CMU Masonry Custom Home Structural Design in Arcadia, FL — 148 MPH Wind Design
Arcadia · DeSoto County · Florida
Structural Engineering
Masonry structural engineering for interior Florida high-wind zones
JRH Engineering provided complete structural engineering design for a new custom home in Arcadia, DeSoto County, Florida, built with concrete masonry unit (CMU) construction and engineered for a 148 mph basic wind speed under the Florida Building Code — reflecting the elevated wind design standards required in this part of Florida interior.
AT A GLANCE
Project facts
Project type: custom single-family home, CMU structural engineering
Location: Arcadia, DeSoto County, FL
Scale: single-family residence, masonry construction
Services: structural engineering, masonry design, foundation design
Permitting agency: DeSoto County
Client: confidential, private homeowner
Completion: Q2 2026
Construction value: confidential
Structural engineering
Design wind load based on the Florida Building Code 2023, 8th Edition — 148 mph basic wind speed, Building Category II, Exposure D, 0.18 internal pressure coefficient for a fully enclosed structure
Precast concrete lintels specified over all openings, sized and reinforced for the given spans and loading conditions
Foundation dowels detailed to align with vertical masonry cores per code-required tolerances
Design confirmed to meet ACI 530.1 and ASCE 7-22 requirements
Special inspection of unit masonry required and specified per Florida Building Code 2023
Permitting and agency coordination
PE-sealed structural plans prepared for DeSoto County building permit submission
Florida Building Code 2023, 8th Edition compliance confirmed throughout the masonry design
The Challenge — 148 mph puts real demands on masonry detailing
Every opening needs a properly sized lintel, every foundation dowel needs to align with the wall vertical reinforcement, and the masonry itself requires special inspection to confirm it was built to the design.
JRH’s Approach — detail the whole system to the code wind criteria
JRH designed the complete masonry structural system to the Florida Building Code 2023, 8th Edition wind criteria for the site, specifying precast lintels sized for their spans and loads, detailing foundation dowel alignment with vertical wall cores, and confirming the design against ACI 530.1 and ASCE 7-22 standards.
The Results
01
Masonry structural design engineered to a 148 mph basic wind speed per Florida Building Code 2023, 8th Edition
02
Precast lintel design provided for every opening, sized to span and load requirements
03
ACI 530.1 and ASCE 7-22 compliance confirmed throughout the structural design
04
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main engineering challenge on this Arcadia, FL custom home project?
DeSoto County's 148 mph basic wind speed requirement placed significant demands on the home's masonry detailing, including opening lintels, foundation dowel alignment, and special masonry inspection requirements.
How did JRH Engineering design the CMU masonry structure for this wind zone?
JRH designed the complete masonry structural system to the Florida Building Code 2023, 8th Edition wind criteria, specifying precast lintels sized for their spans and loads and confirming the design against ACI 530.1 and ASCE 7-22 standards.
What were the results of the Arcadia CMU masonry project?
JRH engineered a masonry structural design built to withstand a 148 mph design wind speed, with precast lintel design provided for every opening and full ACI 530.1 and ASCE 7-22 compliance confirmed.