Research Most roofs and walls are made of layers. Often, the exterior layer is air-permeable, meaning air can pass through the different layers. When a building experiences pressure from wind, air-permeable coverings allow some pressure to pass through gaps, joints or holes to the layer beneath. This causes a partial equalization, meaning the exterior covering…
IBHS conducts post-wildfire field research to gain critical insights for property owners and to inform future wildfire research.
Research IBHS researches the high-wind performance of manufactured homes with attached structures to develop guidance for effective mitigation measures. This research also provides opportunity to measure full-scale wind loads on these structures, which can be used to evaluate existing building code wind loads. Demonstration IBHS, in conjunction with the American Modern Insurance Group, conducted a…
Research IBHS conducts research on full-scale residential structures to understand performance under real-world conditions. Results are used to inform the IBHS FORTIFIED Standards and other guidance. Demonstration Two full-scale, two-story, 1,300-square-foot houses were placed next to each other in the test chamber—one built using conventional construction standards common in the Midwest, and one built to…
Research IBHS researches ways to improve commercial building performance in high-wind events. Results of this research inform IBHS guidance on methods and materials for commercial construction. Demonstration In 2012, IBHS performed a demonstration to compare and contrast the high-wind performance of two full-scale commercial structures—one built using common construction practices and the other using stronger…
Research Water entry into a building can damage the floor, interior walls, and other interior finishes leading to costly repairs and loss of use of the room or building. Anecdotal observations point to packaged terminal air conditioners (PTAC)—wall-based, in-room heating and cooling units often found in hotels, apartment buildings, healthcare facilities and in some single-family homes—as a…
Single Ply Roofing Industry Research During 2017, IBHS staff met again with the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI) organization regarding various uplift test options and a set of action plans to better understand wind loads and performance of flexible roof membranes. SPRI has created a task force to examine how single-ply roof systems are evaluated…
Research The performance of commercial roof systems under wind loads is dependent on two main factors: (1) the wind loads the building is subjected to and (2) how these wind loads are transferred through the roof system. While there is a good understanding of the wind loads that low-rise buildings are subjected to, the performance…
Research IBHS has been examining wind effects on roof-mounted PV solar panel arrays (groups of solar panels that often are seen on commercial roofs). This research is of growing importance as the number of solar energy installations is increasing rapidly around the country. Solar panels and arrays that fail or become detached can cause extensive…
The only lab in the world that can test full-scale one- and two-story residential and commercial buildings in a controlled, repeatable fashion for highly realistic windstorms, wind-driven rain, hailstorms and wildfire ember storms utilizing the unique features below.
