Expert from ČVUT: Well-maintained houses should not be damaged by the wind

Prague - Houses, buildings, and halls that are built according to standards and are maintained should withstand even a strong storm like the one that hit the Czech Republic last night without significant damage. ČTK was told by Zdeněk Bill from the Department of Structural Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague. The night storm caused considerable damage to property, tearing off roofs and uprooting trees. It is also responsible for at least three human lives.
    "If the building is well-designed, the wind should not damage it. However, cracks can occasionally appear, especially in taller buildings. Even such a strong wind should not cause a disaster," the expert said. According to him, in lightweight structures, a hurricane can tear off the roof, but it should not disrupt the load-bearing structure. "In quality constructions, the load-bearing structure withstands, the wind only detaches the cladding or a screw," he added.
    In neglected buildings, according to Bill, the wind could tear off unconnected coverings, poor or loose connections.
    "For halls, snow load is worse than wind. The wind is more dangerous for lightweight buildings as it can shake their structure or detach a connection. Generally, wind causes less damage to rounded halls than to square ones," Bill explained.
    Quality buildings should not be damaged by a hurricane, according to František Polák, spokesperson for the construction firm Metrostav. However, he stated that the wind could damage poorly maintained buildings. "Czech standards assume that a house can withstand this strong wind. If the buildings are properly constructed, nothing should happen," he said.
    However, if there are any maintenance errors that damage the external cladding, the wind can get inside. Subsequently, for example, a metal roof can tear off or a window can break, Polák stated.
    "If the roof is well attached, nothing can happen, but if there is a poor fixture, for instance, if it is rusted, the roof will tear off. Interestingly, the roof is torn off by underpressure, not overpressure. The roof tears off on the leeward side, not on the windward side," added the Metrostav spokesperson.
    The wind in the Czech Republic last night was hurricane force, reaching speeds of up to 216 kilometers per hour on the highest Czech mountain, Sněžka. Across the country, it caused problems in the energy network and transportation.