practice engineering outside the exemption listed in the Engineering practice Act and will refrain from making any and all representations that he can offer and/or perform engineering services until such time as he hires a Texas licensed professional engineer as a regular full time employee or until such time as he becomes a Texas licensed professional engineer. Billy also agreed to pay a $1000.00 administrative penalty.
       
    True
    False
       
33. In case #6; It was alleged that Jim provided professional engineering design services in connection with residential foundation design and exterior wall systems during a period when his Texas engineer license was expired. The Board accepted a Consent Order signed by Jim for a two-year probated suspension of his Texas engineer license contingent upon his payment of a $2000.00 administrative penalty.
       
    True
    False
       
34. In case # 24; John-David-Bill, Inc. It was alleged that site grading and drainage plans for two projects were submitted to the city of Brownsville, one set bearing John’s signature and architect seal and the other bearing David’s signature and architectural seal. The size and scope of the respective projects required that Texas licensed professional engineers prepare the grading and the drainage design plans. Board records did not show any of the three were licensed as professional engineers in Texas nor that their company had any regular full time employee who was licensed as professional engineers in Texas. Therefore it appears these individuals unlawfully performed engineering services and their respective plans were an unlawful representation of their company ability to offer and /or perform engineering services. The Board accepted a Consent order signed by the president of the company to cease and desist from practice of engineering and from any and all representations that the company can offer of performing engineering services until the such time as the firm hires a full time employee who is licensed as a professional engineer in Texas. The company also agreed to pay a $2000.00 administrative penalty.
       
    True
    False
       
       
 
 
 
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