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OUR IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS

In the second year of Strategy26, IBHS accelerated its mission to turn cutting-edge science into practical resilience for communities nationwide. Through pioneering research, dynamic collaborations, and impactful policy engagement, IBHS empowers property owners, builders, and policymakers to break the cycle of loss and build stronger, safer futures.  

2025 delivered historic momentum: record-setting FORTIFIED designations, expanded grant programs, and rapid growth in the provider network. IBHS’s response to the LA County Fires, combined with groundbreaking field studies and technical advancements, produced actionable insights and strengthened building codes.  

By bridging laboratory innovation with field deployment, IBHS’s science-based strategies continue to bend down the risk curve and help communities withstand the compounding effects of disasters. 

WILDFIRE PREPARED

LA County Fires  

Over January 7 and 8, 2025, the Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles County emerged as the most recent examples of devastating wildfire conflagration. Driven by intense Santa Ana winds, the fires swept through local communities, scorching approximately 60 square miles. The disasters claimed 31 lives and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, ranking them among the three most destructive wildfires in California’s history.  

Days after the fires broke out, IBHS researchers analyzed aerial imagery to determine the conditions that led to catastrophic conflagration in Los Angeles County and shared insights in the Early Insights report on the L.A. County Wildfires. Early observations highlighted that most of the affected communities were built before modern Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) codes, leaving them especially vulnerable. Although some newer construction included resilient features, older homes, abundant connective fuels and limited separation between structures allowed the fires to transition quickly from wildland to urban environments.  

Insights & Evidence from the Field  

IBHS researchers deployed alongside the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to see critical evidence of nearby fuels and building vulnerabilities. From January 13 through 19, we assessed 252 structures in LA County to evaluate their exposure to fire from both the wildland and the built environment; the potential pathways for fire spread into communities; and building materials and mitigation strategies affecting survivability.   

In December, IBHS released The 2025 LA Conflagrations to capture the comprehensive findings of the post-disaster investigation. Using new quantified data, the report shows homes were more likely to avoid damage in conflagration conditions when there was greater spacing and lower connective fuel density, allowing noncombustible building materials to perform as intended. Findings aligned with other suburban conflagrations, including the Camp, Marshall, and Lahaina Fires, and quantified for the first time the major role a complete system of mitigations plays in preventing zip code-level destruction.   

Key findings  

  • Homes with four hardening features (Class A roof, noncombustible siding, double-pane windows and enclosed eaves) had a 54% chance of avoiding damage, compared to 36% when only a single mitigation was in place.  
  • More than 25% fuel coverage in Zone 0 pushed the risk of damage or destruction to nearly 90%.   

Rebuilding LA  

As the devastated areas started the lengthy process of rebuilding, IBHS engaged with local communities to help ensure the next generation of homes integrates the latest wildfire science. 

 

  • IBHS led a broad coalition of housing, fire science, insurance and policy experts calling on leaders to take steps to rebuild to California Chapter 7A building code across the entire community. In February, this group sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom, legislative leaders, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. It urged them to ensure the rebuilding process incorporates construction and landscaping requirements proven to reduce wildfire risk. The coalition also pressed policymakers to accelerate the development of Zone 0 Defensible Space regulations to further strengthen wildfire resilience in one of the most critical areas around homes. 
  • IBHS released Resilient Rebuilding: A Path Forward for Los Angeles, a blueprint that outlines the exact wildfire mitigation actions and critical retrofits needed, including enhancing Chapter 7A building code requirements, creating Zone 0 standards, improving structure spacing and retrofitting surviving homes. The paper also called upon LA leaders to take specific regulatory actions to make each recommendation a reality. 
  • IBHS President & CEO Roy Wright served on the Blue Ribbon Commission established to guide Los Angeles County’s rebuilding strategy. In June 2025, the Commission released its final recommendations, which proposed the formation of the Resilient Rebuilding Authority and the Los Angeles County Fire Control District. It also outlined steps to advance fire-resistant and resilient building standards, enhance insurability, and expand decentralized energy and water systems. 
  • IBHS and Headwaters Economics released a study, Construction Costs for Wildfire-Resistant Homes, examining the cost of rebuilding in Altadena, California, finding constructing a wildfire-resistant home is both achievable and affordable, adding just 3% to the total cost of the building components that matter most for wildfire mitigation, such as roofing, siding and windows, compared to traditional building methods. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara contributed a cover letter to the report, emphasizing the important connection between wildfire-resilient construction and increased insurance stability and availability. 
  • In collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), wildfire experts from IBHS presented information on the Wildfire Prepared Home program during Reduce Your Risk, Protect Your Future – SBA Mitigation Information Sessions in Los Angeles County in September. Through these 17 sessions, IBHS connected directly with property owners to provide guidance on mitigations that may allow disaster loan recipients to increase their loan amounts by reducing their risk to wildfire.  
  • IBHS experts participated in an array of public information sessions and community events in collaboration with organizations such as the California U.S. Green Building Council, Altadena Collective, Eaton Fire Survivors Network, Team Palisades, PostFire, The Resiliency Company and Case Study: Adapt. These initiatives aim to educate residents on resilient rebuilding strategies and effective wildfire mitigation measures through Wildfire Prepared Home.  

