“Anchoring: Wind“
Do you know what wind speeds the Crystal Cave is capable of withstanding without failing?
This is a difficult question to answer because the wind in a given storm also contains gusts, so a storm might have 30 mph winds with gusts up to 70 mph. All our structures are drum tight and will handle strong wind. Although we have not conducted wind tunnel tests, several customers have reported our domes handling winds of 30 and 40 mph with no problems. However, we do not recommend them for regions or exposed sites known for unusually extreme wind, such as hurricane-force wind.
A critical factor in withstanding strong winds is anchoring. Your dome will blow away if it is not anchored properly. Study the anchoring and guying instructions carefully and apply all appropriate means to secure your dome to the earth. Rain will soften the ground and greatly reduce the holding power of the stakes. We provide good general purpose stakes, but they cannot cover all ground conditions. Wind will at times come up unexpectedly. Be prepared!
The dome is a lightweight, portable structure. Its strength comes from tension, not from mass or rigid components.
Note: Because of its continuous curved shape, the SolarDome sheds the wind better than the Crystal Cave.