IBHS Developing Building Safety Research Facility

TAMPA, FL -- Dedicated to reducing the human, financial and societal costs of natural disasters and other threats to property, a new state-of-the-art applied research facility will use science and technology to expand capabilities to create more durable homes and businesses.

The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), an insurance industry-supported nonprofit engineering and communications group, will construct the Insurance Center for Building Safety Research with funds from its insurer and reinsurer members.

The Center will feature full-scale testing of buildings and construction components. A two-track research program will allow IBHS to address catastrophic issues, such as high winds and wind-driven water intrusion, earthquakes and hail, as well as more isolated, but expensive, maintenance-related issues like plumbing system failure and interior fires.

The findings will be used in aggressive consumer education and advocacy campaigns, and to supply vital data to developing public policies in areas such as building codes and land use.

“Unfortunately, more people and property are in harm's way in this country than ever before,” said Julie Rochman, IBHS president and CEO. “Mother Nature reminds us daily that we have to find ways to better protect the places where we live and work -- and we will have greatly increased capacity and capability to do that through the new insurance industry research Center.”

She added that more durable construction is also environmentally friendly, and that even the “greenest” home could quickly become landfill if it is vulnerable to natural elements. “Our long-term goal is to help this country put a higher value on resilient, sustainable communities.”

IBHS uses building science to develop real-world approaches to reduce the risks posed by natural disasters and other perils. Events in recent years, including tornadoes, hurricanes and wildfires, have given IBHS researchers opportunities for field work, during which they have learned much about how to better engineer structures against certain risks. There remain, however, knowledge gaps that can be filled only with testing in controlled environments, which the Center will provide.

The Center's first priority will be to examine roofing performance issues. IBHS estimates that damage to the roofing system is present in as much as 95 percent of properties that suffer wind and water-related losses. The result is repair or replacement of millions of roofs every year.

“Roof failures and the damage done by water that can get in afterward can be a major headache and huge expense,” said Dr. Timothy Reinhold, IBHS vice president and director of engineering, who will lead the Center's research team. “But with more realistic test methods and better knowledge about variables such as installation differences and how aging affects the performance of roof systems, we could save lots of money and aggravation.”

Reinhold noted that “property owners should quickly reap the benefits of this research, since roofs are the most frequently replaced component of buildings.” He added that existing research shows that each dollar spent on disaster mitigation saves society an average of four dollars.

The Center will also enable IBHS staff to further leverage resources through ongoing partnerships with existing facilities and other researchers, according to Reinhold. Examples of this are already underway in the areas of earthquake, wildfire and wind research.

“IBHS is working with the University of Colorado and Pennsylvania State University on wildfire risk reduction research and risk modeling that is nearing completion,” he said. “And we are supporting earthquake research being done by the California Institute of Technology and University of California, Los Angeles.” He added that IBHS is also working with the University of Florida, Florida International University and private laboratories on wind-driven water intrusion research.

Reinhold said the Center “will also foster a broader understanding of what can be accomplished with sustainable construction by providing training to builders, building officials, architects, engineers, insurance personnel and others with a professional interest in the field.”

IBHS is currently evaluating several potential sites for the Center, which it anticipates will require about a 100-acre parcel. Selection criteria include a mild climate to allow for year-round research activities as well as access to significant amounts of electricity through a plant or substation. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.

“Powerful, destructive natural disasters do more than destroy property – they devastate lives,” said Rod Matthews, IBHS Board Chairman and Vice President-Underwriting at State Farm. “Disaster preparedness is a national challenge that calls for a concerted effort based on objective research and real-world solutions. This research Center will help us find ways to not only build stronger, safer homes and businesses but also to save lives and prevent losses."

"Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, and fires are inevitable, and it's our job to help people restore their lives to order after they happen," said Paul N. Hopkins, CEO of Farmers Group, Inc. "However, research by IBHS has shown that good building design can make a difference in the impact of these events. By creating this one-of-a-kind research facility, insurers are helping identify the best ways to reduce loss of life, injury, and disruption for our customers and communities in the future."

IBHS is a nonprofit, scientific and educational organization supported by the property insurance industry. The organization works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other risks to residential and commercial property by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.