While most people in the architecture and design community appreciate that EIFS deliver superior energy efficiency and exceptional design versatility, not everyone is convinced that EIFS can be counted on for durability in the face of extreme weather. Testing has confirmed that EIFS can provide exceptional durability. But beyond mathematical formulas and contention over testing procedures, there is abundant anecdotal evidence of the resiliency and long-term performance of EIFS.
The Lido Beach Towers on Long Beach Island, New York, a resort originally built in the 1920s, was re-clad with Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems in 2008, and now stands as a testament to the resiliency of EIFS. In 2013, Hurricane Sandy, the second most costly hurricane in United States history, decimated communities in the northeastern U.S. As the storm crossed over the island, it created a 15-foot storm surge of sand and debris that destroyed several floors of the Lido Beach Towers’ interior. Yet the exterior survived. The EIFS retrofit had made the exterior strong enough to withstand hurricane-strength wind, debris and rainfall. According to Gary Weiss, board president of Lido Beach Towers during the five-year-long restoration project, “We never realized that we had built a hurricane-proof building.”
In a 2015 article published in the Minnesota Lath and Plaster Newsletter by Steven Pedracine, CSI, CDT, “Why EIFS Are Number One: 10 New Reasons Why EIFS Should Be Your #1 Choice of Cladding,” (an update to his original 2008 article), he states firmly that “EIFS is Impact Resistant.” According to Pedracine, “The EIFS industry has long guided the architectural community that EIFS have their proper place on a building depending on the location. This has led to the conclusion that they should not be used adjacent to pedestrian traffic or in any area subject to more-than-normal abuse. What has not been well conveyed is that the impact resistance of EIFS can be increased exponentially by using heavier weighted reinforcing mesh along with standard mesh.”
“Beyond that known aspect of EIFS,” he wrote, “The industry now also has ‘high-impact’ base coats that can provide even better in-service impact resistance in a typical application; and when combined with heavier reinforcing mesh, can achieve ultra-high impact resistance without the necessity of multiple layers of reinforcing mesh.” Pedracine also makes note of the intrinsic tie between the durability and longevity of EIFS by reminding us that the EIFS-clad Mall of America will celebrate 25 years in August of 2017. As one of the largest and most trafficked malls in the country, it’s a direct nod to EIFS’ ability to stand the test of time.
Building codes and regulations in hurricane-prone regions are increasingly more stringent, with a greater emphasis being placed on building materials that offer improved durability and protection. An exterior cladding system that is tested and approved for high-velocity hurricane zone performance is critical to ensure a building can tolerate powerful winds and the impact of windblown debris during a hurricane. EIFS manufacturers provide cladding options that withstand high winds, air and water infiltration, and are impact-resistant to airborne objects. Many of these assemblies hold current Notice of Approvals (NOAs) from the Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office.
The testing requirements for these NOAs include:
TAS 201 – Large Missile Impact
TAS 202 – Air Infiltration
TAS 202 – Uniform Static Air Pressure Test
TAS 202 – Water Resistance Test
TAS 203 – Cyclic Wind Pressure Loading
Even the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) recognizes the durability of EIFS in their recommendations for protecting property from high winds and advises, “Impact-resistant walls have been developed by some EIFS manufacturers. Ask manufacturers whether their walls meet the wind load and impact standards established for your area.”
We may not see hurricanes every day, but over time, every region of the country is subject to high winds and severe storms. When you recognize that it does not take a storm to create an impact – that literally anything that is large or heavy can damage a wall – employing exterior wall systems that are tested, proven, and can incorporate components such as higher-impact mesh and base coats to increase the life expectancy of your building really does make a lot of sense.