Dive summary:
- True or false: The harder hurricane winds blow across buildings, the more likely that the roof will be peeled away by the force?
- In the case of roofs built with vents known as wind valves, the correct answer is "False" because the vents, working with an air-tight membrane on the roof, turn the swirling winds into a suction force that pulls down the roof.
- Seven schools in Seminole County, Fla., are being revamped with the suction system, and a similar design at Miami International Airport has had no failures in its 25-year design life.
From the article:
Jay Taylor, supervisor of construction for the Seminole school district, saw firsthand how well the system worked in 2004, the year Central Florida was struck by the hurricane trio of Charley, Frances and Jeanne. ...
