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BEWARE OF “WIND-RATED” BARNS WITHOUT GROUND ANCHORS. Many shed dealers are misleading customers with promises of wind-rated barns, but here’s the catch: they don’t include ground anchors. Without secure anchoring, those so-called "wind-rated" barns are little more than false promises, leaving your property—and possibly your safety—at risk during severe weather.
In Alabama, high wind advisories and severe weather are a constant reality, bringing destructive storms that can wreak havoc on unanchored structures. Don’t let flashy marketing or false assurances put you in harm’s way. At Cotton State Barns, we don’t just talk about wind ratings. We deliver secure, anchored barns with wind packages designed to stand up to nature’s fury. When it comes to protecting your property, beware of the shortcuts others take—your safety depends on it.
Keep reading to learn more about barn wind ratings and how you can trust us to give you the peace of mind you deserve.
What Is Barn Wind Load?
When you buy a barn shed, you might be told about the 'wind load' of your structure. This refers to the amount of wind pressure that will be experienced when pressure systems shift and send wind blowing along the surface of your building. Engineers use wind load as a measure when asking how much wind a barn can withstand. There are three major forms of wind load:
- Shear Load – Shear winds are directly across the face of a building, forming a horizontal push. The shear load determines how much of a push your building can withstand without falling over, also called "racking."
- Uplift Load – If your building has roof lips or awnings, it may have an extreme uplift load, which has the potential to send your building flying upwards and off of the foundation. Firmly anchored buildings are critical!
- Lateral Load – Similar to shear loads, this is the amount of pressure on a building that it can withstand before the entire building is ripped off the foundation, overturned, and tossed aside. This often requires hurricane-force gales.
The wind load of your barn will typically be measured in pounds per square foot (PSF), as determined by the American Society of Civil Engineers. There is no such thing as a tornado-proof or hurricane-proof barn, but you can take proper precautions with proper engineering! High winds are inevitable, but how do you know that your storage buildings will be taken care of?
Key Features of Hurricane-resistant and 160 MPH Wind Rated Barns Features
Our structures with 160 MPH wind ratings have been designed in accordance with the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2021 International Building Code. This means that we have engineered and designed our structures with extra features that further strengthen and stabilize your structure to withstand extreme winds:
- Engineered Trusses with Collar Ties in all non-lofted areas.
- Engineered Headers over all openings 38" and wider.
- Hurricane Straps on every rafter.
- Engineered Ground Anchoring Systems.
- 16' wide buildings get 16" OC stud and rafter spacing.
Additionally, we reinforce specific points during construction. This includes extra nails and bindings, longer cover plates, and lowered collar ties. To achieve a 160 MPH barn wind rating, you must have external anchors and robust reinforcements, which many barn builders neglect.
If a shed dealer says their buildings are wind-proof but don't include anchors with installation, don't believe them! Instead, trust Cotton State Barns, where you have the option to purchase a wind package that consists of these anchors for your peace of mind.
How to Know Your Building's Risk of Wind Damage
Several factors might influence your property's potential for wind damage. First is the wind zone you live in. Across America, the potential for wind damage may be different depending on your location – coastal areas are at risk of hurricane damage, while further inland is not. Alabama is marked as a Zone 2 or 3 wind zone, according to FEMA.
More locally, the International Building Code defines different structure exposure codes:
- Exposure B – Urban or Suburban wooded area with buildings close together. This forms strong wind breakage and can be a more protected area for your outdoor structure.
- Exposure C – An open, rural area with distant buildings and few other barriers. This is commonly the designation of farmland and grassland with minimal tree cover to inhibit wind.
- Exposure D – A very flat land without changes in elevation, like plains, salt flats, or even water-side properties near the seacoast or great lakes, which leave plenty of space for wind to gather speed.
Exposure A is an outdated designation that is no longer regularly applied. Exposures B, C, and D each provide a general idea of what winds your barn may be exposed to over a year. With this knowledge and with the robust construction of our sheds, you can have an easier time maintaining and protecting your property!
Choose the Most Durable Options from Cotton State Barns!
Is your property ready to withstand 160 MPH winds? You can answer yes after you have a Cotton State Barns structure on your property!
From barns to sheds to the many beautiful variations of each, we provide each of our structures with the best possible supports and anchors to provide the strength and durability needed for structures in our fair state. If you're ready to see the difference that we can make for you, call us today and get started!
