When a financial services company was looking to install their new data center, they had an unusual request. They wanted to provide a tornado wall to resist missile impact (flying debris) from a tornado. TSA personnel performed a load review of the proposed data center loading and designed an impact-resistant wall capable of resisting the pressures and missile impact loads from an F3 tornado. The wall consisted of steel channels used like wall studs, steel plate, and wood sheathing (to slow down the missile impacts). The design included consideration of converting dynamic impact loads into static forces for design purposes. The design was implemented but hasn't yet had to face a test.
