Dennise Williams, Staff Reporter 
The serenity of the blue skies contrasts with the collapsed structure of this church in Portland Cottage, Clarendon. Like so many buildings in that community, it did not escape nature's wrath when Hurricane Ivan battered Jamaica last September. -IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BASED ON an informal survey of local engineers by Sunday Business, about 40 per cent of Jamaican homes are not built to the national building code standards and are prime candidates for hurricane and earthquake damage.
The Kingston and St. Andrew Building Act, which is the basis for the national building code, was established in 1907 in response to earthquakes but was applicable to creating hurricane-resistant buildings.
The act provided mandatory regulations for the planning, design, and construction of buildings and prohibited buildings higher than 60 feet.However, this restriction was eventually circumvented with the building of three-story properties on King Street.
By 1983, the Government revamped the act and published the National Building Code. This code was based on structural design requirements of the British Standards and Codes of Practice. This soon became out of date.In previously-published reports, Noel daCosta of the Jamaica Institute of Engineers (JIE) said that a National Building Code is being developed to establish the guidelines that should be observed in the design, construction and maintenance of buildings. It is being developed by the JIE in collaboration with the Jamaica Bureau of Standards (JBS) at a cost of $20 million.
John Thompson, an engineer with Apec Consultants said, "In Jamaica our building code dictates that buildings be designed and built to withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour. But this requires homeowners to employ the services of an engineer and a contractor who will ensure that proper building plans are implemented."His advice is not to be taken lightly. Mr. Thompson says, "The building code must be interpreted to fit the size of the house. I have known cases where people just used a builder (without consulting an architect or engineer) who installed a slab roof on their house and the owner thought that was enough. However, during the hurricane, the pressure built up in the house and the windows popped out."He also believes that many people think there is a one size fits all approach to building. "A 60 feet wide house has a different roof and slab requirement than a 20 feet wide house." And for individuals who are looking to build a new property, Mr. Thompson offers another important advice - "If the lot is less than 10 feet above sea level, don't bother.
"And while a qualified professional can interpret the national building code for your property, we offer some general advice found in building websites. Don't skimp on hurricane straps. Regardless of your roof type, hurricane straps are designed to help hold the roof to the walls. Ask your builder to install hurricane straps of galvanized metal. Don't wait until after your house is constructed; although some people attempt hurricane-strap installation as a do-it-yourself project, the straps are difficult to fit, and improperly placed, they can turn into sharp projectiles in a strong wind.
Build in areas that provide natural shelter from winds (build on leeward side of hill; tops of hills are not protected). If you must build on steep slopes, dig into the hill to have flat, solid ground on which to build. Make sure the cut part of the hill slopes gently enough to avoid erosion (usually 33-37 degrees from horizontal). Plant grass and shrubs on the cut part of the hill to slow down erosion. A square house is the sturdiest design for high winds. Other house shapes may create weak spots at inside corners. Roof shape and construction are extremely important to house survival of a hurricane since high winds can lift a poorly designed or reinforced roof off of a house. The smaller the overhang, the less likely the roof will be lifted off the house.
For existing properties, Mr. Thompson gives this advice, "Spend the money to get an engineer or qualified builder to inspect the property. And make sure your roof rafters are tied properly and don't forget your windows. Only four screws hold many windows (in their frame) in Jamaica [and] most windows are not [sturdily fitted]. I remember how Hurricane Gilbert blew out many windows that were not affixed properly.