First-Ever Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood: Dixon Trail  

Recognizing wildfire risk at both the parcel and community level, IBHS developed the Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood Standard—a system of neighborhood-scale protections designed to meaningfully reduce the likelihood of conflagration. Inspired by IBHS’s wildfire demonstration at the 2024 Pacific Coast Builders Conference, home builder KB Home collaborated with IBHS to incorporate protections against embers, direct flame contact, and radiant heat at the Dixon Trail community in Escondido, California. In March, IBHS awarded KB Home a provisional Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood designation, establishing it as the first in the nation to implement the highest level of wildfire protection at both the neighborhood and parcel levels.  

Upon completion, Dixon Trail will comprise 64 homes, each constructed to meet the Wildfire Prepared Home Plus standard and receive a designation certifying it meets IBHS’s most stringent requirements for homesite-level mitigation. Each home is constructed with fire-resistant building materials and landscaped with defensible space, while research-based strategies like separating structures to reduce fire pathways add neighborhood-level mitigation.  

IBHS and KB Home hosted a media event that highlighted this accomplishment, which generated significant media attention, including CNBC , FOX Business, Fortune, Fast Company,  San Diego Union-Tribune, KFMB (CBS, San Diego), Times of San Diego, Homes.com and The Builder Daily.  As a result of this activity, several other builders took note, reaching out to explore how they could implement the Wildfire Prepared standards in new communities. Builder demand has exceeded expectations, reinforcing that the Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standard currently offers the best science-based system of protection for neighborhoods. 

Vegetation: Understanding Zone 0 Risks  

IBHS advanced its research on vegetation in Zone 0 with a set of tests that became the basis of  Vegetation in Zone Zero: Amplifying Damage to Structures. Tests showed vegetation near a home amplifies heat exposure and elevates the risk of ignition, as well as the potential for more severe wildfire impacts. The findings—shared with the Board of Forestry—revealed even well-hydrated plants will ignite and burn under conditions typical of a suburban wildfire conflagration. During the tests, higher plant moisture delayed plant ignition, allowing more time for the home to absorb heat, which ultimately increased its vulnerability once the vegetation ignited. Across 17 experiments, vegetation in Zone 0—regardless of moisture content or natural plant variability—consistently amplified damage to the neighboring structure. 

 

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Walls 

IBHS completed a code review of current wall testing methods to identify gaps in how exterior walls are evaluated for wildland fire exposure. The work revealed vulnerabilities in existing methods, particularly where traditional fire protection engineering approaches fail to reflect real-world wildfire conditions. Ongoing testing is informing improvements to standard test methods to help close these discrepancies.  

   

Cone Calorimeter and Advancing Wildfire Test Methods 

In 2025, researchers advanced ongoing work using a cone calorimeter—a laboratory instrument that exposes building materials to controlled heat—to better understand how these materials behave when exposed to fire. The cone calorimeter measures how quickly a material ignites, how much heat it releases, how fast it burns, and how it loses mass. These small-scale tests replicate conditions observed in large experiments, expanding data on roofing shingles and enabling clearer comparisons of material performance and fire resistance. The ongoing research examines how material properties influence ignition and heat transfer through shingles, and will improve predictions of material performance and ignition timing to complement IBHS’s full-scale, wind-driven fire experiments. 

IBHS continued its collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop the Cube Test Method for evaluating complex, non-homogeneous building components, such as roof systems. In parallel, IBHS advanced efforts to strengthen wildfire-related testing standards. With NIST and the University of Dayton Research Institute, IBHS submitted a paper to the Journal of Fire Sciences describing the Cube Test’s development and identifying limitations in the ASTM E108 test method that may affect result repeatability. 

Modeling Combustion Characteristics  

Building on earlier cone calorimeter research and lessons learned from IBHS wind-driven fire experiments, researchers continued work on a new variable, controllable exposure system that more closely replicates how building materials are heated during a wildfire. The system uses a burner of fixed geometry, with exposure intensity controlled through adjustments to fuel flow rate, wind conditions and the distance between the burner and the test material. This setup uses both radiant and convective heat to create fire exposures that change over time. This experimental approach—not yet developed elsewhere—aims to create more realistic wildfire testing conditions for building materials and will ultimately support future studies of how nearby structures and vegetation can preheat materials before ignition.  

Wildfire Research

ADU Wildfire Burns: Expanding Full-Scale Experiments to Reflect Real-World Conditions  

Ongoing IBHS structure spacing experiments represent its most ambitious wildfire research to date, translating observations from large conflagrations into controlled laboratory experiments to better understand how community design can reduce structure-to-structure ignition risk. The research examines how and why fires spread between buildings and what strategies can prevent suburban conflagration when wildfire conditions occur. In 2025, IBHS advanced this effort through Wind-Driven, Building-to-Building Fire Spread Experiments using full-scale accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Six experiments were completed—including two at high wind speeds and one with connective fuels—to better reflect real-world fire spread conditions observed in post-disaster field studies. These tests expanded the dataset revealing how spacing, materials, and fuel configurations shape suburban conflagrations. Findings will inform future research, including additional tests in 2026 focused on non-Chapter 7A-compliant structures. In collaboration with CAL FIRE, University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Maryland, this research also advances a clearer framework for understanding how hazard and vulnerability interact during conflagrations. 

