What kind of winds do James Hardie products withstand?
Hurricanes (or Tropical Cyclones) cause damage and destruction from high winds, river flooding that results from intense precipitation, and storm surges (wind-driven oceanic waters). The wind speeds of historical hurricanes in the US between 1886 and 1996 are shown in the map below (figure 6). The higher risk counties along the Gulf and Eastern seaboard are clearly shown. Figure 6: Hurricane Winds (1886 1996), (Source: National Hurricane Center – Atlantic and Western Pacific Databases) The property damage from hurricanes can be staggering. It can cause damage to roofing material, bulking doors and windows, and considerable damage to mobile homes. Due to its impact resistance against hail and windblown debris, fiber-cement siding has been specified by hurricane-zone building codes for building homes in hurricane-, tornado-, and wildfire-prone areas [6] (figure 7). It can withstand hurricane forces winds up to 150 mph (3-second gust) provided the installation conforms to proper installat
