Florence and Michael brought punishing wind, wind-driven rain and storm surge, exploiting the weakness inherent in thousands of properties. However, they also offered stark evidence that we can build defensively and narrow the path of damage.
Research IBHS wind testing of asphalt shingle products has demonstrated that the most important factor affecting high-wind performance for self-sealing asphalt shingles is the strength of the seal between shingles. Self-sealing asphalt shingles contain a temperature-activated adhesive strip applied during the manufacturing process, which is used to adhere the lower-edge bottom surface of the exposed…
Home / Hail / Relative Hail Impact Resistance of Asphalt Shingles Relative Hail Impact Resistance of Asphalt Shingles IBHS Hail Research integrates decades of field and laboratory investigations to understand how hail affects roofing systems and to identify products that perform best in real-world conditions. Asphalt shingles represent about 80% of installed residential roofs in the U.S. (Freedonia Group 2019), and they are frequently damaged during hail and high-wind events (Brown…
Research Wildfire activity is on the rise and with this comes an increased impact on buildings, including homes and businesses, in the wildland-urban interface. Residents and business owners can take steps to reduce the risk to their property located in wildfire-prone areas. Eliminating fuels from the immediate area surrounding the building, as referred to as…
AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC Alabama 2015 International Building…
Vulnerable Populations Disaster-related loss prevention encompasses a wide range of activities that should be undertaken to increase the likelihood that homes, workplaces, and essential public buildings can survive a natural or human-induced catastrophe. Improving this capability must be a national priority, public health objective, economic imperative and humanitarian obligation. Nowhere is this more important than…
IBHS has identified the following five concepts as central to the economics of community disaster resilience: (1) the importance of “going green and building strong”; (2) residential and commercial building performance; (3) emergency preparation and response as a shared responsibility; (4) building codes as a threshold, but not end goal; and (5) the need for…
Research Garage doors or roll‐up doors on residential and commercial structures have often been damaged in hurricanes, tornadoes, and high wind events, due to impacts from flying debris; positive or suction pressures; weak tracks on the doors themselves; and inadequate attachment of the doors to the building. When it occurs, wind damage to garage and roll‐up…
Explored the dynamics of wildfire behavior and how it exploits various building vulnerabilities, leading to severe property damage.
Using data and observations gathered during field and lab research, IBHS develops tools to help risk engineering and loss control staff evaluate and reduce risks and vulnerabilities to severe weather, including field tools to evaluate commercial structures and risk engineering bulletins that address specific natural hazards. Wind Loss Control Field Tools These materials will help risk…
