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Privacy Fence Importance Factor

Privacy Fence Importance Factor

Privacy Fence Importance Factor

(OP)
What do you guys think about using an Occupany Category of I for privacy walls. I am in a hurricane prone region. Difference of I=0.77 or 1.00.

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

0.77

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

Who really cares if blows down - just call insurance company and replace it.

Yes - .77 seems reasonable - no risk to live or limb!!

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

privacy fences blow over at about 50 mph.  you can design it all you want but it all comes down to quality of workmanship.

they dig the hole, cut open and pour in the dry sack mix, pour in some water, and mix the concrete with the fence post, then stake it off to set.   

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

(OP)
This will be masonry with a spread footing.

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

Can this wall be considered a fence? If so, then it can be designed for 90 mph wind per FBC.

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

(OP)
Probably could be considered a fence. I think FBC has some special allowances for wood fences because they just don't work for full load. Also isn't that in the HVHZ area only?

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

@slickdeals, While I agree with the 90mph I believe it is limited to fences 6'-0" above grade and shorter. Otherwise you have to go with the full load. Back to the original question, I don't believe there's anything where the code mandates what I factor to use. It depends on office "standards". I tyically use I = 1.0 since in my experience it has not been that much difference in bars.

RE: Privacy Fence Importance Factor

FWIW, fences and masonry walls failed en masse in the 2004 Florida hurricanes. Most that I observed appeared to have no engineering (I would hope), and most of the walls were URM.

From a flying debris standpoint, I would just like fences to have enough concrete to keep them on the ground. I think anything stricter than that is just silly like others have said.

For overturning or bending failure of CMU privacy walls, I think I usually use I=1.0, though I agree with MiamiSerg that it doesn't usually make much difference. Though you could justify I=.77 from a loss of life standpoint as it is not an inhabitable structure.

 

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