REPUBLIC OF MOZAMBIQUE MINISTRY OF STATE ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

BUILDING WITH WINDS

CONSTRUCTION GUIDE FOR CYCLONE AND WINDSTORM PRONE AREAS

Credits
Title Building with Winds Construction Guide for Cyclone Prone Areas Promoter Ministry of State Administration (MAE) National Disaster Management Institute (INGC) In tit!tion"l P"rtner Ministry of Public Wor s and !ousing (M"P!) National Directorate of !ousing and #rbani$ation (DN!#) Ministry for t%e Coordination of En&ironmental Affairs (MIC"A) National Directorate of Planning and 'erritorial "rdination (DINAP"') Ministry of Science and 'ec%nology (MC') De i#n '%e #nited Nations !uman Settlements Programme (#N !A(I'A') A!t$or o% Te&t "n' Dr"(in# Arc%itect Eduardo )euer%a e* International Consultant* #N+!A(I'A' Te)$ni)"l A i t"n)e Arc%itect Eurico da Concei,-o* National Consultant* #N+!A(I'A' Arc%itect )ernando )erreiro* International Consultant* #N+!A(I'A' Coor'in"tion "n' E'ition Mat%ias S.ali&iero* 'ec%nical Ad&isor* #N+!A(I'A' F!n'in# #nited Nations De&elo.ment Programme (#NDP) (ureau for Crisis Pre&ention and /eco&ery ((CP/) S!**ortin# Or#"ni "tion Mo$ambi0ue /ed Cross (C1M) +er ion "riginal &ersion 2ritten in Portuguese3 Ma.uto* No&ember 4556 'ranslation into Englis% su..orted by t%e I)/C Global S%elter Programme3 Ma.uto* December 4575

Table of Contents

,- INTRODUCTION .- WHAT IS A CYCLONE/ .-,- De )ri*tion .-.- S*ee' .-1- Atmo *$eri) Im*ort"n)e 1- THE ACTION OF WIND ON CONSTRUCTIONS 1-,- Some 3" i) re)ommen'"tion 1-.- T$e ")tion o% (in'43re"5 "n' 6e#et"tion 1-1- T$e %orm o% )on tr!)tion 0- THE MOST +ULNERABLE PARTS OF CONSTRUCTIONS 0-,- Roo%in# 4.1.1. The form of roofing 4.1.2. The use of zinc roof sheets 4.1.3. Joining the roofing with its structure 4.1.4. Reinforcing the roofing structure 4.1.5. Other aspects lin ed to roofing 0-.- 9oinin# t$e roo% (it$ ("ll 4.2.1. "n stone#walling houses 4.2.2. "n houses %uilt with local materials 4.2.3. &n interesting function of gutter pipes 4.2.4. &ttached roofing 0-1- T$e 'oor "n' (in'o( 0-0- T$e %o!n'"tion 2- SHELTER ;- THE INTELLIGENT HOUSE

, . . 0 0 2 2 2 7 ,8 ,, 11 12 14 15 1! ,: 1$ 21 21 22 .1 .0 .; .7

,-

INTRODUCTION

'%e main aim of t%is guide is to re+t%in about constructions located in cyclone .rone areas* a natural .%enomenon by 2%ic% 2e s%ould ada.t our 2ay of li&ing* .lanting and building3 '%e Guide contains some suggestions and offers su..orting tools for t%e design of arc%itecture and construction .ro8ects 2it% con&entional or traditional materials t%at allo2 us to effecti&ely reduce t%e &ulnerability of a %ouse in t%e e&ent of 2inds and 2indstorms3 <T$e *e imi t )om*l"in "3o!t t$e (in'= t$e o*timi t ("it
(William G3 Ward)

%or it to )$"n#e "n' t$e re"li t "'>! t t$e "il ?

<@t$ere i no tree t$"t t$e (in' $" not $"5en@?

