{"id":32561,"date":"2024-09-30T09:47:28","date_gmt":"2024-09-30T08:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?post_type=insight&#038;p=32561"},"modified":"2025-08-06T17:06:59","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T16:06:59","slug":"blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/","title":{"rendered":"Blowin\u2019 in the Wind: Understanding Wind and Storm Damage"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"32561\" class=\"elementor elementor-32561\" data-elementor-post-type=\"insight\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d865d26 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-eae-slider=\"65227\" data-id=\"d865d26\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57003cb\" data-eae-slider=\"15160\" data-id=\"57003cb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a7e512f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a7e512f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Storms can wreak havoc on structures, with winds causing a building (or parts of it) to sway, overturn, or even collapse. Most people expect that buildings should be designed and built to withstand foreseeable storms and so, when Hawkins investigates a storm damaged structure, we must consider what caused the failure: the storm itself, or something else such as the underlying construction or <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">design defect.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">With apologies to Bob Dylan and his fans, this article winds its way through an engineering re-write of <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Blowin\u2019 in the Wind<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to answer some of the most common questions that arise when we investigate storm and wind damage to buildings.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a00e282 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a00e282\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">How many walls must a storm blow down\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/h5><h5><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">Before it could not (reasonably) be foreseen?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da0d573 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"da0d573\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> what are the \u2018foreseeable\u2019 wind speeds that buildings should be designed for?\u00a0 To assess this, Hawkins&#8217; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/expertise\/built-environment\/civil-structural-engineering\/\">Civil Engineers<\/a> often turn to codes of practice<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> including BS EN 1991-1-4:2005, that outline<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> how to design structures to weather high winds.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0 I will discuss this code in more detail later.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Understanding how a code says a building should have been designed is all very well, but how can we tell if any design issues are important, and whether the winds in a storm were stronger or weaker than the design code specified (the design wind pressures)?\u00a0 To check, we need to compare the design wind pressures from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/expertise\/built-environment\/building-defects-regulations\/\">codes and guidance<\/a> with known facts about the conditions that the building experienced in the storm, such as:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-afdb9a3 elementor-align-left elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"afdb9a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Wind speeds recorded at nearby weather stations (e.g. in MET Office storm reports)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Observations by witnesses (e.g. \u201cit was so windy that the trees were shaking and I had to lean hard into the wind to be able to walk\u201d <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Photographs and video footage (e.g. showing people walking in the wind) <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">The damage the storm caused to nearby structures and objects (e.g. how many other walls and chimneys were blown down) <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-953765e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"953765e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">Collecting this information<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">; <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">going to site<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\"> as soon as possible after an incident<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">, interviewing witnesses and <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">getting<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\"> data from official sources<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\"> and analysing it <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">is the key to comparing <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">a given <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">storm with what the building should have withstood<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">This kind of forensic work<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">, combined with technical <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">expertise<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">is at the heart of what Hawkins <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">engineers <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW218779840 BCX8\">do.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW218779840 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f12189f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f12189f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong><em>And how can we describe the speed of the wind?\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h5><h5><strong><em>By short gusts, or a longer, hourly mean?<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e724da8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e724da8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">A<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">nyone who has stood in a storm can tell you, the wind is a changeable thing: it rises<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">,<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">falls<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> and<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> changes direction<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">In some storms sudden gusts seem to come from nowhere, while in others the wind drives rain hard in one direction for hours<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">For each of these, different \u2018wind speeds\u2019 are relevant<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">However, when it comes to structural damage it is the peak gust that is <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">generally the<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> most important<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">If a structure <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">can <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">withstand the pressures from a 70mph gust, it will <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">generally<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> withstand<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> a wind <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">blowing at a constant<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">60<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">mph for many hours or days (with a few interesting exceptions)<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">However, a single gust <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">beyond that 70mph limit<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">,<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> even for <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">just <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">a second or two<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">,<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">may be<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> enough to <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW252577325 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">bsnap<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\"> a fixing<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">\u00a0or <\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW252577325 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">topple <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">part of a structure<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">and<\/span> <\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW252577325 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">cause <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">the structure to fail<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">.