Abstract
Following a tornado, representatives with the National Weather Service (NWS) rate the event on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale based on observed damage, not measurements of wind speed or direction. Variations in building codes, code enforcement, construction techniques, and construction quality limit the accuracy of these ratings, and may result in misleading interpretations., This paper will compare our observations of tornado damage to residential and commercial structures with the EF ratings assigned by the NWS. The scope will include residential and commercial structures of various building type, exposure, age and condition. The discussion will include case studies of detailed inspections in which construction defects and code variations may have contributed to an inaccurate EF rating. The paper will discuss inspection techniques that may improve the accuracy of future tornado ratings by the NWS.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
