How safe should a home be built to be?

[SunriseChampion]

Are we not going the other way?

Ontario to allow taller wood frame buildings with new fire safety requirements

Wood's fine, if you put it together properly.

The problem doesn't even start with materials used or available, the problem starts with architects who insist on designing non-functional buildings and a lot of the time design for climates other than our own.

 

[lenaitch]

CBC Radio was discussion this issue today, and someone they had on said that 'Hurricane straps' tieing in' the roof to the framing of the rest of the house could be done for $50 per new build and make most structures immune to an EF-2 tornado.

I see Home Depot sells these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/18-Gauge-Hurricane-Tie-H2-5A/203302239

I've also heard discussed the notion that simply using strong glue in addition to 'toe nails' substantially reduces the risk of uplift of a roof during a severe wind event at negligible cost.

I will leave it those more expert construction to discuss the veracity of the above.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/keeping-roofs-on-in-tornadoes-694152171.html

The majority of metal framing member attachment devices, including hurricane ties, used in North America are made by Simpson. What many people don't realize is that for them to be installed to the manufacturers specs, they have to use approved fastening devices (usually nails), not just anything that will fit through the hole.

......also, if your carpenters are using nails and not screws, give up now.

While screws have better 'pull out' strength, they lack the sheer strength of nails. As far as I know, standard grade construction screws are not approved for load bearing structures.

Wood's fine, if you put it together properly.

The problem doesn't even start with materials used or available, the problem starts with architects who insist on designing non-functional buildings and a lot of the time design for climates other than our own.

Absolutely. 'Gee, it looked nice in the brochure overlooking the tropical seashore'.

 

[SunriseChampion]

While screws have better 'pull out' strength, they lack the sheer strength of nails. As far as I know, standard grade construction screws are not approved for load bearing structures.

True word. I'm not an expert on this. I do exterior work. That's why I'm so salty.

Absolutely. 'Gee, it looked nice in the brochure overlooking the tropical seashore'.

For real. It's brutal. How does one forget that winter is a thing? I guess because a lot of these folks spend their winters in warmer climes.

 

[TrickyRicky]

It's a cost thing and a retro-fit thing. I do think we are in a weird place now though where everything is done so cheap on the one hand and yet some standards like say the electrical code have jumped the shark and have blown past reasonable safety into the realm of massive cost escalation for minimal increase in safety.

If you want to see how to build robustly go to Switzerland. I used to go often when I was a child and so I never realized how much of an outlier they are. We're thinking 25 year design life, which I guess means people like Mtown should expect the houses they work on to fall apart twice in their professional career. The Swiss are thinking more like 250 years. Although things are ridiculously expensive there and over half the nation are renters to be fair.

 

[SunriseChampion]

If you want to see how to build robustly go to Switzerland. I used to go often when I was a child and so I never realized how much of an outlier they are. We're thinking 25 year design life, which I guess means people like Mtown should expect the houses they work on to fall apart twice in their professional career. The Swiss are thinking more like 250 years.

Ha! Insulting!

The houses I work on in which I get to use my specialisation are designed and built for at least 200 year lifespans, my friend! I do permanent work. Meaning that my kids will be dead before the work I did is.

25 years....as if.

I do use European techniques in design and construction in my job, though, so I see where you're going with the Swiss comparison.

Most post-modern full builds though are designed to fail, I can say that much. The materials used are not designed to last. The design itself is usually not a good fit for our climate. So on.

Then there are the cheap material designs (think asphalt shingles and cheap brick). Those ARE indeed 25 year lifespans....or less (seriously.....or less...it's messed up).

It's not even always the material used....it's the time demands on the labour or the procurement of the lowest bidder.
Add all three together and you have a massive failure.