Kauai County, HI Hurricane Preparedness: Hurricane Shutters (2026)

Section 1609.2, Protection of Openings, was rewritten for Kaua'i in Section W105 of Appendix W, Hawai'i Wind Provisions for New Construction, which Building Code Section 12-2.2(21) uses to amend IBC Section 1609. In wind-borne debris regions, glazing must be impact resistant or covered by an impact-resistant system meeting ASTM E1996 and ASTM E1886: openings within 30 feet of grade must meet the large missile test, and openings above 30 feet meet the small missile test. Risk Category IV buildings and high-occupancy Risk Category III buildings, such as assembly buildings over 300 occupants or health facilities with 50 or more resident patients, must always have protected openings.

For Group R-3 and R-4 homes with a mean roof height of 33 feet or less, the code allows 7/16-inch wood structural panels with a maximum 8-foot span as opening protection, precut and predrilled for the building's openings, fastened per Table 1609.1.2's schedule, which is keyed to a 175-mph design wind speed and tightens fastener spacing as panel span grows. Section 1609.2.1 requires louvers on intake and exhaust ducts within 30 feet of grade to meet AMCA 540, and Section 1609.2.2 sorts the island into four wind zones by basic design wind speed, from Zone 1 below 140 mph to Zone 4 above 160 mph, which sets the missile-impact test level for shutters and panels. Section 1609.2.3 requires garage door glazing to meet the ANSI/DASMA 115 impact-resisting standard rather than the general panel schedule.