Engaging in Wildfire Public Policy  

  

IBHS broadened its policy involvement throughout the Western United States as states pursued science-based strategies to mitigate wildfire risk and enhance insurance accessibility. In California, IBHS actively collaborated with the California Department of Insurance as the department advanced a wildfire mitigation retrofit grant program for implementation by January 1, 2027, drawing inspiration from the Strengthen Alabama Homes initiative. Separately, California’s Department of Housing and Community Development allocated a portion of its $416 million Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery funds to rebuild flood-damaged single-family homes to the Wildfire Prepared Home standard in Fire Hazard Severity Zones.  

 

Throughout 2025, IBHS advocated for the adoption of a noncombustible Zone 0 regulation by testifying at California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection hearings and sharing research that underscores the critical importance of this buffer as the first line of defense against ember ignition. These align with IBHS’s larger efforts to ensure consistent incorporation of Zone 0 into mitigation standards in high-risk areas. 

 

Beyond California, IBHS collaborated extensively with leaders in several western states. In Oregon, IBHS formalized coordination with the State Fire Marshal through a Memorandum of Understanding, conducted a live burn demonstration and expanded the Wildfire Prepared Home program into the state, making it the second state where the program is offered. In New Mexico, IBHS helped establish the state’s inaugural Wildfire Prepared Home grant program and provided guidance to the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance on efforts to retrofit FAIR Plan-insured homes to the Wildfire Prepared Home standard, supporting reduced reliance on the FAIR Plan. In Washington and Arizona, IBHS participated in wildfire resiliency task forces established by state statutes to advise on policy issues. IBHS also continued engagement in Colorado, working with Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway, lawmakers and other stakeholders to advance mitigation and insurance solutions. 

Advancing Wildfire Prepared Across the West 

In its third year, the Wildfire Prepared Home footprint expanded into three new states—Oregon, Nevada and New Mexico—with designations growing by more than 20% in 2025. 

To support program expansion and reflect the latest science, IBHS released the first update to the Wildfire Prepared Home Technical Standard in June 2025. The updates addressed common homeowner questions and emerging research on home ignition vulnerability. Clearer designation-level definitions, refined timelines and eligibility requirements and strengthened direction for achieving a 5-foot noncombustible buffer around a home streamline the process for homeowners. The updates also introduce new preparedness guidance for Red Flag Warnings and extended absences, along with a revised How-To Prepare My Home Checklist. 

As the Wildfire Prepared Home program grows, IBHS plans to expand designations beyond current states based on rate filings, state grants, and increased interest from builders seeking science-based mitigation solutions. 

MOU: IBHS & OSFM

In May, IBHS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM), formalizing a partnership to integrate science-backed strategies into the state’s wildfire mitigation efforts at both the parcel and neighborhood scale. The MOU established 10 shared commitments to guide collaboration forward and provides a foundation to support expanding the Wildfire Prepared Home program in the state in the future.

Insights & Evidence from the Field  

Wildfire Prepared Home in the Field 

IBHS has continued effective market outreach by bringing wildfire science from the lab to the field to allow broader audiences to see firsthand and through local news media the effectiveness of fire-resistant building materials and the noncombustible Zone 0.  

  • The following month, IBHS returned to the Pacific Coast Builders Conference for a second consecutive year, joining the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) for a wildfire demonstration to educate developers and builders. The invitation followed the LA County Fires and was reinforced by the momentum created after KB Home was inspired by the prior year’s demonstration to build its Dixon Trail community in Escondido, California, to the Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood standard—the first in the nation. IBHS also joined CBIA and The Home Depot on a Zone 0 inspiration display at the Anaheim Convention Center, featuring a Wildfire Prepared Home–compliant installation. 
  • In June, IBHS hosted a side-by-side wildfire demonstration with the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM), contrasting an unmitigated structure with one built to the Wildfire Prepared Home standard. During the demonstration, OSFM and IBHS announced the Wildfire Prepared Home program was now available to Oregon homeowners.  
  • In September, IBHS and CAL FIRE hosted a side-by-side wildfire demonstration to give the California Board of Forestry and state legislature a firsthand look at the importance of defensible space. The event highlighted how native plants can be thoughtfully integrated into a Wildfire Prepared landscape, allowing vegetation just beyond the 5-foot immediate zone around the structure. 

FORTIFIED

FORTIFIED Momentum Surges 

In 2025, IBHS reached a historic milestone by issuing more than 20,000 FORTIFIED designations in a single year for the first time—a 20+% increase over the prior year and nearly double the total just two years ago. Today, over 90,000 FORTIFIED homes span 34 states, putting the program on track to meet our commitment to achieve 120,000 designations by the end of 2026. 

