Resistance to Severe Weather Conditions

How PolySteel Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF's) Performs under Severe Weather Conditions

PolySteel structures have a proven track record with regards to resistance of tornados and hurricanes. During the series of hurricanes that ravaged Florida in 2004 dozens of PolySteel structures all withstood the hurricane force winds. PolySteel walls have even been independently tested to withstand flying debris driven by a 250 mph wind.

With a combination of consolidation concrete and steel ties PolySteel Insulating Concrete Forms (ICF's) provide increased strength and durability for your building, providing you with a safe haven no matter how much the UK weather changes.

On Tuesday 17th July 2007 another tornado caused damage in Gloucestershire. At 11.15am the twister struck Melkirt Limited a mushroom farm in Tibberton which is a village in the Forest of Dean.  The tornado's spout lifted upwards a half-tonne skip and carried it more than 300 yards after it had been sucked up through the roof of the farm building and cast aside into a field.  Several trees were up-rooted and farm building destroyed.  It was reported by the local Press that the farmer Mr. Dennis Nutting had stated that they had been lucky, as had the tornado been another 10 feet in the other direction it was likely that employees working close by would have been injured.  A part time worker Mr. Kenneth Browne, 67, stated that he could not believe his eyes when he saw the tornado, the sky had grown darker and darker and the wind grew louder and louder it had sounded like an express train going through the farm and the fact it had only lasted about 20 seconds, it had left a phenomenal amount of debris.  It was also reported that the local Tibberton Primary School had lost its electricity supply due to the effects of the severe weather. 

A tornado touched down in the town of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England, causing severe damage and havoc on Monday 2nd July 2007 at 11.30am as reported by the local media.  The twister lifted roofs, uprooted trees and smashed fencing to the ground.  It touched down in the middle of Northway and tore up Hardwick Bank Road, Sinderberry Drive and then on to Bowler Road.  Over a quarter mile in radius was the area of destruction to property it disappeared over the fields towards Aston-on-Carrant leaving a trail of devastation and terror in its wake.

Witnesses stated that there was a torrent of very heavy rain followed by unnatural calm.  Then leaves began to spiral, blossom and debris from the trees started to charge at the building.  The blossom was hitting the windows so hard that it sounded like hail stones.  The tornado was so powerful that it hurled a gazebo 200ft into the air as if it was made of paper, it also ripped a conservatory from its base and rained bits of it over a large area.  Roof tiles became dangerious missiles and were strewn over gardens in piles, resembling a demolition site.  Doors which were locked and bolted on buildings were flung open suddenly with terrifying impact resembling events as one would see in a horror movie!  Some witnesses described the noise like a plane about to crash to the ground, so loud it was disorientating.

A spokesman for the Met Office said: "We've had quite a few reports of tornados, not just in Gloucestershire, but around the country over the last couple of weeks. The weather patterns we've seen recently are conducive to tornados.  They aren't freak weather events". 

Weather experts say the tornado which hit Birmingham in 2005 was a severe tornado with wind speeds of between 115 and 136 miles per hour.

The Torro scale, which measures tornados put it at a T4, with T1 being light, and T10 being a maximum.

Increasingly unpredictable weather conditions and climate change are affecting us all. In the UK we have come to expect some of the most varied and often the most changeable weather conditions in the world.

Tornadoes are often associated with America. However, you may not be aware that the UK has some 33 tornadoes every year. Considering the UK is approximately 38 times smaller than the USA, you are twice as likely to witness a Tornado within the UK.  In 2006 the United Kingdom experienced 70 tornadoes making 2006 as the year with the most recorded tornadoes ever.

In the first week of December Wales was lashed by rain and heavy winds, a tornado hit Bow Street near Aberystwyth.  The Bow Street tornado damaged more than 20 houses, while electricity cables were brought down and trees uprooted. 

On the 3rd December 2006, a mini tornado threw garden furniture and a giant trampoline through the air at a housing estate in Tuffley, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. This tornado although did not cause severe damage, managed to leave many occupiers traumatised and suffering the after-effects of shock!

On Thursday 7th December 2006 a tornando ripped through a north London street causing millions of pounds worth of damage and injuring six people.  The sweeping winds, described by one resident as "some sort of cyclone", hit Chamberlayne Road in Kensal Rise, London, England.  One man was taken to hospital with a head injury and five people were treated at the scene for minor injuries and shock!  What is even more concerning, is this damage was caused in 45 seconds when the tornado touched down. 

The devastating tornado that hit Birmingham in 2005 injured 19 people - three seriously. It lasted for just four minutes but wreaked havoc across Small Heath, Hall Green, Sparkbrook and Kings Heath areas of the city. It destroyed part of a supermarket, uprooted trees and damaged more than a hundred homes.