(!indu .ro&erb) 7

.-

WHAT IS A CYCLONE/

.-,- De )ri*tion A CYCLONE is an atmos.%eric .%enomenon 2%ic% causes e9tremely strong 2inds and torrential rains3 '%is .%enomenon occurs at t%e end of summer 2%en t%e 2aters from t%e tro.ical oceans are %otter3

:arge %ot air masses 2%ic% absorb &a.our becoming lig%ter are created on t%e oceanic 2aters3 So* an accelerated s.iral ascension of t%ese large &a.our masses is .roduced* reac%ing %ig% s.eeds and forming enormous clouds t%at may reac% u. to 7; m of %eig%t< '%is .%enomenon is called 'ro.ical Cyclone* !urricane* 'y.%oon and ot%er denominations* de.ending on t%e different locations 2%ere it occurs3 E&ery year about =5 cyclones are formed in t%e 2orld3 '%eir radius of action may %a&e bet2een 755 and 7555 >m3
4

"bser&ed &ia satellite* t%e cyclones s%o2 a sensational as.ect? a large s.iral of clouds t%at circulates around its centre3 It forms a round %ole 2%ic% %as bet2een 45 and ;5 m of diameter* no2n as E@E 2%ic% mo&es in a s.eed t%at may reac% A5+B5 mC%3 '%e strong 2inds around t%e Eye cause t%e mo&ement in t%e sea of enormous 0uantities of 2ater 2%ic% ele&ates t%emsel&es in giant 2a&es3 #sually t%ese 2ill collide 2it% all t%eir force in t%e coastal region t%at constitutes t%e biggest danger of deat%s in t%e e&ent of a cyclone3 '%is atmos.%eric .%enomenon may last for &arious days and e&en 2ee s3
D

.-.- S*ee'

(ree$e 7+45 mC%

Windstorm 45+65 mC%

Cyclone more t%an 745 mC%

A cyclone reac%es a ma9imum s.eed o&er t%e ocean and loses .art of its strengt% 2%en it enters into t%e continent* 2%ere it is sto..ed by t%e mor.%ology of t%e terrain3 W%en t%is occurs* large 0uantities of 2ater fall do2n in t%e form of %ea&y rains* 2%ic% usually fill t%e ri&ers causing ):""DS in t%e lo2er areas3

Situation of flooding as a conse0uence of cyclone

.-1-

Atmo *$eri) Im*ort"n)e

Des.ite t%eir de&astating effects* cyclones are &ery im.ortant since t%ey cause large air masses and clouds to circulate* contributing for an atmos.%eric e0uilibrium t%at allo2s us to li&e in t%is .lanet333
A

1- 1- THE ACTION OF THE WIND ON CONSTRUCTIONS

1-,- Some 3" i) re)ommen'"tion '%e most im.ortant recommendations to reduce t%e im.act of t%e 2ind on constructions are as follo2s? <---Do not o**o e re i t"n)e---? and <---Do not let it enter into t$e $o! e---?

1-.- T$e ")tion o% (in'43re"5 "n' o% 6e#et"tion Planting lo2 %eig%t &egetation and a..lying 2ind+brea s ser&es to de&iate t%e 2ind u.2ards and filter it in suc% a 2ay t%at enables you to .rotect your o2n %ouse3 '%erefore* t%e function of 2ind+brea s is to reduce t%e strengt% of t%e 2ind and not to face it3

1egetation considerably reduces t%e strengt% of t%e 2ind3

In addition* t%e trees release t%e 2ind from t%e ma8ority of dust and sand t%at it trans.orts3

1-1- T$e %orm o% )on tr!)tion '%e form of constructions t%at better faces t%e 2ind is com.act and symmetrical3

W%en constructions are o.en t%e 2ind .asses t%roug% t%em<

W%en constructions are closed*

t%e 2ind .roduces an effect of suc ing u.2ards on t%e roof

2%ic% may lift u. t%e roof com.letely333333333333333333333

It i im*ort"nt to )re"te 6entil"tion on t$e to* *"rt A

=

W%en t%e 2ind enters into t%e %ouse t%roug% a door or a 2indo2* it increases t%e .ressure on t%e roof3