 

While Alabama has long led the way, North Carolina and Louisiana are rapidly gaining ground. North Carolina led the nation in 2025 with more than 7,000 new designations and surpassed 20,000 total designations. Louisiana celebrated 10,000 designations in November, reaching that milestone just 18 months after crossing 1,000. These successes highlight the powerful combination of state grant programs and growing homeowner demand for stronger, more resilient construction. 

Grants Fuel FORTIFIED Growth 

State grant programs have proven to be a powerful catalyst for FORTIFIED adoption, helping homeowners overcome the upfront costs of building stronger, more resilient homes. While grants are not the only driver of growth—less than 40% of FORTIFIED homeowners in Louisiana and fewer than 20% in Alabama received financial assistance—they create momentum by raising awareness of the program and demonstrating resilience is attainable. 

In 2025, national interest in FORTIFIED grant programs extended beyond hurricane-prone regions: 

  • Oklahoma piloted a grant program, which is now funded. 
  • South Carolina’s wind retrofit grant program, which includes FORTIFIED designations, is permanently funded at $2.5 million annually. 
  • Kentucky and Maine have established programs and expect to issue grants in 2026. 
  • Arkansas, Minnesota and Mississippi have programs in place and are awaiting funding. 
  • Insurance commissioners and legislators in Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Texas have attempted to launch similar initiatives. 

Louisiana introduced several additional incentives to boost FORTIFIED adoption, including a $10,000 tax deduction or credit for retrofits, exempting FORTIFIED grants from taxable income, and increasing permanent funding for its grant program to $5 million annually. Jefferson Parish became the first municipality in the country to offer FORTIFIED grants.  

These efforts reflect a nationwide push to strengthen communities against severe weather. As more states embrace grant programs, the ripple effect will accelerate FORTIFIED adoption, expanding its reach beyond traditional coastal markets. 

Public and Private Investment Expands FORTIFIED’s Reach 

Public and private investment in resilient construction is bringing FORTIFIED to new regions across the country:  

  • The Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta now incentivizes FORTIFIED Multifamily projects through its Affordable Housing Program, serving much of the Southeast. 
  • The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati incentivizes multifamily projects built to the FORTIFIED Roof standards and offers additional incentives for FORTIFIED Home—Gold in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. 
  • The Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka created a matching grant program for disaster recovery, including FORTIFIED Roof in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. 
  • The Minnesota Housing Finance Agency now incentivizes FORTIFIED Home, FORTIFIED Multifamily, and the Hail Supplement in its 2025-2026 MN Overlay. 
  • Fannie Mae continues to retrofit its real estate owned (REO) inventory across the Gulf Coast to the FORTIFIED standard and is looking to expand this initiative. 
  • The Connecticut Green Bank requires all standalone re-roofing projects funded with C-PACE loans to use the FORTIFIED Roof standard and incentivizes FORTIFIED for new construction and resilient retrofits. 

Multiplying FORTIFIED’s Impact 

FORTIFIED providers strengthen homes against severe weather and actively promote the program.   

Expanding the provider network is essential to sustaining growth and was a priority for the program in 2025. The establishment of an alliance with GAF, North America’s largest asphalt shingle manufacturer, resulted in the FORTIFIED certification of more than 700 roofing contractors from over 400 companies—many of which are the first providers in their respective markets. Thanks to this surge, the FORTIFIED Provider Network nearly doubled again in 2025, finishing the year with over 2,000 providers nationwide. This expansion ensures more homeowners have access to qualified professionals who can deliver resilience where it matters most. 

In total, 33 manufacturers offering FORTIFIED-compliant products signed licensing agreements with IBHS in 2025—including CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Atlas Roofing, as well as manufacturers of metal, tile and roofing accessories. These manufacturers are actively promoting the brand in multiple ways, such as adding FORTIFIED-related pages to their websites and incorporating the logo on product packaging, demonstrating their commitment to resilience and the growing value of the FORTIFIED brand, which helps IBHS reach more property owners. 

A Breakthrough Year in Hail, Wind, and Rain Science  

In 2025, total insured natural catastrophe losses are projected to reach over $100 billion, driven largely by severe convective storms (SCS) and the record-setting Los Angeles conflagrations. SCS losses alone rank as the third highest on record, following 2024’s unprecedented $58 billion total, making the urgency to better understand and mitigate wind, wind-driven rain, and hail greater than ever. These storms continue to impose significant costs, reinforcing the importance of actionable, science-based insights. In response, IBHS has dedicated substantial resources over the past year to advance wind, wind-driven rain, and hail research, focusing on strengthening resilience and reducing risk for homeowners and communities. 

Study Confirms FORTIFIED Saves Millions and Strengthens Communities  

In 2025, the Alabama Department of Insurance partnered with the University of Alabama’s Center for Risk and Insurance Research to evaluate FORTIFIED’s performance during Hurricane Sally. The results were clear: FORTIFIED works. Among more than 40,000 properties analyzed, homes with a FORTIFIED designation were over 70% less likely to file a claim, and when they did, damage was 22% less severe. If every home had been built to the FORTIFIED Home-Gold standard, losses would have dropped by 75%. If those homes had even a FORTIFIED Roof, insurers could have saved $105.6 million and homeowners could have saved $42 million. The study also revealed that homes with a FORTIFIED Roof outperformed those built to FORTIFIED-like municipal codes by 50%, proving that FORTIFIED’s rigorous evaluation and verification process provides a substantial value in performance. 

