ASCE 7 Update Includes Criteria For Tornado-Resistant Design
ASCE 7 specifies the Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. This standard, a critical civil engineering tool, is updated every 6 years. The most recent update, ASCE 7-22, was released on December 1st, 2021.
The 2022 edition of this standard includes the first-ever criteria for tornado-resistant design. Shortly after its release, a tornado hit the Midwest of the United States on December 10-11, 2021 causing destruction and casualties. Media reports linked this tornado damage to the insufficient consideration of tornado loading in standards and building codes. Thankfully, with the release of ASCE 7-22 there is now a methodology to calculate tornado loads on buildings.
RWDI has already assisted clients in determining how tornado-resistant their building designs are by applying the methodology in ASCE 7-22. If you would like to engage us for a consultation on your building designs or existing buildings, please contact us at tornado@rwdi.com.