Stood Darwin lest

Press, 25 August 1976, Page 10

Stood Darwin lest

It took a real disaster to provide the ultimate test for Paneldek. At Christmas, 1974, Cyclone Tracy swept Darwin, demolishing many of the city’s houses, commercial and community buildings. In .the extreme conditions of the cyclone the Paneldek system performed wel] under wind pressures which in some instances were estimated to have exceeded laboratory test pressures of 1101 b per sq. in (the equivalent of 200 m.p.h.). Many of the largest Paneldek roofs in Darwin suffered no damage at all and these buildings were able to be used as emergency shelter for the homeless. There were many instances of smaller domestic and commercial buildings where Paneldek survived with little or no damage.

One startling example where a roof was unscathed was a three-storey building in one of the most badly hit areas which lost windows and brickwork but where the Paneldek roof remained intact.

Since the cyclone, rigorous requirements have been laid down in Darwin for rebuilding. Paneldek meets them all and is fully approved by the authorities.