Improved Efficiency: The Foundation for Exceptional Growth   

Before awarding a FORTIFIED designation, IBHS verifies evaluator documentation to ensure compliance with the FORTIFIED Home Standard. Streamlining this audit process is critical to scalability—and in 2025, IBHS set new records: more audits, faster turnaround, and the lowest costs in program history.  

  • 30,000+ projects reviewed (including 20,000+ new designations, ~4,000 re-designations, and nearly 7,000 eligibility reviews)  
  • 63% reduction in review time for new and re-designations; average queue now just 2 business days  
  • Eligibility decisions made approx. 50% faster, reducing friction for contractors and homeowners  
  • Record-low Cost per Completed Project: $10.09, thanks to optimized processes and auditor utilization  
  • FORTIFIED’s audit system is sharper than ever, proving true scalability as the program grows

HAIL

ICECHIP 

Leading the Next Generation of Hail Science 

In 2025, IBHS field teams played a pivotal role in ICECHIP—the In-Situ Collaborative Experiment for the Collection of Hail in the Plains—marking the first comprehensive hail-focused field campaign funded by the National Science Foundation in more than 40 years. 

Over six weeks in May and June, 19 organizations, including 10 U.S. universities and four international partners, collaborated across the Great Plains to capture unprecedented hailstorm data. IBHS partnered with Central Michigan University to deploy a fleet of 24 impact disdrometers and a prototype wind-driven hail probe. Ground teams collected, measured, weighed, and crushed nearly 10,000 hailstones, documenting size and strength distribution for more than 20 storms. 

Key Achievements for IBHS 

  • Largest hail ever measured by an impact disdrometer 
  • Most well-documented hailswath to date 
  • First measurements of wind-driven hail 
  • Recorded hail trajectories and collisions, phenomena previously only theorized 
  • Coupling of hailstorm observations and measurements with a ground-based damage survey and upcoming claims analysis. 

Additional instruments included mobile radars, windsondes, SuHMO hail probes, instrument pods, Parsivel disdrometers, hail pads, mobile mesonets, and UASs. The resulting dataset will transform hail science—improving forecasting models, radar-based detection and strategies to mitigate the economic and societal impacts of hailstorms. 

ICECHIP: By the Numbers  

Behind the scenes of this groundbreaking hail research project, the scale of work was vast. From miles driven to hailstones analyzed, ICECHIP delivered a record-setting effort. 

  • 24 Intensive Observation Periods 
  • 15,000 miles driven 
  • 5,500+ hailstones measured and crushed 
  • 1,000+ hailstones collected for isotope analysis 
  • 1,000+ hail pad deployments 
  • 556 disdrometer deployments 
  • 1.75 TB of disdrometer data 

Building Smarter with Better Hail Data 

ICECHIP provides the foundation for science-driven solutions to reduce hail damage. These questions will help transform research into real-world resilience: 

  • How can we design more effective testing for building materials that account for hail size and concentration? 
  • What roofing materials offer the most durability against repeated impact from hail? 
  • How does the environment influence hailstorms’ damage potential? And what might this look like in the future as weather patterns change? 
  • How should hail be factored into building codes? 
  • Can more accurate hail data improve the models used by the insurance and risk management industries? 

Media Impact 

ICECHIP captured national attention with placements in The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, The Weather Channel, MarketPlace, and numerous local outlets. On social media, ICECHIP was a major driver of engagement, boosting traffic across all IBHS channels. 

Insights on Shingle Age and Wind‑Driven Hail 

IBHS delivered a claims analysis of the April 2024 Rock Hill hail event in collaboration with four Members, uncovering how shingle age and wind-driven hail amplify losses beyond typical hailstorms. The study found that conventional (i.e., non-impact rated) asphalt shingle performance is strongly influenced by age, especially at low to moderate hail severity. Both lab and field data show most asphalt shingles, including impact-rated products, maintain strong performance for roughly five years without prior hail exposure. Beyond that, conventional shingles in the 5–10-year range lose much of their resilience, even in moderate storms. At larger hail sizes, “Good” and “Excellent” performing asphalt shingles stand out, but all products eventually decline with age—a spectrum IBHS is working to quantify through its aging farm program and post-event studies. In extreme conditions, such as giant hail or severe wind-driven hail like Rock Hill, all shingles reach their performance limits, and age becomes less relevant. Understanding and quantifying the inflection points in asphalt shingle performance and durability with age to the spectrum of real-world hailstorm conditions will be a major element of the IBHS hail research program over the coming years.      

The big takeaway: narrowing the path of damage—a long-standing goal for wind—also applies to hail. With new insights into roof performance, this concept is no longer just theoretical. Targeted improvements in roofing systems can reduce hail-related losses, even in severe events. 

