IBHS News Releases

A federal initiative to encourage the statewide adoption and enforcement of building codes is pending in Congress.

U.S. Reps. Doris Matsui, D-California, and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Florida, have introduced the Safe Building Codes Act of 2007. The act would create incentives for states to adopt and enforce heightened construction standards to help protect communities against damaging natural disasters.

The act would provide additional federal disaster relief and mitigation funding:

• A four percent increase in disaster relief funds for states with mandatory statewide building codes and enforcement measures in place. 
   
• Access to existing pre-disaster mitigation grants for states to establish and administer building code programs before a disaster strikes.

IBHS, which engages in public education about the need for stronger, well-enforced building codes, was at the table with many of its member companies and other partners when the idea for such incentives was discussed.

IBHS research consistently illustrates the effectiveness of strong and enforced statewide building codes. For example, research conducted in the wake of Hurricane Charley in 2004 in Charlotte County, Fla., showed homes built after the 1996 Florida Building Code was enacted experienced a 60 percent reduction in the frequency of property losses and a 42 percent reduction in the severity of losses.