Enhancing Resilience
Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3
Session 1: Enhancing Resilience and Affordability: FORTIFIED® Elevated Manufactured Homes for Disaster-Prone Communities
The FORTIFIED® Elevated Manufactured Homes initiative addresses the urgent need for resilient and affordable housing in disaster-prone areas, particularly within underserved communities. This research-driven approach integrates the FORTIFIED® construction standard with off-site manufacturing to develop wind- and flood-resistant homes. Designed to mitigate vulnerabilities from extreme weather events, the project emphasizes long-term affordability and disaster resilience while addressing critical supply chain challenges and life-cycle cost analyses.
The study employs a multi-disciplinary methodology to evaluate the feasibility of scaling FORTIFIED® standards in manufactured housing. Key components include the identification of supply chain barriers, such as material sourcing complexities and training gaps, and the development of streamlined processes to integrate resilience features. Through qualitative techniques, including thematic analysis, affinity diagrams, and advisory board consultations, the research identifies actionable solutions to optimize manufacturing workflows and reduce costs. These measures include improved material consistency, dedicated supplier partnerships, and enhanced workforce training programs.
A critical innovation in this project is the application of life-cycle benefit-cost analysis (LCBCA) to compare off-site and on-site construction methods. The analysis considers factors such as average annual loss, insurance savings, and mitigation costs. By quantifying the economic impact of implementing FORTIFIED® standards and raising homes above the 100-year flood elevation, the study demonstrates substantial risk reductions, including a 99% decrease in flood risk for elevated homes and up to an 80% reduction in wind-related damages with FORTIFIED® Gold standards.
The research outcomes have broad implications for policy and practice. Policymakers will gain insights into cost-effective pathways for adopting FORTIFIED® elevated homes, informed by comprehensive supply chain evaluations and life-cycle analyses. The findings will guide regulatory updates, incentivize resilient construction practices, and promote equitable housing access for underserved populations. Furthermore, the project provides a replicable framework for stakeholders nationwide, enabling widespread adoption of resilient manufactured housing as a viable solution to the affordable housing crisis.
By addressing both systemic barriers and technical innovations, this initiative not only supports Louisiana's disaster-prone regions but also sets a precedent for resilient housing solutions across the United States. The integration of advanced construction standards with supply chain efficiency and affordability ensures that manufactured homes can serve as a cornerstone for community resilience, offering safe and sustainable living options in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the integration of resilience in manufactured housing: Explore how FORTIFIED® standards enhance wind and flood resilience in manufactured homes, addressing vulnerabilities in disaster-prone areas.
- Analyze supply chain challenges and solutions: Identify key barriers, such as material sourcing, workforce training, and regulatory hurdles, and evaluate actionable strategies to optimize supply chain efficiency for resilient housing.
- Evaluate life-cycle cost implications: Learn how life-cycle benefit-cost analysis (LCBCA) quantifies the economic impact of implementing resilient features in manufactured homes, including long-term affordability and disaster risk reduction.
- Apply research insights to policy and practice: Gain practical knowledge to inform policies, promote equitable housing access, and replicate resilient manufacturing practices nationwide to address the affordable housing crisis.
Session 2: Resilience and Innovation in Modern Roof Design: Strategies for Sustainable Success
Over the past two decades, roof assemblies have undergone significant evolution, driven by issues that fall under the umbrella of sustainability, such as resilience, energy efficiency, recyclability, urban heat mitigation, and increased service life. While these movements have catalyzed much of the innovation, advancements in roof system design also are responding to the critical need for resilience within the built environment.
This session provides a practical exploration (manufacturer-agnostic) of roofing assemblies, equipping attendees with essential insights and actionable strategies for managing their roofing portfolios. It begins with an accessible overview of roofing and building science, demystifying core principles for both industry professionals and stakeholders with limited technical backgrounds.
Participants will learn six essential facts about roofing systems insights that every building owner, facility manager, and design professional should understand to make informed decisions. These foundational principles cover sustainability, drainage, resilience, attachment methods, and fire safety, highlighting key considerations that align with evolving codes and standards. Attendees also will gain an understanding of how resilient roofing strategies can enhance the longevity and performance of roof systems, ensuring they meet the challenges of modern climate conditions.
Building on this foundation, the session transitions to a discussion of applying this knowledge, emphasizing the importance of resilience when planning and maintaining a roofing portfolio. Key topics include integrating sustainability and resilience goals, adapting to changing building codes, and evaluating the lifecycle performance of roofing assemblies. Special attention will be given to addressing challenges like drainage and wind uplift resistance, as well as the role of reflective materials and thermal resistance in achieving resilience and sustainability without compromising durability.
Interactive engagement will be included, as participants will “construct” 4-inch roof assembly mockups to allow attendees to visualize and discuss the impacts of various design decisions. Also, a phone-based voting app will be used to gather audience input on key design questions, encouraging dialogue and fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Attendees will leave with practical tools and knowledge to apply resilient roofing principles in their own work, whether ownership, management, or design.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the six primary facts about roofing systems, including their role in sustainability, resilience, drainage, attachment, and fire safety, ensuring a foundational understanding of modern roofing assemblies.
- Discuss practical considerations for integrating resilience and sustainability principles into roofing portfolios, with a focus on adapting to evolving codes and enhancing lifecycle performance.
- Evaluate how design decisions impact roof performance and prioritize key factors and design considerations for resilient roofing systems.
- Analyze how resilient roofing strategies, such as improved drainage systems and wind uplift resistance, contribute to the longevity and performance of roofing assemblies within the built environment.
Session 3: Designing and Building Resilient Communities with ICF Wall Systems
The use of insulated concrete forms (ICFs) offers a viable alternative for the U.S. to build sustainable and resilient structures for our communities. Inclement weather with extreme hazard events continues to expose annually the vulnerabilities of homes, apartments, schools, malls, shops, hospitals, sports facilities, and factories.
ICFs are stay-in-place concrete forms designed for creating both horizontal and vertical elements in concrete construction. These elements – walls, columns, pilasters, floors, and roofs – are designed and built according to the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 560 Standard Specification, Insulating Concrete Form Design and Construction Report.
The ICF wall system is an integral part of this comprehensive construction system. Typical ICF wall construction systems can be either flat, waffle, screen grid, and post-and-beam systems. Design engineers specify concrete that meet compressive strength slump, consistency, and consolidation requirements of ASTM C150/C150M, C595/C595M and C1157/1157M.
Together with the formwork, bracing and scaffolding, reinforcement configuration, and internal concrete core, the ICF construction can sufficiently resist the moment, shear, and axial loads from different external and internal sources. Three types of structural designs are employed in ICF systems – prescriptive design, rational engineering design and rational engineering design validated by testing. The ACI 318 design methodology used for the concrete core is necessarily dependent on the final configuration of the concrete core.
Using ICFs has proven to provide appreciable levels of functional and performance recovery benefits for different building structures in the U.S. and North American communities. For communities to serve the needs of citizens better, it is critical to have building systems that can withstand the debilitating effects of storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes, which now have higher frequencies than before.
Learning Objectives:
- To compare the key difference between ICFs and conventional concrete building construction.
- To assess the different ICF wall systems utilized for resisting in- and out-plane forces.
- To discuss the structural and non-structural benefits of ICFs.
- To present practical cases of resilient ICF construction in the U.S. and North America.