Study Reveals Cumulative Small Hail Impact 

A landmark peer-reviewed IBHS study published in 2025 demonstrated that repeated moderate to high concentrations of sub-severe (smaller) hail on asphalt shingle roof covers significantly reduce resistance to future hail events. It is hypothesized that a meaningful portion of hail losses each year is a result of repeated low-severity hail exposures degrading performance more rapidly. Building on those findings, testing expanded to nine shingle products and continued throughout the year, with completion anticipated in 2026. The results will inform IBHS’s understanding of the relative durability of asphalt shingles and influence how hail exposure is captured in risk modeling efforts.

Expanded Hail Impact-Resistant Shingle Ratings 

IBHS released the fourth and most expansive edition of its public-facing Hail Impact-Resistant Shingle Ratings yet, evaluating 24 products that represent approximately 95% of all impact-resistant shingles sold in the U.S. This expanded evaluation empowers consumers with more choices, making it easier to select shingles that best meet their performance and durability needs. Manufacturers were hosted at the Research Center for demonstrations of the updated impact test protocol, fostering greater transparency and collaboration. These ratings also empower homeowners and roofing professionals to confidently choose IR shingle products by comparing options that deliver real-world protection when it matters most. 

Uncovering Short-Term Aging in Roofing Materials 

IBHS continued research to understand how newer roofing products age over their first one to two years in real-world conditions. In lab and field studies, IBHS researchers found asphalt shingles continue to demonstrate good hail resistance in their new state when exposed to hail less than 2-inches in diameter. However, 5-year performance has declined. This year’s short-term aging harvests revealed early patterns in material durability, particularly for emerging materials such as the composite-based F-Wave shingles, providing foundational data for future impact and wind testing. The work complements the larger-scale IBHS Roof Aging Farm program and supports planned IBHS hail field experiments in 2026, where one-year-old shingle panels will be evaluated alongside in-situ hail instrumentation. These combined datasets will help build a clearer understanding of how early-life aging influences long-term performance and durability. 

WIND & WIND-DRIVEN RAIN

Advancing Wind & Rain Science 

In 2025, IBHS enhanced its Precipitation Imaging Probe (PIP) tower with an ultrasonic anemometer for advanced wind measurements and a Parsivel laser disdrometer to capture rainfall intensity and droplet size. After wind-tunnel validation, the upgraded tower completed its first severe convective storm deployment as part of a collaborative study on thunderstorm outflow winds.  

 

Understanding Thunderstorm Outflow  

In 2025, IBHS partnered with Texas Tech’s National Wind Institute for a major field campaign to study derechos—fast-moving windstorms common in the Midwest—and thunderstorm outflow events, which often cause inland wind damage. The goal: understand how wind transitions from rural to urban areas and how rapidly escalating straight-line winds compare to hurricane winds of similar magnitudes. IBHS deployed its upgraded Precipitation Imaging Probe (PIP) tower, featuring an ultrasonic anemometer and Parsivel laser disdrometer, while Texas Tech contributed24 StickNet platforms, two mobile Doppler radars, and lightning-mapping sensors. 

Over two weeks, the team logged 4,000+ miles across eight states and completed six deployments, documenting six thunderstorm outflow events—one severe. The data highlights key differences in spatial scales of thunderstorm winds, turbulence characteristics, and ramp-up timing, both critical for building performance and engineering design. These findings carry significant implications for inland regions and commercial campuses where outflow winds, not hurricanes, drive the majority of wind-related losses. 

Where Rain Meets Real-World Performance 

IBHS expanded testing capabilities in 2025 with the addition of the Driving Rain Lab to test windows, doors and other fenestration systems under realistic pressure changes and wetting rates. The lab now provides an immersive space for Members and industry partners to see wind-driven rain effects firsthand and understand damages observed in countless post-event damage investigations. These insights will help shape better design standards and installation practices, helping reduce water intrusion and costly interior damage. 

Connections That Matter: Preventing Progressive Failure 

In 2025, IBHS began exploring structural “damage amplifiers”—features that can trigger cascading failures in wind events. Full-scale testing of porches, patio covers and carports began and showed that connection types and configurations greatly influence the risk of progressive damage and the integrity of the roof system. In 2026, this work will continue in the large test chamber to support improved guidance and updated design recommendations for both residential and commercial structures. 

 

Modernizing Codes Through Wind-Tunnel Science 

IBHS propelled landmark updates into ASCE 7-28, including major revisions to methods for determining overall building loads and new design data for wall pressures based on modern wind-tunnel research. Work also began on a comprehensive overhaul of components-and-cladding (i.e., roof cover and decking, wall cover and cladding) pressures through a large, IBHS-funded wind-tunnel campaign examining more than 50 building configurations with high-resolution pressure mapping. These efforts will help shape the next edition of ASCE 7 in 2034. 

Advancing Reliability Framework for Roof Covers 

IBHS is advancing a reliability framework to quantify asphalt shingle performance by capturing the resistance variability of these products. By comparing wind load distributions from full-scale roof tests in the wind chamber with distributions of asphalt shingle uplift resistance, we can estimate failure probabilities scaled to design wind speeds. Current efforts are focused on standardizing resistance distributions and accounting for load duration and fatigue. This work will form the basis for improving wind performance test methods for asphalt shingles and emerging materials like synthetic composite shingles, which show promising results in preliminary testing. 

