Assessment of wind load factors for hurricane-prone regions

We study the issue of whether the wind load factors specified in the ASCE 7–95 Standard for hurricane- prone regions on the one hand and extratropical storm regions on the other are mutually consistent with respect to risk. We consider structures or elements whose design is governed by wind loads and for which wind directionality effects are not significant. We present estimates according to which ASCE 7–95 Standard provisions for wind loads inducing the design strength result in (1) safety levels that are considerably lower for hurricane-prone than for extratropical storm regions, and (2) estimates of mean recurrence intervals of hurricane wind loads inducing the design strength of about 500 y if epistemic uncertainties are neglected, and significantly lower than 500 years otherwise.