ALTADENA, CA, Dec. 17, 2025 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and Global Emergency Relief, Recovery & Reconstruction (GER3) are working in collaboration to bring IBHS’s science-based Wildfire Prepared Home designation program to vulnerable families in Altadena, California, following the Eaton Fire.
Home / Hail / Water Leakage Vulnerabilities for Shingles with Hail Damage Water Leakage Vulnerabilities for Shingles with Hail Damage This IBHS study investigated the water permeability of shingles damaged by hail and demonstrated the importance of choosing an impact-resistant product with an excellent tear rating (based on IBHS’s Hail Impact-Resistant Shingle Ratings) to reduce the potential for hail damage causing water leakage into the roof. …
Home / Hail / Impact Resistance of Synthetic Composite Shingles Impact Resistance of Synthetic Composite Shingles Hailstorms cause an estimated $10 billion in property damage each year in the United States, with the central region experiencing frequent and costly roof replacements. Research While asphalt shingles remain the predominant residential roof covering in the U.S., used at about 80% of installed residential roofs (Freedonia Group 2019), alternative roof covering materials, such as…
RICHBURG, S.C., Dec. 10, 2025 – The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) released findings today from its post-event investigation of the 2025 Los Angeles County Fires, illustrating the necessity of a systems-based approach to wildfire resilience. Using new quantified data, the report, The 2025 LA Conflagrations, shows homes were more likely to avoid damage in conflagration conditions when there was greater spacing and lower connective fuel density, including vegetation, allowing noncombustible building materials to perform as intended.
Vegetation in Zone 0: Amplifying Damage to Structures Vegetation within the first five feet of a home—known as Zone 0—significantly increases heat exposure during a wildfire and can amplify damage, even when plants are well-watered. Explore the full report to learn what our 17 controlled experiments revealed and how they inform future wildfire resilience strategies. Research…
2012 Waldo Canyon Wildfire Waldo Canyon Wildfire: Field Investigation and Lessons Learned Explore the report and video to gain practical insights into how wildfire-prone communities can better prepare for and reduce risk from future wildfire events. Research Fire Adapted Communities Mitigation Assessment Team Findings The 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire near Colorado Springs, Colorado, was one…
Short-Term Roof Aging Farm Conducted at 1- and 2-year intervals (with potential for additional short-term life-milestones), the Short-Term Roof Aging Farm evaluates how recently aged roofing materials respond to hail-impact testing. This work bridges the gap between new and naturally aged roof performance and deepens understanding of how roof cover materials evolve under real-world exposure before…
IBHS Building Code Progress Modern building codes work – when adopted and enforced. They save lives, reduce property damage, limit disruption, and strengthen the resiliency of our communities. For more than two decades, IBHS research has shaped codes related to the wind, wind-driven rain, and wildfire performance of buildings, driving stronger, safer, and more resilient building…