PUERTO RICO · SAN JUAN MUNICIPALITY
An Island Capital Built to Stand in the Hurricane's Front Row
San Juan sits in open Atlantic water with no land to soften an incoming storm. Its wind design is among the most demanding under the U.S. flag.
CARIBBEAN EXPOSURE
No Coastline Buffer, Just Open Ocean
Continental cities often catch a weakening storm. San Juan catches it at full strength, from any compass bearing.
Cape Verde Track
Long-fetch Atlantic systems arrive at peak intensity with nothing to slow them.
DIRECT FETCHMaria, 2017
A Category 4 landfall reset enforcement and roof-connection standards island-wide.
CODE INFLECTIONEvery Bearing
Threats run Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf across a June-to-November season.
OMNIDIRECTIONALVELOCITY & TERRAIN
Reading the Right Speed for Bay, Beach or Block
San Juan's Risk II design wind runs 165–180 mph and varies by site. Exposure flips between coast and interior, and conservative practice favors C.
| Risk Category | Map / MRI Basis | San Juan Design Wind |
|---|---|---|
| I — minor / ag | 300-yr map | Lower of the local maps |
| II — standard occupancy | 700-yr map | 165–180 mph (varies by site) |
| III — assembly / schools | 1,700-yr map | Higher local map speed |
| IV — hospitals / EOC | 3,000-yr map | Highest local map speed |
Risk category selects which map you read; there is no fixed multiplier between them. Exact mph is a function of your address.
Exposure C — Waterfront
Condado, Isla Verde, Ocean Park and Old San Juan's open Atlantic edge.
OPEN TERRAINExposure B — Interior
Built-up inland blocks of Hato Rey and Río Piedras may qualify; verify the surround.
URBAN ROUGHNESSOGPE PERMIT PACKAGE
What Clears a Permit at San Juan's Permit Office
Submittals route through OGPE under the Puerto Rico Building Code. Six things engineers and contractors are expected to bring.
PE-Sealed Wind Analysis
Sealed by a PE or architect licensed in Puerto Rico.
REQUIREDASCE 7-22 Worksheet
Speed, risk category and exposure derivation, fully shown.
METHODImpact-Rated Openings
Wind-borne debris protection on every exterior opening.
DEBRIS ZONERoof-to-Wall Uplift
Engineered ties sized to calculated uplift — Maria's hard lesson.
CONNECTIONSSpecial Inspections
Post-Maria third-party checks on structure and envelope.
VERIFYOld San Juan Review
Heritage-district retrofits add a preservation approval layer.
UNESCO SITEOFFICIAL & STATEWIDE LINKS
Where San Juan Compliance Actually Routes
Authoritative Puerto Rico offices plus the wider windload.solutions reference set.
OGPE Permits Office
Puerto Rico's centralized permit management.
OFFICIALEngineers & Surveyors (CIAPR)
Licensing body for PR engineers.
LICENSINGNatural Resources Dept
Coastal and environmental oversight.
DRNAState & Territory Requirements
Wind rules across every U.S. jurisdiction.
DIRECTORYASCE 7 Standards
The methodology behind 7-22 loads.
STANDARDFree Resources
Guides and tools for wind compliance.
LIBRARYRUN THE NUMBERS
From a San Juan Address to a Sealed-Ready Report
Enter your site and let the calculator apply San Juan's Risk II range, coastal Exposure C and ASCE 7-22 coefficients for an OGPE-ready submittal.