Hurricane straps / rafter-to-wall ties required wherever wind uplift exceeds dead-load offset
HUD RSDG §7.5Description
Where calculated wind uplift on rafters / trusses exceeds the resisting dead load, hurricane straps connecting the rafter / truss to the top plate or stud are required. Common residential straps: H1 (single rafter, 415 lb uplift), H2.5 (rafter to plate, 500 lb), H10 (truss to wall, 800 lb). Required in all coastal high-wind areas + many inland areas with ASCE 7 wind speed ≥ 110 mph.
Why this exists
Roof uplift is the #1 wind-failure mode in residential construction. Straps prevent the catastrophic 'lid blown off' scenario that exposes the entire interior to weather and turns walls into single-story-tall unbraced cantilevers.
Categories
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Continuous load path from roof to foundation · HUD RSDG §2.4
- Residential structural reliability targets 1-in-100 to 1-in-1000 annual probability of failure · HUD RSDG §2.5
- Residential floor live load: 40 psf minimum (30 psf sleeping rooms) · HUD RSDG §3.4
- Wind load design uses ASCE 7 basic wind speed for the locality · HUD RSDG §3.6
- Ground snow load for Virginia: 25 psf eastern, up to 40 psf western mountains · HUD RSDG §3.7
Last reviewed 2026-05-10.