Founder | BPI® Energy Auditor Certified Professional
Hurricanes and their breakneck speeds can wreak havoc on homes. While the last of your concerns might be your air conditioning unit, you still want to safeguard this just as you do the rest of your property. That’s where hurricane pads come in.
But what is a hurricane pad, and do you need it?
This introductory guide will explore hurricane pads in great detail, including what they are, their types, and their benefits. We’ll also discuss pad sizing and online retailers where you can purchase the pads.
So, let’s delve in!
What Is a Hurricane Pad?
A hurricane pad or slab is a heavy-duty slab that allows you to mount and safeguard HVAC units, like your air conditioner, from hurricane-force winds. A hurricane slab can be highly beneficial if you live in a region where hurricanes are frequent, such as Florida and other southern states.
The slabs are concrete equipment pads designed for air conditioning units and condensers. Theoretically, you could use a hurricane slab for a ductless mini-split compressor as well.
The goal of a hurricane pad is to safeguard outdoor equipment. For example, you can securely mount your air conditioner to the slab so that when hurricane-force winds blow through, your air conditioner should still be left standing after the storm.
Not all hurricane pads are the same. Let’s look at the different varieties now.
The Hurricane Pad
The original Hurricane Pad is the one that started it all. The original Hurricane Pad is four inches and promises more strength than your average two to three-inch concrete pad.
It’s quite weighty, enough to pass code requirements, and has a good degree of wind resistance.
The available sizes for the original Hurricane Pad are as follows:
- 36 inches by 56 inches by 4 inches
- 55 inches by 57 inches by 4 inches
- 18 inches by 40 inches by 4 inches
- 38 inches by 72 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 54 inches by 4 inches
- 24 inches by 24 inches by 4 inches
- 30 inches by 30 inches by 4 inches
- 32 inches by 32 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 42 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 52 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 36 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 72 inches by 4 inches
- 38 inches by 65 inches by 4 inches
- 40 inches by 40 inches by 4 inches
- 42 inches by 42 inches by 4 inches
- 45 inches by 58 inches by 4 inches
The Hurricane Pad MD
The next pad is the MD, the latest and greatest in the line of hurricane slabs.
The MD stands for Miami-Dade, a county in Florida that South Florida blog A Place Under the Palms estimates receives a hurricane about every 1.97 years.
Even heartier than the original Hurricane Pad, the MD is built from solid 7,000 PSI concrete. This concrete slab can handle winds up to 175 miles per hour.
The available sizes for the Hurricane Pad MD include the following:
- 30 inches by 30 inches by 4 inches
- 40 inches by 40 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 36 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 48 inches by 4 inches
- 18 inches by 40 inches by 4 inches
The Hurricane T-Class Pad
The third and final hurricane slab is the T-Class. Mightier than the original Hurricane Pad, the T-Class was designed to safeguard tall equipment against heavy wind loads.
The wind load of the T-Pad gets incrementally better the taller the item is that’s mounted to the pad. Four inches apiece, each pad in the T-Class family passes code requirements for condensing units.
The available sizes for the T-Class pad include:
- 24 inches by 36 inches by 4 inches
- 30 inches by 30 inches by 4 inches
- 32 inches by 32 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 36 inches by 4 inches
- 36 inches by 48 inches by 4 inches
- 45 inches by 58 inches by 4 inches
- 42 inches by 42 inches by 4 inches
- 40 inches by 40 inches by 4 inches
- 18 inches by 40 inches by 4 inches
No matter the type of slab you choose, you’ll need accompanying pad brackets that adhere the condenser to the pad via self-tapping screws or a #8 self-drilling bit.
All hurricane pads are approved according to the standards outlined in Section 304.10 of the Florida Building Code.
How Are Hurricane Pads Beneficial?
Outfitting your property or business with a hurricane slab or two is quite an advantageous decision. So let’s take a look at some of the perks of these concrete pads.
My Own Story – Hurricane Ian and Saving the HVAC System
There’s actually not a lot to share here, other than I’m totally relieved that there was no damage to the HVAC system on our first netzero solar renovation home from Hurricane Ian.
The home is in Cape Coral, FL, which was hit by category 4 class winds (140 MPH+) for over five hours straight. It was devastating to the entire city.
