IBHS News Releases

Tampa – Hailstorms that pummeled parts of Oklahoma caused plenty of damage and no doubt headaches for homeowners and businesses.

What can be done to protect your roof?  The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) says the right materials are your best defense.

Hail can occur in any strong thunderstorm, which means almost every city and state is at risk.  And while it’s a year-round threat, storms get worse this time of year and peak in June.  Each hit of a hailstone can shred roof coverings and lead to water damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, appliances and personal possessions.

When building or re-roofing, IBHS recommends roofing products that have met stringent testing standards for resistance to impact.  Look for materials that have a Class 3 or 4 rating under the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2218 standard.  The standard rates a roof covering’s resistance to impact, with Class 4 being the highest rating obtainable by this test method. 

For more information on how to protect homes and businesses from hail damage, click here. 

To view reports on how to prevent hail damage or the benefits of impact-resistant roofing, visit this site's video gallery. 

The Institute for Business & Home Safety works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.