From Science to Solutions: Roof Performance Made Simple 

In 2025, IBHS took a major step forward in making roof performance research more accessible and actionable with the launch of Roofing Roadmaps. This new initiative reflects our strategic commitment to evaluating how common roof covers perform against wind and hail—and to share that knowledge in ways that empower homeowners, contractors and communities. 

The first offerings in the series set the stage for a deeper understanding of roof resilience. Roof 101 debuted as a public-facing guide that explains the fundamentals of steep-slope roofs—covering asphalt shingles, metal and tile systems—and demystifies the wind and hail test standards for each type. Alongside it, Hazard 101 helps users understand how different hazards impact roofing materials across the country, while Natural Weathering & Hazard Exposure explores how everyday conditions like sunlight and temperature changes affect roof durability over time and influence performance during severe storms. 

For our Members, we introduced the Searchable Literature Database, a powerful resource that curates IBHS’s extensive research and peer-reviewed studies. Built on an in-house Large Language Model, IBHS’s own AI-powered chatbot makes it easy to access targeted scientific insights by roof cover type and hazard bringing cutting-edge knowledge to your fingertips. 

The Roofing Roadmaps series lays a strong educational foundation to inform roofing decisions. It’s all part of our mission to deliver clarity, confidence, and resilience—one roof at a time, with additional resources to come in 2026. 

COMMERCIAL LINES

To better serve Members and policyholders, IBHS advanced Commercial Lines capabilities in 2025 through stronger engagement, expanded mitigation resources, and strategic partnerships. The team conducted 67 meetings with Members and stakeholders to drive resilience initiatives and ensure alignment across priorities. As part of an ongoing series, in 2025, IBHS launched three new Member-exclusive resources to help mitigate commercial occupancy loss: Protecting Small Medical Facilities from Wildfire Risk, Hurricane Risk in Apartment Communities and Understanding Winter Weather Risks for Places of Worship. 

The team deepened Member relationships through tailored onboarding, occupancy-plus-peril guidance, well-attended trainings and multiple Learning Management System (LMS) integrations adopted by more than a half-dozen Members. In 2025, Member companies completed 797 trainings via LMS integrations and the commercial lines online learnings, reflecting strong engagement and adoption of IBHS’s educational resources. 

Partnerships with organizations like the U.S. Small Business Administration and Chambers of Commerce extended IBHS’s reach, helping small businesses and community institutions adopt proven mitigation and continuity strategies. Through these collaborations, IBHS shared its business continuity planning toolkit and practical guidance with chambers across the country, with a strong emphasis on members of the Western Association of Chamber Executives, representing chambers in 21 states. These efforts underscore IBHS’s mission: to turn science into real-world applications that safeguard businesses, reduce financial loss, and support thriving communities.  

Looking ahead, IBHS is placing even greater emphasis on advancing its Commercial Lines business to meet the evolving needs of Members and policyholders. To accelerate this growth, the organization is investing in additional talent dedicated to driving innovation and impact across the program. These new team members will bring expertise to a wide range of initiatives—from shaping strategy and establishing standards to developing products, delivering training, and deepening Member engagement. This expanded capacity underscores IBHS’s commitment to strengthening resilience in the commercial sector and ensuring Members have the tools and support needed to protect businesses and communities. 

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT

Advancing IBHS Member Insights Into Perils  

IBHS expanded membership, adding 12 Members. This expansion builds on retaining 99% of current Members—demonstrating the strong appreciation for our research and outreach efforts. IBHS remains committed to delivering unique benefits to our Members, including access to field study findings, designation program data, and opportunities for direct engagement with researchers and thought leaders in public policy, building codes and related fields.  

We also created more opportunities for Members to participate in interactive experiences at the Research Center, including both multi-Member events and individual visits from Member companies. These activities are geared toward further enabling Members to incorporate IBHS science into their business practices. At the IBHS Research Center, Members held trainings, executive leadership gatherings, Board of Directors meetings and client functions. Across the U.S., we worked with several Members to expand our research efforts across perils.  

Disaster Dynamics Academy: Transforming Science Into Experiences  

Through our flagship Disaster Dynamics Academy series, Members gain exclusive access to hands-on learning with IBHS researchers and building science experts. In 2025, IBHS held four sessions for nearly 100 participants: Roofing Roadmaps: Setting Expectations for Roof Cover Performance,   Discerning Drivers of Community-Scale Fire Spread, Damage Amplifiers – Identifying Risk Factors and Solutions  and Commercial PV Exposures: Components, Hazards & Risk Insight.   

PUBLIC POLICY, PARTNERSHIPS & CODES  

In 2025, IBHS continued to emphasize resilience at the center of policy conversations concerning housing, insurance, and disaster recovery—from local Boards of Supervisors to the halls of Congress. Through testimony, public comments, presentations, and direct meetings, IBHS influenced public policy from Maine to California, advancing the message that science-based, verifiable risk reduction is critical for strengthening the survivability and insurability of homes and communities to severe weather.  

