Wind Loads for CMU walls

[ttommyt]

I am building a new residential building atop an old CMU footprint ( 1 story) I need to address wind loads for 103MPH sustained wind and 130 MPH on 3 second burst. Can anyone offer me a formula that I can apply to ascertain the worthiness of this wall?

 

[MarcbSE]

Developing the design wind pressure is a somewhat detailed procedure that will must take into account location in the country (or the world), site topography, etc.

Assuming you are in the US, get a copy of ASCE 7 or the governing building code for your area.

Most of the building codes are based on the ASCE provisions for the wind pressure, but the codes will dictate different design strengths for the wall.

 

[Lion06]

Is this wall buried? Are you talking about in plane wind loads (as a shear wall) or out of plane wind loads?

 

[ttommyt]

Thank you for your reply, The location is the West Coast of Florida

 

[MarcbSE]

You will need a copy of the current Florida Residential Building Code. Fortunately, it is available online if you don't mind printing out a bunch of pages at

http://www2.iccsafe.org/states/2004_florida_codes/index_main.htm

The building code is the best source for the design wind loads.