In t%is case it is &ery im.ortant to o.en t%e ot%er 2indo2 or t%e door from t%e ot%er side of t%e %ouse in order to allo2 t%e 2ind to .ass t%roug%3

0- THE MOST +ULNERABLE PARTS OF CONSTRUCTIONS

'%e 2ind attac s constructions mainly in t%e follo2ing .oints? ,- roo%in#= .- >!n)tion o% roo%in# (it$ ("ll = 1- 'oor "n' (in'o( = 0- %o!n'"tion or >!n)tion o% ("ll (it$ t$e oil-

75

0-,- T$e roo%in# THE ROOFING i t$e mo t 6!lner"3le *"rt o% " )on tr!)tion in

rel"tion to t$e ")tion o% t$e (in'4.1.1. The form of roofing

'%e c%aracteristic forms of roofing t%at are traditionally used are F.itc%edG (one slo.e)* FgableG (t2o slo.es)* F%i..edG (four slo.es) or FconicalG3 '%e first t2o ones are more e9.osed to t%e 2ind3 '%erefore* for t%ese forms it is recommendable to use concrete building systems3

Pitc%ed roof

Gable roof

!i..ed roof

Conical roof

'%e F%i..edG and t%e FconicalG roofings are t%e most ade0uate forms to build in cyclone .rone areas because t%ey are tied directly to t%e beams t%at structure t%e 2alls of t%e building3 A.art from t%at* t%e %i..ed roofing ada.ts 2ell to t%e use of con&entional building materials ($inc roof s%eets* etc3) and facilitates t%e establis%ment of rain 2ater %ar&esting systems3
77

T$e 3i##er i t$e !)5in# tren#t$= t$e more *l"in i t$e roo%in#A T$e mo t 'e#ree e)!re roo%in# $o( " lo*in# 3et(een 18 "n' 02

'%e roof of t%is %ouse 2as 8ust a bit inclined and not .ro.erly fi9ed3 '%e 2ind entered t%roug% t%e 2indo2 2%ic% 2as o.en and t%e e9ternal suc ing strengt% com.letely lifted u. t%e roof<

'%is roof %ad t%e recommended slo.ing and t%e 2indo2s 2ere .ro.erly closed3 E&en 2it% strong 2ind* t%e %ouse did not sustain damage<

'o build a flat roof in areas 2%ere t%e 2inds are strong* it is recommendable to use solid slabs or .re+fabricated ones made of concrete so as to ensure t%at t%ere is more 2eig%t on it and t%at it is resistant to t%e su..orting structure3 '%e use of $inc roof s%eets to build conical roofing is .ossible but &ery com.licated3

74

4.1.2. The use of zinc roof sheets '%e $inc roof s%eet is increasingly being used in Mo$ambi0ue to co&er %ouses3 It is a construction material t%at is considered more durable t%an t%e traditional materials suc% as grass or macuti* at a relati&ely affordable .rice3 Its use %as influenced t%e traditional arc%itecture because it im.lies an ada.tation of t%e structure of t%e %ouse in a more rectangular 2ay* 2%ic% facilitates t%e .lacement of $inc roof s%eets3

Considering t%at a $inc roof s%eet is lig%t* t%e roofing t%at uses t%is material is fragile and &ery &ulnerable to t%e action of t%e 2ind3 In order to reinforce t%e roofing of $inc roof s%eets t%ere is a need to use s%eets 2it% a minimum of 53B mm of t%ic ness3 Also* it is im.ortant to try to ma e t%e roofing according to t%e lengt% of t%e s%eets in order to a&oid 8oinings bet2een t%e &arious s%eets so as to get Fone 2aterG3 '%is union re.resents a 2ea .oint of t%e roofing t%at t%e 2ind may attac 3
7D

