TEXAS · TRAVIS COUNTY
Austin Wind Load Requirements
Central Texas, inland and far from the coast — design driven by severe thunderstorms and Hill Country terrain, calculated under IBC with state amendments and ASCE 7-22.
CENTRAL TEXAS · INLAND
Wind & Exposure Context
No hurricane risk — but severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, and rolling terrain shape every Austin calculation.
Severe Thunderstorms
Spring squall lines, microbursts, and occasional tornadoes drive the 100–110 mph inland design range.
RISK CAT IIHill Country Terrain
Ridges and escarpments accelerate wind, often requiring topographic factor (Kzt) adjustments per ASCE 7-22.
TOPOGRAPHYExposure B vs C
Dense urban Austin reads as Exposure B; open Hill Country and rural Travis County sites often require Exposure C.
SITE-SPECIFICPERMIT-READY CHECKLIST
What You Need to Comply
Six things every Austin and Travis County wind load submission has to get right.
Design Wind Speed
Apply 100–110 mph (Risk II, 3-sec gust) for the project's exact location and terrain.
100–110 MPHCode Edition
IBC with Texas state amendments, referencing ASCE 7-22 for wind load methodology.
ASCE 7-22Exposure Category
Justify Exposure B (urban) or C (open / Hill Country) from surrounding surface roughness.
B OR CTopographic Factor
Evaluate Kzt for ridgetop, hilltop, and escarpment sites that accelerate local wind.
KztRisk Category
Classify per ASCE 7-22 Table 1.5-1 — higher categories read from higher wind speed maps.
TABLE 1.5-1PE-Sealed Reports
Commercial and complex projects need Texas-licensed PE-sealed calculations for permit.
TX PE SEALEXPLORE
Nearby & Statewide
Compare requirements across Texas and verify the speed for your exact location.
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Enter an Austin address or zip code for ASCE 7-22 velocity pressures, Exposure B/C determination, Hill Country topographic effects, and PE-ready reports.