Construction Companies Building More Disaster-Ready Buildings
Climate change is causing more frequent and severe natural disasters. As the population grows, many more people are living in poorly constructed homes in areas prone to wildfires, hurricanes, and earthquakes, and many lose their lives or livelihoods each year.
Addressing the issue has to start from the ground up. These five construction companies are taking matters into their own hands and building more disaster-ready homes and businesses.
PhotoMIX Company
Disaster-Ready Construction Choices
Strong materials such as structural steel and concrete are ideal for weathering storms. Companies that specialize in durable buildings often incorporate steel due to its ability to bend and concrete for its wind resistance. Both materials can also withstand debris, pummeling them during a hurricane or tornado.
The toughest buildings don’t just use the strongest materials — their unique structural capabilities also protect them.
In earthquake-prone areas, construction companies build structures on rocking frames designed to move up and down during an earthquake, absorbing the impact and repositioning themselves afterward. Lead-rubber bearings commonly support buildings on these isolating bases because they’re strong, stiff, and flexible. Disaster-ready structures often have reinforced windows and doors.
Professionals test construction materials in warehouses to replicate storm conditions in a controlled setting. They use artificial rain, hail, and wind to see how well a building would withstand a natural disaster.
Companies Specializing in Disaster-Ready Buildings
Although many construction businesses build tough structures, the following companies lead the pack when prepping for natural disasters.
1. GigaCrete
This company constructs storm-resistant homes out of recyclable steel frames. The buildings are thickly insulated, designed to withstand hurricane-force winds, and finished with noncombustible, waterproof coatings to protect them in severe weather.
In addition to their durability, GigaCrete houses are highly energy-efficient. The manufacturer can ship them globally as part of a kit. Their low carbon footprint and easy assembly make them stand out in the construction industry.
2. Cottonwood Custom Builders
Cottonwood specializes in fire-resistant homes with stone, cement, and stucco siding. They incorporate wooden decks and patios treated to ward off flames, and the roofs are unvented, so embers can’t be drawn in. The windows are heat- and fire-resistant. Cottonwood homes also incorporate irrigation systems to water the surrounding area during a fire.
3. Boxabl
Modular units are simple to connect, making it easy to build customized homes. That’s Boxabl’s guiding principle. The construction company ships prefabricated homes — all made without wood — around the United States.
The houses are fire-resistant and easy to transport, and contractors can set them up in less than an hour. This could make them an excellent choice of temporary housing for people needing shelter after a natural disaster.
4. Deltec Homes
Round homes are more resistant to hurricanes because they deflect wind. Deltec specializes in energy-efficient, round houses in hurricane-prone areas.
The company builds homes on raised foundations using panelized construction. It also utilizes strong plywood, steel compression rings, and hurricane straps that attach walls to roofs. The roofs have a specific pitch that deflects wind, and the windows and doors are rated for heavy impacts.
5. Ramboll
This eco-friendly engineering company uses bamboo to build earthquake-resistant homes in Indonesia. Because the plant is one of the most common renewable resources in the country — it grows there naturally — Ramboll’s buildings are sustainable and inexpensive.
Its homes feature cross-braced columns and central staircases made of bamboo. The roofing consists of locally sourced, recycled Tetra Pak formed into corrugated sheets. This material is lightweight and reflective to reduce indoor temperatures.
The company’s long-term goal is to promote safe, sustainable housing in earthquake zones.
A Strong Foundation
Natural disasters will always be a part of life. It’s crucial to prepare for them as they become more frequent and severe, and that starts by designing stronger buildings. Thankfully, many construction companies have prioritized creating disaster-ready structures to save and improve countless lives.
Author: Jane Marsh
