There has been an increase in the amounts of natural disasters observed across the world in recent years. Ensuring safety and protection for civilians is critical as well as ensuring the infrastructure and power generation is safeguarded. FRP is a great alternative to wooden poles for remaining structurally sound in the face of poor weather such as hurricanes. This blog post will outline some of the FRP products which would come up against a hurricane and remain standing.

What Makes FRP Products able to Withstand Hurricanes?

FRP products are uniquely manufactured to withstand the highest wind speeds and tropical storms because of their extreme strength and durability. This leads to high resistance to all forms of wind load including uplift, lateral, and shear.

FRP products can help to safeguard structures from both horizontal and upward pressures whilst vertical materials that are freestanding have an increased likelihood of tilting or collapsing when compared with traditional materials such as concrete and wood.

Utility Poles

The average wooden utility pole weighs around 720 pounds and is 30 feet tall, however, this weight does not stop it from being snapped in half, downed, or uprooted entirely in the presence of extremely high winds. This is why FRP products are increasingly replacing wood in utility projects.

FRP utility poles are durable and lightweight, meaning they are the best materials for the utility sector. They are also cost-effective and can be transported in a timely and affordable manner.

FRP products can also be assembled on-site and are not overly challenging to install, requiring fewer workers. For this reason, FRP products are much more cost-efficient.

Storm Shelters

Taking shelter in a FEMA-rated storm shelter is recommended by the Department of Homeland Security in the event of an extreme hurricane event. FEMA 320 testing monitors the capacities of products like storm panels in response to wind speeds as high as 250 mph.

FRP products rated to FEMA 320 standards far outstrip the standards presented by materials such as plywood in terms of impact resistance without cracking. This is due to proprietary combinations of ballistic grade roving and functional resins, allowing FRP products to absorb substantial impact forces without delaminating.

Handrails

One FRP product that has been expertly designed to resist hurricane damage is Strongwell’s product STRONGRAIL®. These FRP products can be included in home designs and have high wide-load strength, durable finish, and are aesthetically pleasing for homeowners. Unlike wooden alternatives, they do not stain or warp and will not degrade in damp environments.

The Bottom Line

In any configuration, FRP products are built to withstand hurricanes and other natural disasters. If you want to know more about what FRP products would be best suited to your home or application, get in touch with our team today to hear more.