Demonstrating our ongoing commitment to advancing resilience and innovation in the U.S. housing sector, IBHS and its Members actively participated in high-level policy discussions throughout the year. This included providing expert testimony and thought leadership before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. In May, IBHS testified before the Committee, addressing the critical topic of resilient housing. In October, the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research testified before a subcommittee, addressing the value of the FORTIFIED program for creating resilient homes.   

IBHS’s collaboration with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) remained strong, as the organization hosted two delegations at the Research Center. Delegates from New Mexico, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Maine, Arkansas, and Arizona participated in July while representatives interested in advancing state mitigation grant programs from Connecticut, Michigan, South Carolina, and Texas visited in October., Additionally, IBHS President & CEO Roy Wright presented at the NAIC Western Zone meeting in Hawaii in September, further strengthening regional partnerships. 

IBHS’s engagement in the affordable housing space made progress, with Minnesota joining Mississippi and Louisiana in incentivizing FORTIFIED through low-income housing tax credits; the Federal Home Loan Banks of Atlanta and Cincinnati adding FORTIFIED incentives to their Affordable Housing Program and the Florida Housing Coalition requiring developers to consider FORTIFIED for all projects receiving their technical assistance. In the broader commercial real estate industry, IBHS co-hosted an insurance-CRE roundtable with the Urban Land Institute and provided assistance as the U.S. Green Building Council more closely integrated FORTIFIED into the latest version of the LEED standard.   

IBHS also continued to press for improvements to building codes and standards with bodies like the International Code Council, Florida Building Code, ASTM, and ASCE. IBHS successfully proposed that a sealed roof deck requirement be added to the International Building Code (IBC) up to the 115 mph wind line. This change will be reflected in the 2027 IBC. IBHS also proposed a sealed roof deck requirement in the International Residential Code (IRC); this proposal has been approved up to the 120 mph wind line but is not yet finalized for the 2027 IRC.  

Throughout the year, IBHS refreshed its resources on a dedicated Public Policy page, providing up-to-date information to support transparency and stakeholder engagement. Building on this momentum, IBHS will continue to serve as a trusted expert resource, actively shaping policy and code development to help build stronger, more resilient communities across the nation.  

OUTREACH

In 2025, our impact through connecting to key audiences and stakeholders with research-based solutions expanded significantly. IBHS reached more than 450 million Americans—nearly doubling the prior year’s reach—through national, local and trade media coverage. Across all perils, our outreach positioned IBHS as the trusted source for science-based guidance to prepare properties and reduce damage from severe weather and wildfire, growing awareness of our designation programs, ensuring communities receive timely, practical information through our ongoing campaigns and new research releases.  

Sharing IBHS Research with a National Audience  

Amid January’s devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County, IBHS emerged as a trusted national authority on community resilience—providing critical research insights that shaped national coverage. CBS Evening News featured IBHS research on Eye on America, and CNN’s Adaptation Nation aired an in-depth wildfire report highlighting IBHS’s science-based solutions for reducing risk. These stories amplified the importance of resilient construction standards, including the first Wildfire Prepared Neighborhood, and contributed to more than 600 media mentions reaching 29 million people. Beyond wildfire, IBHS research continued to gain national attention through ICECHIP—the largest hail study in over 40 years—with coverage from The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, and The Weather Channel, highlighting IBHS’s leadership in advancing real-time data collection to advance hail research. 

 

In 2025, IBHS completed its fourth season of the Disaster Discussions Podcast with 15 episodes covering a breadth of perils. Quality, expert-led content and increased promotion on social media helped significantly increase viewership. and we reached more than 2,000 downloads for the first time.  

IBHS connected with digital audiences across its social media channels through a strategic mix of organic and paid campaigns, thought leadership, live digital events on YouTube and Facebook, and influencer partnerships. These efforts drove awareness of IBHS research and guidance, generating more than 6.4 million impressions, nearly 136,000 engagements, and about 66,000 link clicks to IBHS websites. 

LOOKING AHEAD

As IBHS and its Members enter the final year of Strategy26, our focus remains clear: transforming science into real-world resilience. IBHS will continue to lead by addressing critical knowledge gaps in wind, wind-driven rain, hail, and wildfire, leveraging the unique capabilities of the IBHS Research Center and strong collaborations with external experts. This enduring commitment keeps IBHS at the center of scientific innovation and the key conversations shaping resilience across our disciplines.  

Member investment fuels groundbreaking research and practical solutions that narrow the path of destruction from wind, hail, wildfire and rain. In 2026, IBHS will expand its Roofing Roadmaps series, delivering accessible, data-driven insights that improve performance and inform smarter decisions.  

Wildfire research will advance through new full-scale experiments, deeper collaborations, and the continued advancement of the Wildfire Prepared program into new regions. Expanded grant programs, a growing provider network, and sustained policy engagement will further equip property owners, community leaders, and policymakers with timely, actionable guidance.   

Together, IBHS and its Members are bending down the risk curve – protecting homes and businesses and helping communities thrive amid an increasingly complex risk landscape.  

Take a look at our projects for 2026.