Withstanding wind shear: structural roof clips and bracing in Grand’Anse
Post-hurricane surveys show that eave tear-out is the primary trigger for rural roof collapse.
Post-cyclone assessments conducted in Jérémie illustrate that 74% of roofs torn off during tropical storms did not fail at primary rafters, but rather ripped loose under aerodynamic suction along unsecured peripheral eaves.
When high-velocity wind strikes a vertical facade, an uplift pressure exceeding 180 kilograms per square metre develops along roof overhangs. Conventional nails driven into damp wood lose friction in seconds, generating sail effects that shear entire trusses away.
Installing U-shaped galvanized steel tie plates bolted directly into lintels locks the timber rafters to the foundation walls, allowing uplift loads to dissipate safely into the ground.
Hydraulic jack pull tests conducted on site demonstrate four-fold resistance against structural pull-out compared to non-engineered nail assemblies.