Our Story

IBHS was formed by the property-casualty insurance industry in 1977 as the National Committee on Property Insurance to help coordinate emerging property insurance plans. As new challenges to the built environment related to natural hazards emerged during the 1970s and 1980s, the organization expanded its focus—providing technical guidance on building codes, land use, construction practices, and retrofit solutions. 

By the 1990s, advancing building safety and reducing losses from natural hazards—including wind, hail, wildfire, and wind-driven rain—became the organization’s central mission. 

From 2005 to 2010, IBHS evolved into a leading applied research and communications organization, strengthening its ability to translate science into real-world solutions. 

Over time, the organization’s name evolved to reflect its expanding mission—operating as the Insurance Institute for Property Loss Reduction (IIPLR) in the 1990s and later as the Institute for Business & Home Safety before adopting its current name in 2011. 

In 2010, IBHS opened the Research Center in Chester County, South Carolina—a state-of-the-art, multi-hazard research and training facility. This campus enables researchers to evaluate residential and commercial construction materials and systems through both full-scale and small-scale testing, significantly advancing building science. 

In 2011, the organization adopted its current name—Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)—to reflect the role of its members and ensure they receive public recognition for supporting this important work.