Severe weather costs American families and businesses millions each year when violent winds shred roofs during severe storms, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Climate Inc., founded on the principle that “When Buildings Survive, People Survive”, introduces Storm Blocks, a new product line designed to help roofs survive violent winds.
Storm Blocks consist of machined wood blocks that can be placed at critical rafter interfaces bonded in place with Climate NS (Non-Slump) Adhesive. The blocks are pre-drilled and come with screws that fix the blocks in place until the adhesive cures, usually within 24 hours. Roof applications include truss-to-top plate and rafter-to-sheathing connections.
Storm Blocks are available in kits which include 12 sets of two blocks with screws, and two 10-ounce cartridges of Climate NS Adhesive sufficient for securing 12 rafters. Application is simple and easy. Adhesive is applied to two faces of the block, which is pressed into place and secured with a single screw. The approach is less labor-intensive than conventional straps and ties which require multiple screws to fully attach. Storm Blocks are especially accommodating as a retrofit system where confined spaces can make contractor work difficult. Once cured, Climate NS Adhesive delivers extraordinary strength and resilience. In tests, Storm Blocks applied to OSB board reached 1,200 pounds of applied stress before failure.
Climate NS Adhesive was specifically formulated to create a monocoque structure, meaning a design where the skin of the building absorbs the stress, the same concept used in modern day aircraft design. Over time, nails undergo point loading, so they will gradually loosen and pull out, making light-frame wood buildings more susceptible to wind shear.
In addition to being utilized with Storm Blocks, Climate NS adhesive can be applied by itself throughout all the key interfaces in a light-frame wood-constructed building including flooring, trusses, walls, and roof decking—wherever wood touches wood. Climate NS features a unique combination of strength and resilience. It is non-toxic and cures without shrinking by exposure to moisture in building materials and the atmosphere, and can be applied to damp surfaces down to 30 F.
