The American Red Cross reports that they respond to an average of 65,000 natural disasters each year. Disasters include floods, fires, tornados, earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and winter storms. The ability to withstand impacts from natural disasters is integral to designing disaster-resistant architecture, And while there are many cases when all of the preparation can’t stand up to weather events, mitigating the risks and damage can save lives and money in the long run.
In order to choose the right building materials for a project where disaster-resistance is particularly necessary, it’s important to focus on how the materials increase safety, provide durability, and enhance the aesthetics.
By focusing on materials that prepare the building for harsh weather and potential disasters, you’re providing assurances for your client and the future users of the building that if or when disaster strikes, they’re in the best position possible to face it.
Design for Safety
Disasters can happen anywhere. From storms to fires to floods, everywhere in the U.S. is prone to a disaster in one form or another. That’s why building codes are designed with safety at their core — creating secure, accessible environments that protect the people who use them. States and municipalities often go a step further, tailoring requirements to address the most common hazards in their area.
At VIVA Railings, safety is engineered into every system we design. Our products meet International Building Code requirements as well as state and local commercial codes for handrail height, profile, clearance, support, and load — and they also meet ADA Accessibility Standards.
For our SHOE™ Aluminum Glass Railing System, we’ve taken safety a step further. It carries the ICC-ES (International Code Council Evaluation Service) certification, a rigorous third-party verification that confirms the system’s strength, durability, and reliability under real-world conditions. This means architects, contractors, and building owners can have complete confidence that the SHOE system doesn’t just meet code — it’s been independently proven to exceed it.
Design for Durability
Disasters can happen in all regions of the United States, but designs should also account for daily wear and tear from use and weather conditions even when disasters aren’t present. Railing systems that are built to withstand harsh conditions are integral to any outdoor application.
Stainless steel is a railing material that can stand up to the elements because it’s corrosion resistant and able to handle extreme temperatures. In the event of a disaster, it is also fire and impact resistant. These qualities work together to form an incredibly durable material ideal for disaster-resistant architecture.
Designing with a CableNet infill is another way to support a disaster-resistant project. The organic, interwoven fabric creates a minimal aesthetic, and the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel CableNet infill stands up to harsh weather conditions, making it especially appropriate for coastal conditions where disasters may come in the form of hurricanes and tropical storms.
Design for Aesthetics
When designing disaster-resistant architecture, it’s possible to let aesthetics fall by the wayside, but that’s a mistake. Even in the most durable and disaster-resistant design, aesthetics play an important role in the overall impact of the space. VIVA Railings solutions are not only durable and safe, but they also offer a clean, modern aesthetic and minimal look.
Our extensive range of metal and glass railing systems gives you the ultimate flexibility to design railing systems according to your aesthetic requirements even as they meet building code requirements for safety and durability.
Disaster-Resistant Design in Action
Between 2016 and 2019, Kingwood, Texas saw four major floods. During Hurricane Harvey alone, the area saw 30 to 40 inches of rainfall. After this period, it was clear that flood mitigation efforts were needed to protect residents and buildings from future flooding.
The Humble Independent School District received $28 million from FEMA to upgrade their school buildings to better hold up against flooding. Flood mitigation measures included flood walls, automatic flood gates, aquarium glass, and better drainage to prevent damage from water entering the building as it did during Hurricane Harvey and other floods.
Included in this new design is VIVA Railings MetalSpaces system which adds noise reduction and light filtering to one of Kingwood High School’s entrances. This durable system is ideal to stand up to harsh weather conditions that come with flood events.
VIVA Railings
Disaster-resistant architecture helps build resilient communities that can stand up to weather events and natural disasters, making it easier to rebuild and get back to living life as usual. Choosing the right materials in conjunction with a big picture plan to mitigate risks can ensure disaster-resistant design without compromising aesthetics.
VIVA Railings will help you adapt the railing design to your region to guard against the most common disaster-related threats. We manufacture our railing systems with durable materials, including stainless steel and tempered glass. We also offer powder coating, a range of mounting options, and lighted railing options, so you can customize our preconfigured railings to fit your project’s needs.
Contact the experts at VIVA Railings today to explore materials for disaster-resistant architecture.