\u00a0 <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">After <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">an initial<\/span> <span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">failure<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">, <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">structures <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">are <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">often left much more vulnerable to further damage (for <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">example <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW252577325 BCX8\">where the loss of one cladding panel exposes the underside of neighbouring ones, which are then more easily blown away).<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW252577325 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fceb652 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fceb652\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5><strong><i>Yes, and what does it mean when a storm gets a name?<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5><h5><strong><i>And did my cladding fail due to \u2018funnelling\u2019?<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d5cab3 elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2d5cab3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We are often asked to assess the cause of building damage after storms named by the MET Office (the 2023\/24 \u2018storm season\u2019 has included Storm Agnes, Storm Babet, Storm Ciar\u00e1n, Storm Debi, Storm Elin, Storm Fergus, Storm Gerrit, Storm Henk, Storm Isha and Storm Jocelyn).\u00a0 Storms are usually named by the MET Office because they have the potential to cause disruption or damage.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Many named storms hit the UK each year, but most permanent buildings are expected to last more than 50 years and so should weather tens or even hundreds of \u2018storms\u2019 in their lifetime without significant damage.\u00a0 An initial step in our investigation is often to review the individual storm reports published by the MET Office on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.metoffice.gov.uk\/weather\/warnings-and-advice\/uk-storm-centre\/index\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">UK Storm Centre website<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0 Reviewing these reports and identifying what aspects of a storm were most important to a particular failure often forms a part of <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">our assessment of the severity of a storm.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> effect we consider is \u2018funnelling\u2019, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">sometimes <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">also <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">incorrectly <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">referred to as \u2018tunnelling\u2019: <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">did funnelling of the wind cause high local winds that led to failure?<\/span><\/i><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Funnelling is a well-known effect described in codes of practice such as BS EN 1991-1-4.\u00a0 This code of practice helps designers consider different kinds of wind effects on structures. It contains information and equations used to work out the wind pressures acting on a structure or something fixed to it (such as a piece of cladding or a solar panel), taking into account the many factors that can influence it including:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc34aac elementor-align-left elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"fc34aac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">The building shape, height and orientation <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">The building\u2019s location <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">The effects of surrounding terrain and\/or nearby buildings (that could provide shelter or worsen local conditions) <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">The length of time that the structure will be in use (e.g. less than a year for most scaffolding, and at least 50 years for most houses) <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"8.305\" height=\"15.142\" viewBox=\"0 0 8.305 15.142\"><path id=\"Path_185\" data-name=\"Path 185\" d=\"M0,0,5.536,7.572,0,15.143H2.768L8.3,7.572,2.768,0Z\" transform=\"translate(0 0)\" fill=\"#007aa3\" opacity=\"0.998\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Special features of the structure (e.g. does it have large doors or windows that could allow strong winds to blow inside). <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab573b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab573b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b051e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b051e9\" data-element_type=\"section\"><div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\"><div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-68e6efb\" data-id=\"68e6efb\" data-element_type=\"column\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\"><div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-925c64b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"925c64b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><p>Funnelling occurs when wind is channelled or compressed into a gap between buildings, making the wind speed up in the confined space. This can lead to higher wind loads on the surfaces of the buildings involved.\u00a0 The relationship between the size of the buildings and the gaps between them is a Goldilocks one: it needs to be just right.\u00a0 For funnelling to occur the distance must not be too far (or the wind isn\u2019t compressed) nor too near (or the wind will be blocked despite the gap).<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b051e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b051e9\" data-element_type=\"section\"><div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\"><div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-68e6efb\" data-id=\"68e6efb\" data-element_type=\"column\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\"><div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-925c64b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"925c64b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">However, even if funnelling has occurred and the higher localised pressures contributed to a failure, the main cause of the failure might still be a design or construction defect.\u00a0 Unless the designer could not have foreseen that the neighbouring buildings and the consequent gaps would be present, the codes of practice and practical experience would recommend that they design for this localised, but entirely foreseeable, effect.\u00a0 In other words, if the gaps where the funnelling happened were not a surprise, then the designer should probably have taken funnelling into account in their design.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91041ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"91041ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">Summary<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In summary, if the wind in a typical named storm caused direct damage to part of a permanent building, this often indicates that the building was unusually weak (potentially due to a design or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/expertise\/built-environment\/building-defects-regulations\/\">construction defect<\/a>) rather than the storm winds having been unusually fast and strong (i.e. stronger than the design storm recommended in codes of practice).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To robustly assess what happened and why requires a mix of forensic fact-finding, technical understanding and analysis.\u00a0 Bob Dylan\u2019s Subterranean Homesick Blues may say <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8220;you don&#8217;t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows&#8221;<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, but if you need an engineer to investigate why that wind blew a building down, please give us a call.