| Resilient Building Design — An Essential Part of Disaster Preparedness |
Nearly six years have passed since Hurricane Sandy swept through New York City, bringing severe flooding and wind speeds of 100 miles per hour. Neighborhoods lost power, the Stock Exchange temporarily closed, and scuba divers had to assess submerged subway systems for damages. While Staten Island itself was heavily damaged, the Staten Island University Hospital withstood the storm and was spared any major damages. Thanks to its resilient design, the hospital was able to operate as usual, despite the fact that the surrounding areas were devastated.
The article, "Definition of Resilience: Hospital Provides a Lesson in Preparing for Weather Events," written by Louisa Hart and published in the August 2017 issue of Roofing Magazine, focuses on how Staten Island University Hospital escaped Hurricane Sandy's destruction and discusses the importance of resilient building design. After the storm, New York City allocated $28 million, and the state an additional $12 million, to fund the hospital's future resiliency plan and ensure it will be able to survive future storms. The hospital's resiliency plan will focus on three crucial areas: elevating critical building power and mechanical systems, installing a sanitary holding tank, and improving the wind resiliency of the roof.
The article also discusses the trend toward resilient building design, particularly with regard to roofing systems. One of the most resilient roofing systems available is an EPDM roofing membrane, which provides:
- Outstanding weatherability and UV resistance in all climates
- Superior hail resistance
- Improves rooftop safety
- Resistant to biological growth
- Excellent wind uplift resistance
Carlisle SynTec Systems has been manufacturing high-performance EPDM single-ply membranes for over half a century. To learn more about our resilient EPDM roofing systems and how they may play a role in your building's resiliency plan, visit www.carlislesyntec.com.
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