Observations Of Building Performance in Southwest Florida During Hurricane Ian (2022): PART II: Performance of the Modern Florida Building Codes
The modern Florida Building Code (FBC) is among the strongest wind-resistant building codes in the U.S. Hurricane Ian—bringing peak gusts of 150–160 mph across Sanibel Island, Port Charlotte, and Punta Gorda—offered the most significant test of the code since Hurricane Charley.
Research
IBHS evaluated 3,646 single-family homes, 327 light commercial buildings, and 230 multifamily structures using aerial and street-level imagery. Part II focuses on structural performance, excluding areas with storm-surge-driven structural failure.
Key Findings at a Glance
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- Modern FBC buildings had exceptional structural performance. Only one building constructed under the modern FBC showed any visible structural damage.
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- Among 455 single-family homes built to the modern FBC, none had structural damage from wind—though components like roof cover, siding, and soffits still experienced issues.
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- Homes built before 2002 had structural damage levels nearly 2x higher, and 2.3x higher in areas with peak winds above 130 mph. The modern FBC is estimated to have prevented $1–3 billion in structural losses.
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- FBC product approval processes have been highly effective for windows, doors, and garage doors, but less effective for materials such as asphalt shingles, soffits, fascia, and siding.
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- Garage doors performed far better than in prior hurricanes, reflecting successful FBC updates.
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- For commercial buildings built under the modern FBC, structural performance was strong—1 of 45 showed structural damage—though low-slope roof cover and flashing issues remain widespread.
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- Among 57 multifamily structures built to the modern FBC, none experienced structural damage, though component and cladding damage was still common.
Citation
Giammanco, Ian M., Emily Newby, Hank Pogorzelski, and Milad Shabanian. “Observations Of Building Performance in Southwest Florida During Hurricane Ian (2022): PART II: Performance of the Modern Florida Building Codes.” Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, 2023. https://doi.org/10.82346/768D-DS42.
