Shingles are sure to fly now that the State of Florida has committed more than $10 million to develop a facility for full-scale testing of the impact of hurricane-force winds on buildings.
The grant makes it possible for researchers at Florida International University (FIU) to create the Center of Excellence for Hurricane Damage Mitigation and Product Development (HDMPD), which will include a 10-fan Wall of Wind hurricane simulator to physically test structures and computer modeling that will predict the success of mitigation measures and retrofitting.
Although researchers believe the testing at HDMPD will lead to better construction practices and innovation in building design, the center is also expected to fuel education efforts by demonstrating what really happens to a home in a hurricane. The full-scale destructive testing will “change the public’s perception of building safety” and develop a “culture of preparedness,” according to a recent grant announcement. Stephen Leatherman of FIU’s International Hurricane Research Center and Laboratory for Coastal Research will lead the four-year project.