Severe weather disrupts lives, displaces families, and drives financial loss. IBHS delivers top-tier science and translates it into action so we can prevent avoidable suffering, strengthen our homes and businesses, inform the insurance industry, and support thriving communities.
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research and communications organization supported by property insurers, reinsurers, and affiliated companies. Our building safety research produces real-world solutions that improve the resilience of residential and commercial structures.
Located on 90-acres in Chester County, South Carolina, the IBHS Research Center is a state-of-the-art research facility where researchers evaluate construction materials and systems under realistic re-creations of severe weather and wildfire hazards. This one-of-a-kind laboratory allows us to test full-scale structures in controlled conditions, generating data that advances building science and influences structural design and construction practices nationwide.
The Research Center also represents the property insurance industry’s deep commitment to reducing losses and protecting communities. Through full-scale demonstrations, IBHS validates its guidance and shares findings through media, social platforms, presentations, and public policy engagement—ensuring that research leads to action.