4.1.3. The 'unction of the roofing with its structure In order to reduce t%e ris of seeing t%e roofing of t%e %ouse remo&ed by t%e cyclone* it is fundamental to .ro.erly fi9 t%e roofing 2it% its structure3

'%erefore* t%e correct s.acing bet2een t%e 2ooden 8oists to fi9 t%e $inc s%eet roofing is ;5 cm3 Nails are fi9ed according to t%is s.acing and in e&ery 4 2a&es to2ards t%e 8oists3 S%ould t%e nails go beyond t%e t%ic ness of t%e 8oist* t%ese s%ould be bended in t%e lo2er .art3 Nails to fi9 $inc roof s%eets are striated* 2it% 2as%er %eads and a rubber 8oint3

Nails s%ould al2ays be a..lied on t%e u..er .art of t%e 2a&e so as to a&oid rain2ater lea age* as t%e 2ater flo2s along t%e lo2er .art of t%e 2a&e3
7A

4.1.4.

Reinforce the roofing structure

#sually t%e roofing structure is made of triangular roof truss and 2ooden 8oists .laced on t%e u..er .art of t%e 2alls3 '%is structure may be reinforced in &arious forms3 '%e figures belo2 only s%o2 some o.tions3

'%e use of 2ood slabs or ot%er material on t%e roofing structure gi&es more 2eig%t to t%e roofing and ser&es as defence against t%e 2ind and t%e rain if $inc roof s%eets are lifted u.3

In t%is .ers.ecti&e* a t%ermal isolation of t%e roofing may be obtained by installing &egetal material suc% as mats or reeds under t%e roofing (false roofing)3
7B

(y .lacing a mi9ture of sand and stra2 bet2een t%e 8oists on a 2ood slab co&ered by a .lastic s%eet* t%ere is an increase of 2eig%t on t%e roofing and t%e inner .art of t%e %ouse is isolated e&en furt%er from t%e e9ternal tem.erature and t%e 2ater3

'%e traditional roofing structures may be reinforced by a..lying metal stra.s or .ieces of 2ood3 'a ing into account t%at t%e buildings are lig%t* t%e idea is to stabili$e t%e structure 2it%out losing t%e elasticity3

7;

4.1.5.

Other aspects related to the roofing

Dragging of ob8ects by a cyclone may damage t%e %ouse* creating ga.s t%at cause t%e lifting u. of t%e roofing3

'%e use of fibro+cement or lusalite in cyclone .rone areas is not recommendable3 It %as to be &ery 2ell installed* because it is a rigid material 2%ic% may easily brea by t%e im.act of ob8ects dragged by t%e 2ind3

76

0-.- T$e >!n)tion o% roo%in# (it$ ("ll T$i >!n)tion i t$e mo t im*ort"nt o% t$e ($ole $o! e4.2.1. (asonr) houses

In bric or cement bloc s %ouses* a 2ooden .iece fi9ed 2it% s.indles in t%e form of H or irons leaded in t%e u..er .art of t%e 2all allo2s using metallic 8oints to strongly secure t%e roofing structure 2it% t%e stone+2alling 2all3

7=

W%en t%e roofing structure ad8usts directly on t%e u..er beam of t%e slab* metal stra.s t%at are bended on t%e structural element of t%e roofing can be .laced and are nailed on bot% sides3

'%erefore s.indles* .ieces of iron or ot%er metallic elements 2it% similar functions may also be used3
7E

It is not recommendable t%at on t%e edges of t%e roof and t%e u..er .art of t%e 2alls* $inc roof s%eets are e9.osed to t%e 2ind3

'%e figure belo2 s%o2s t%at a form of mitigating t%is situation is to firmly fi9 t%e $inc roof s%eets to t%e roofing structure using metallic elements* and close t%e s.ace bet2een t%e 2all and t%e roofing 2it% bloc s and .ieces of 2ood3

45

4.2.2.

"n houses %uilt with local materials

In t%is case t%e 8unction bet2een t%e roofing and t%e 2alls may be reinforced by using 2ire* ro.es of metal stra.s3

4.2.3.

