asce 7-05 wind design inten

huangyhg

asce 7-05 wind design intent
what exactly is the intent of the code when it comes to wind design?  if your building is designed in a 90mph 3-sec gust zone, should it have absolutely no wind damage if an 89mph wind comes along during a severe storm? obviously, neglect any impacts from flying debris.  also, can anyone pinpoint exactly what the wind is at the site if damage occurs?
it is my understanding that the intent is that the building remain completely elastic during a design wind event.
a design that resists the calculated wind forces for a given wind-zone is meant to do just that -- resist the wind forces.  the   
well, a portion of roofing membrane ripped off during a storm with 80mph straight line winds and confirmed tornadoes in the area, yet the owner claims that since the winds weren't documented above 90mph, the contractor should be held liable.  the building is 2 years old.
atomic25,
did the building collapse during the storm? thats the argument. if there is a manufacturers guidline for installing roof membrane, and then it failed, maybe they could be held liable.
thats my thoughts
the winds weren't documented over 80mph?  did he have an anemometer right next to the eave?  or even 50' from the building?  if he didn't, how did he know the wind wasn't 100mph?  just because it registered 80mph on an anemometer "in the area" does not mean local velocities can't be significantly higher.  there is very little chance he can prove his case.  he will lose that one in a u.s. court...
if you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - dcs
the 3-second gust wind speed we use in design is not the same as the wind speed typically reported by meteorologists and weather stations.  an 80 mph sustained wind might have gusts over 90 mph.  you would have to do more investigating and probably some calculations so that you are comparing apples to apples.
perhaps the owner can file an insurance claim and let the insurance company subrogate it if the contractor truely is responsible.
don phillips