A residential project in Hawaii requires hurricane straps connecting the roof to walls. What is the minimum uplift capacity required for each strap connection?
Correct Answer
C) 1,500 lbs
Hurricane straps in Hawaii must provide minimum 1,500 lbs uplift capacity per connection to resist hurricane-force winds and maintain structural integrity.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Hawaii's hurricane wind loads are extreme, and the building code requires a minimum of 1,500 lbs uplift capacity per hurricane strap connection. This high threshold ensures that roof-to-wall connections can resist the massive negative pressure and wind uplift generated by tropical storm and hurricane conditions common in the Hawaiian Islands.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: 500 lbs
500 lbs is far too low for Hawaii's hurricane exposure. This might be adequate in low-wind mainland regions but is insufficient against Category 1–5 hurricane forces experienced in Hawaii.
Option B: 750 lbs
750 lbs uplift is insufficient for Hawaii's requirements. While 750 lbs exceeds some mainland standards, Hawaii's hurricane hazard demands double this capacity at minimum.
Option D: 1,000 lbs
1,000 lbs falls short of Hawaii's 1,500 lb minimum. It may be used as a distractor because it is a round number above lower options, but the code specifically requires 1,500 lbs.
Memory Technique
1,500 lbs = '1.5 kips' — think of it as 'Hawaii 1.5' since Hawaii is the 50th state (50 ÷ 5 × 1.5 = the strap). Or: a hurricane strap must hold the weight of a small car (roughly 1,500 lbs) trying to lift off the roof.
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