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<br />Wall 3 did not collapse until 57 in. of water loading was attained. <br />The safe waterhead on the concrete-block test walls is approximately the <br />same as that for a brick-veneer test wall, about 2 ft. <br />The finishing on the inside of the studs will help strengthen the walls; <br />however, no wave or debris loading was imposed on the walls in these tests. <br />Prototype tests (discussed in Part VI) performed later demonstrated that the <br />walls of a house are stronger than the test walls and can withstand about 3 ft <br />of water head. <br />Modifications of the building can be designed to withstand water loads <br />much higher than the safe water load for a particular building. The <br />modifications to support water depths greater than 3 ft should mainly be in <br />two areas: <br />· Support to the top plate of walls without roof rafter and ceiling joist <br />restraints. <br />· Add thicknesses to the walls (extra layer of brick, brick planters, <br />retaining walls, etc.) to an elevation somewhat above the expected <br />height of floodwaters. <br /> <br />18 <br />