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Wind Ratings

When it’s time to choose a data center partner, Wind Ratings may not be the first phrase that comes to mind. Yet it’s critically important to consider a structure’s ability to withstand high winds from tornadoes, hurricanes or microbursts.

According to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the following categories are applied to storms with sustained winds of the following speeds:

Category Sustained Winds Impact
1 74-95 mph Dangerous winds; property damage; power outages lasting days to weeks
2 96-110 mph Extremely dangerous winds; extensive property damage; near-total power outages lasting days to weeks
3 (major) 111-129 mph Devastating damage; utility outages lasting weeks to months
4 (major) 130-156 mph Catastrophic damage; largely uninhabitable for weeks to months

 

The most resilient structures follow the Miami-Dade wind rating, named for the hurricane-resistant standards outlined in the Florida Building Code. For structures in Risk Category III, construction must be engineered to withstand winds up to 185 mph.