Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Investigation of Wind Damage in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Area, April 3-4, 1975 (NBS TN 909)

Published

Author(s)

Felix Y. Yokel, C W. Yancey, L E. Cattaneo, Richard D. Marshall

Abstract

A limited investigation was conducted of wind damage that occurred on April 3 and 4, 1975 in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Meteorological data indicate that the winds were somewhat less severe than those that should be anticipated by designers. Thus, most of the observed damage reflects inadequacies in design or construction. Damage was observed in occupied buildings, as well as in buildings under construction. Damaged elements of occupied buildings included: masonry curtain walls; masonry gable walls; masonry veneer; roofs with overhangs; roofing; and cladding. Damaged elements of buildings under construction included roofs and masonry walls. A limited investigation was conducted of wind damage that occurred on April 3 and 4, 1975 in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Meteorological data indicate that the winds were somewhat less severe than those that should be anticipated by designers. Thus, most of the observed damage reflects inadequacies in design or construction. Damage was observed in occupied buildings, as well as in buildings under construction. Damaged elements of occupied buildings included: masonry curtain walls; masonry gable walls; masonry veneer; roofs with overhangs; roofing; and cladding. Damaged elements of buildings under construction included roofs and masonry walls.
Citation
Technical Note (NIST TN) - 909
Report Number
909

Keywords

building codes, design standarads, masonry construction, roofs, siding, wind, wind damage, wind engineering

Citation

Yokel, F. , Yancey, C. , Cattaneo, L. and Marshall, R. (1976), Investigation of Wind Damage in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Area, April 3-4, 1975 (NBS TN 909), Technical Note (NIST TN), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NBS.TN.909 (Accessed April 18, 2024)
Created May 31, 1976, Updated November 10, 2018