Is Your Building Code Leaving You Vulnerable to Severe Weather?

Is Your Building Code Leaving You Vulnerable to Severe Weather? 

Hurricanes Helene and Milton offer coastal residents a stark reminder they should continue to be vigilant in their storm preparations. Milton became the eighth hurricane in the past 20 years to make a U.S. landfall in October or November, joining major storms Wilma, Sandy and Michael. While coastal communities keep their eyes on the tropics, homeowners in inland areas should prep for fall thunderstorm season, which is just ramping up.   

Severe convective storms, characterized by intense winds, heavy rain and the potential for hailstorms or tornadoes, create significant risks and are among the most common and damaging natural catastrophes in the United States. Damage from severe thunderstorm winds account for about half of the severe weather reports in the U.S. and is more common than damage from tornadoes. In fact, in 2023, nineteen severe convective storms each caused over a billion dollars in damage.  

While wind’s impact will vary based on its speed and structure, NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) says winds can be damaging starting at just 50 mph. At those speeds, it can compromise a home’s roof cover, uproot trees and toss debris though windows.  

Homes with older roofs are particularly vulnerable to storm damage. As a roof ages, it becomes less capable of withstanding the effects of severe weather, including high winds and hail.  This is especially true with shingle roofs.  

While most people believe their state, city or county has rules in place to ensure their home was built or re-roofed to withstand these storms, a FEMA study estimates only 32% of American communities have an adopted and enforced modern building code. 

What Are Building Codes? 

The nonprofit  International Code Council (ICC) oversees the development of model building codes that are designed to provide minimum construction requirements for safety, health and structural integrity.  State or local governments typically adopt these model codes rather than writing their own requirements for structural, electrical, plumbing and fire safety systems.   

ICC updates its model codes every three years to address omissions or errors in prior codes or to include additional requirements or changes based on the latest science and engineering research. State and local governments can then adopt the newest code, but for consistency or because of a concern for added costs, few do this on a consistent basis. Some jurisdictions choose to update their codes at a slower pace, electing instead to follow an older version of the ICC code for a period of years. Some jurisdictions adopt the model code, but then make amendments that remove key requirements, and others choose not to have a code at all, believing homeowners should make their own decisions about the level of protection they need.  

Rating the States, a report by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), highlights the wide disparity in building codes along the hurricane coast. The study analyzed building codes, enforcement and training in 18 states from Texas to Maine and scored each on a 100-point scale. It found a wide disparity among coastal states, with top-ranked Virginia scoring 73 points higher than Delaware, which finished last.   

Modern, Enforced Building Codes Work 

Recent storm damage assessments show modern, enforced building codes work to reduce damage from high wind events. While it’s too early to analyze the damage caused by Hurricanes Helene or Milton, IBHS recently published a report reviewing building code performance during Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Florida in 2022. After assessing more than 3,000 single-family homes for structural performance, it found that while Ian caused extensive damage due to storm surge, homes built to the modern Florida Building Code (FBC) were largely unaffected by the storm’s Category 4 winds. Homes built before the modern FBC was adopted did not fare as well, with more than twice as much damage. 

Florida has consistently ranked near the top of IBHS’s Rating the State report, which is updated every three years. Unfortunately, the study shows only a handful of states along the hurricane coast have similarly adopted and enforced modern codes. FEMA’s Building Code Adoption Tracker indicates this trend is true across the country, with only 55% of all jurisdictions having codes that are resistant to damaging wind. As a result, homeowners may be left vulnerable during the next high wind event. 

Going Beyond Building Codes with FORTIFIED 

While standard building codes provide a baseline for protection against a variety of risks, for homeowners who live in areas that lack modern codes or who are looking to retrofit an older home to better stand up to severe weather, there is a science-back solution. The FORTIFIED construction method offers a comprehensive approach to home resilience by emphasizing storm resistance, strengthening roofs, and for new construction, also the walls and requiring impact-resistant windows and shutters, with all work documented by a certified FORTIFIED evaluator. Even in places like Florida [Miami-Dade], where FORTIFIED aligns with existing codes, having that extra set of eyes focused on storm resilience can provide peace of mind. 

The key differences between standard building codes and FORTIFIED include: 

  • Consistent Protection: While there are some differences between FORTIFIED’s High Wind and Hurricane designations, the standard’s systems-based approach to storm resistance strengthens the same vulnerable areas of homes in Florida as it does in Oklahoma.  
  • Assessment and Certification: A third-party evaluator verifies materials and installation techniques required by FORTIFIED to increase a home’s resilience. IBHS then reviews the documentation, verifies it meets the standard and issues a FORTIFIED designation.  
  • Cost Benefits: Upgrades have been demonstrated to lower repair costs and the likelihood of having a claim due to severe weather. They may also provide lower long-term maintenance expenses, decreased insurance premiums, and according to a study by the Alabama Center for Insurance Information, increased property value. 

Whether you live in a state with enforced modern building codes or not, one fact is clear: hurricanes and severe convective storms are becoming increasingly frequent and severe, and homeowners should proactively protect their home – their most valuable asset. By understanding storm dynamics, assessing structural vulnerabilities and considering options like FORTIFIED, you can safeguard your home against future storms. 

For more resources on storm resilience and FORTIFIED building upgrades, IBHS offers the following resources: 

Home Disaster Guides
Take the FORTIFIED Assessment
Find a Professional
Contact Us to Learn More 

 


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