&n interesting function of gutter pipes

A.art from collecting rain 2ater* it 2as obser&ed t%at gutter .i.es effecti&ely .rotect t%e e9tremes of t%e roofing from t%e action of t%e 2ind3

Gutter .i.e made of concrete

47

Gutter .i.e made of c%ain belting .rotected by .ieces of 2ood

4.2.4.

Att")$e' Roo%in#

In traditional and modern constructions* additional roofing to t%e main structure of t%e %ouse is often attac%ed3

Attac%ed roofing toget%er 2it% t%e structure of t%e main roofing

Attac%ed roofing se.arated from t%e main roofing

W%en t%e additional roofing is lifted u. by t%e 2ind it affects t%e main roofing<

W%en t%e attac%ed roofing is lifted u. by t%e 2ind* t%e main roofing is not affected3

44

0-1- Door "n' (in'o( Doors and 2indo2s re.resent t%e most .robable entry .oints of t%e 2ind inside t%e %ouse3 It is suggested t%at 2indo2s are .ro.erly .rotected 2it% 2ooden lids3 '%ese may be fi9ed to t%e 2all in suc% a 2ay t%at t%ey are al2ays a&ailable if needed3

Also* t%e doors a.art from being strong and %ard* t%ey s%ould be closed 2it% reinforced systems using .ieces of 2ood or made of metal in order to resist to t%e .ressure and t%e effect of suction generated by t%e cyclone3

4D

0-0- T$e %o!n'"tion (eing lig%ter* a .ro.er 8unction of different elements of traditional %ouses is &ery im.ortant3 In .articular* t%e foundations or lin age of 2alls 2it% t%e soil s%ould be strong so as to a&oid t%at t%e building is com.letely lifted u. by t%e 2ind3

'%e 2alls of t%is ty.e of %ouses s%ould be reinforced 2it% diagonal elements and anc%ored on t%e soil 2it% leaded iron material on t%e concrete of t%e foundation3

4A

'%e lig%ter t%e construction is* t%e bigger (or %ea&y) t%e foundation s%ould be3 A 2ay of firmly securing t%e 2ooden .iers in t%e soil is to im.regnate t%em 2it% tar or burnt oil (so as to a&oid t%at t%ey are attac ed by insects) and anc%or t%em on t%e concrete 2it% t%e %el. of irons and nails3

4B

2-

SHELTER

'%e uni0ue s%elter t%at may truly .rotect us from t%e cyclone is a building made of concrete 2it% slab roofing3

A .ri&ate s%elter to store goods* animals or .eo.le may be in&ented<

4;

;-

THE INTELLIGENT HOUSE

'%is %ouse in a circular form 2as built in an intelligent manner3 A 2indo2 is .ositioned symmetrically on t%e ot%er side in relation to t%e door3 '%e %ouse %as a centre 2it% bric 2alls and is built on a .latform of A5 cm of ele&ation3 '%e &eranda is semi+closed 2it% reeds t%at .rotect t%e inner structure from t%e rain and from t%e sun* and reduces t%e strengt% of t%e 2ind3

46

CYCLONE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

'%e Cyclone Early Warning System in Mo$ambi0ue is based on t%ree colours3 It refers to early 2arning messages for t%e communities t%at indicate t%e time a&ailable for t%em to .re.are t%emsel&es for t%e beginning of 2indstorms?

BLUE ALERT B Pre)"!tion

A tro*i)"l )C)lone m"C "%%e)t t$e "re" (it$in .0 to 0: $o!r -

YELLOW ALERT B A)tion

A tro*i)"l )C)lone i "**ro")$in# t$e "re" "n' (ill mo t *ro3"3lC "%%e)t t$e )omm!nitie (it$in t$e .0 $o!r

RED ALERT B S$elter

Win' torm "re eminent D(it$in ; $o!r E or "re "lre"'C 3lo(in#-