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6422fc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d6422fc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b051e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b051e9\" data-element_type=\"section\"><div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\"><div class=\"has_eae_slider elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-68e6efb\" data-id=\"68e6efb\" data-element_type=\"column\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\"><div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-925c64b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"925c64b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><h4><span style=\"color: #0a527a;\">About the Author<\/span><\/h4><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/experts\/bernard-travers\/\"><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">Bernard<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\"> is<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\"> an experienced Chartered Civil Engineer, speciali<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">s<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">ing<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\"> in the forensic investigation of building failures. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">Since joining Hawkins in 2016, he<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">\u00a0has investigated over 200 <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">cases<\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackChangeTextInsertion TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">ranging<\/span><\/span><\/span> <span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">f<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">rom historic houses to modern tower blocks, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">cladding to concrete slabs, design reviews to digging through storm damage debris<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">Before this, he tackled advanced technical issues for a major engineering consultancy, including the assessment of <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TrackedChange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">defective <\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\">concrete and historical masonry buildings, structural vibration for advanced laboratories, and finite element analysis. Bernard is known for his meticulous attention to detail and his knack for making technical matters accessible and <\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed SCXW245734649 BCX8\">engaging:<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\"> even if his love of analogies sometimes <\/span><\/span><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW245734649 BCX8\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/S8ftUq693Wo?feature=shared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"FieldRange SCXW245734649 BCX8\"><span class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"none\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentStart CommentHighlightPipeRestV2 CommentHighlightRest SCXW245734649 BCX8\" data-ccp-charstyle=\"Hyperlink\">takes the biscuit<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span class=\"TextRun SCXW245734649 BCX8\" lang=\"EN-GB\" xml:lang=\"EN-GB\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun CommentHighlightPipeRestV2 SCXW245734649 BCX8\">.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW245734649 BCX8\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:6,&quot;335551620&quot;:6,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If the wind in a typical named storm caused direct damage to part of a permanent building, this often indicates that the building was unusually weak.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":32573,"parent":0,"template":"","insight_category":[],"experties":[62],"class_list":["post-32561","insight","type-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","experties-built-environment"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Storm Damage: Forensic Wind Analysis<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how forensic engineers assess storm damage to buildings using wind speed data, design codes, and structural analysis.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Storm Damage: Forensic Wind Analysis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how forensic engineers assess storm damage to buildings using wind speed data, design codes, and structural analysis.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hawkins Forensic Investigation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-06T16:06:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"854\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"567\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/\",\"name\":\"Storm Damage: Forensic Wind Analysis\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-30T08:47:28+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-06T16:06:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how forensic engineers assess storm damage to buildings using wind speed data, design codes, and structural analysis.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg\",\"width\":854,\"height\":567,\"caption\":\"image showing a building turned into ruins and collapsed by strong winds\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Insights\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Blowin\u2019 in the Wind: Understanding Wind and Storm Damage\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/\",\"name\":\"Hawkins Forensic Investigation\",\"description\":\"Specialising in Forensic Investigation\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Hawkins and Associates\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg\",\"width\":164,\"height\":61,\"caption\":\"Hawkins and Associates\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hawkins-and-associates-limited\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Storm Damage: Forensic Wind Analysis","description":"Learn how forensic engineers assess storm damage to buildings using wind speed data, design codes, and structural analysis.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Storm Damage: Forensic Wind Analysis","og_description":"Learn how forensic engineers assess storm damage to buildings using wind speed data, design codes, and structural analysis.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/","og_site_name":"Hawkins Forensic Investigation","article_modified_time":"2025-08-06T16:06:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":854,"height":567,"url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/","name":"Storm Damage: Forensic Wind Analysis","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg","datePublished":"2024-09-30T08:47:28+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-06T16:06:59+00:00","description":"Learn how forensic engineers assess storm damage to buildings using wind speed data, design codes, and structural analysis.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2024-08-06-122304.jpg","width":854,"height":567,"caption":"image showing a building turned into ruins and collapsed by strong winds"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/blowin-in-the-wind-understanding-wind-and-storm-damage\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Insights","item":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/insight\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Blowin\u2019 in the Wind: Understanding Wind and Storm Damage"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/","name":"Hawkins Forensic Investigation","description":"Specialising in Forensic Investigation","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#organization","name":"Hawkins and Associates","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/logo_svg.svg","width":164,"height":61,"caption":"Hawkins and Associates"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/hawkins-and-associates-limited\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/32561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/insight"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/32561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40483,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/32561\/revisions\/40483"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"insight_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight_category?post=32561"},{"taxonomy":"experties","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawkins.biz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/experties?post=32561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}