The HVAC system was mounted outside on the south side of the property, pretty much out in the open. And it was installed on a hurricane pad like is pictured above.
I’m happy to say that as soon as the power came back on, the HVAC system kicked on like nothing had happened. Here is Dad and me walking the property assessing the damage after the hurricane, and you can see the condenser unit strapped down, safe and sound:
Protecting Your Air Conditioner
Bob Villa quotes the average price of a central air conditioner at $3,810-$7,480, so ACs are not cheap!
You’re only supposed to replace an air conditioner about every 10-15 years, so it’s heartbreaking to lose it to storm damage if yours is any younger than that. A hurricane pad reduces the likelihood of that happening, as the slab can more steadily anchor the AC.
Quick Installation
Once your hurricane slab arrives, setup needn’t be headache-inducing. All you need are Tapcon screws, a nut driver, a level, and a hammer drill to adhere the pad brackets into place. Then it’s ready to go!
Heavy, But Not Too Heavy
All hurricane pads but the MD version feature a core made of EPS foam. A hurricane pad weighs less than regular concrete, so you can handle the slab and maneuver it around your yard without blowing out your back.
Non-Absorptive
Similar pads to the Hurricane Pad absorb water like nobody’s business. Although concrete is an exceptionally durable material, it can be buffeted away by water over time.
The Hurricane Pad does not absorb water. Since hurricanes often bring soaking, pelting rains, the non-absorptive qualities of the Hurricane Pad ensure that your investment will remain in usable condition for longer.
Eco-Friendliness
Each Hurricane Pad features recycled materials at an average rate of 15 percent. Thus, uing them is a laudable green decision you can feel good about.
Do You Really Need a Hurricane Pad?
Hurricane pads are designed primarily for commercial businesses but can also have residential uses. After all, a hurricane will affect both types of buildings without discrimination, so you might as well protect your air conditioner.
That said, hurricane slabs are not needed for every home or business.
If you live in a southern state such as Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, where hurricanes are frequent, you should look into a hurricane slab, especially if your air conditioner is newer.
For those who live in states where hurricanes are blessedly rarer occurrences that happen maybe once every couple of years or even more seldomly than that, there’s far less urgency to batten down the hatches. You can still benefit from having a pad, but it’s not as much of a necessity as it is for business owners and homeowners in southern states.
What Size Hurricane Pad Do You Need?
Hurricane slabs are available in various sizes, especially the original Hurricane Pad—so how do you choose the most appropriate size?
If you don’t already know the specs of your air conditioning unit, then measure its length, width, and height.
Once you have those numbers, you need a pad that’s larger than the base specs of your AC. It should surround the air conditioner with at least several inches of space from all sides for best results.
Where to Buy Hurricane Pads
DiversiTech is the maker of Hurricane Pads, yet it doesn’t sell the pads directly through its website. Here are some other reputable resources where you can pick up a set of Hurricane Pads instead.
Ferguson
The plumbing and HVAC supply store Ferguson retails the original Hurricane Pad in a 40-inch x 40-inch x 4-inch size.
Each one is rated for winds up to 150 mph and features over 7,000 PSI fiber concrete with steel reinforcements. The pads are available for about $140 each.
HVAC & More
For those in Miami-Dade County who’d like a Hurricane Pad MD, HVAC & More sells them for an affordable price of less than $80 per pad. The pads measure 36 inches x 36 inches x 4 inches.
Behler-Young
HVAC distributor Behler-Young offers DiversiTech Hurricane Pads for purchase as well.
The T-Class line of pads is available in a 36-inch x 72-inch x 4-inch size in packs of up to eight pads.
Conclusion
Hurricane pads are an advanced solution for mini-split compressors or air conditioners left outdoors during severe storms. The pads are thicker and more durable than standard concrete to keep your AC standing when the clouds clear and the sun comes back out again.
If you live in a hurricane-prone region and your AC unit is new, you might want to consider investing in some hurricane pads.
Very good article. Wondering if a “ground strap” would meet the requirements. They allow mobile homes with ground straps. Then we could still use a polypropylene pad, but simply use straps to meet the requirement.
Thanks,
Gary
gwallet@goldstonehvacr.com