According to Hawaii Building Code, what is the required wind speed design for residential structures in Honolulu County?
Correct Answer
A) 150 mph
Hawaii Building Code requires residential structures in most areas to be designed for 150 mph wind speeds due to hurricane exposure.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Hawaii Building Code mandates a 150 mph design wind speed for residential structures in Honolulu County. This reflects Hawaii's hurricane exposure (Category 4 hurricanes can produce sustained winds exceeding 130 mph) and the state's adoption of wind speed maps that place most developed areas at the 150 mph threshold.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option B: 160 mph
160 mph is a higher wind design threshold applied to more exposed or vulnerable locations in Hawaii, such as certain coastal and elevated zones on neighbor islands. It is not the standard for Honolulu County residential structures.
Option C: 140 mph
140 mph is below the required minimum for Hawaii residential construction. This value might be confused with mainland hurricane-prone coastal requirements, but Hawaii's code is more stringent due to the isolated island exposure.
Option D: 130 mph
130 mph is a design wind speed applicable to lower-risk regions on the continental U.S. It is insufficient for Hawaii residential construction and does not meet state code requirements.
Memory Technique
Remember '150 for Hawaii residential' — the number 150 is the baseline for the most populous county (Honolulu). Values above 150 exist for more exposed zones, but 150 is the standard residential floor.
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