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When putting up hurricane shutters/panels, some exits must remain without panels, so the homeowner can exit the house to get food, or in case of fire. - How many escape routes are needed?
For normal building code, 2 exit routes, I think.
But hurricane protection codes might override that. That can be deadly if they do, as one escape route might be blocked by debris, hence the need for a second one.
Insurance companies might coerce home owners to risk their lives and block a second exit routes with metal panels required on all. These are screwed on from the outside, cannot be removed from the inside.
I am speculating. My insurance company is not responding.
The garage small door is probably a metal door anyway, but does it count?
So, how many exit routes are allowed (doors without meatal panels) by hurricane wind mitigation codes, and by insurance? One or two?
I want to leave the garage small door and a narrow patio door un-paneled, for my safety.
CBS construction is no match for one of these, and possibly a pick or crowbar. They used to be the bane of drive-in theatre concession stands. In about half an hour, a hole could breach the solid walls for thieves.
The side doors of garages are typically metal sheathed wood in Florida. They are impact resistant, with the latch being the weak point.
Thinking a bit... if you have significant hurricane damage, punch a hole in what is left of the ceiling and exit via the gaping holes in the roof deck.
When putting up hurricane shutters/panels, some exits must remain without panels, so the homeowner can exit the house to get food, or in case of fire. - How many escape routes are needed?
For normal building code, 2 exit routes, I think.
But hurricane protection codes might override that. That can be deadly if they do, as one escape route might be blocked by debris, hence the need for a second one.
Insurance companies might coerce home owners to risk their lives and block a second exit routes with metal panels required on all. These are screwed on from the outside, cannot be removed from the inside.
I am speculating. My insurance company is not responding.
The garage small door is probably a metal door anyway, but does it count?
So, how many exit routes are allowed (doors without meatal panels) by hurricane wind mitigation codes, and by insurance? One or two?
I want to leave the garage small door and a narrow patio door un-paneled, for my safety.
Usually the front and back door have accordion shutters, or are impact, so a person can get out. If you have an attached garage, then the garage door.
CBS construction is no match for one of these, and possibly a pick or crowbar. They used to be the bane of drive-in theatre concession stands. In about half an hour, a hole could breach the solid walls for thieves.
The side doors of garages are typically metal sheathed wood in Florida. They are impact resistant, with the latch being the weak point.
Thinking a bit... if you have significant hurricane damage, punch a hole in what is left of the ceiling and exit via the gaping holes in the roof deck.
I take it you never actually tried to sledge hammer through CBS?
And you want someone to sit there and hammer through while there is a fire going on? Seriously?
Usually the front and back door have accordion shutters, or are impact, so a person can get out. If you have an attached garage, then the garage door.
I take it you never actually tried to sledge hammer through CBS?
And you want someone to sit there and hammer through while there is a fire going on? Seriously?
I've been through my fair share of hurricanes, TYVM. I have never personally seen or read of in the media, or seen on the TV coverage, of any fire concurrent with one. That includes Andrew, Wilma, and all those in-between.
More often, entrapment is caught in house to house searches after the storm.
FWIW, the stucco forms a hard shell on the outside, but sheet rock walls on the interior give easy access to the block. Once the block backing is gone, the stucco is more vulnerable. I didn't say it would be easy, but with motivation people can do amazing things.
Only one seems dumb IMHO. Disable or block that, you're sort of finished. At least have one other alternative that doesn't require tools you don't store in the house!
Why are you shuttering the doors? Is that something people do now? Back when I lived along the gulf coast shutters, plywood, etc were for the windows to reduce the risk from flying glass, has that changed?
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