Engineering Services and Windstorm Inspections Section
- Windstorm Main Page
- Engineering Services
- Windstorm Inspections Field Offices
- Windstorm Inspections
- Texas Windstorm Insurance Association
- International Residential Code (IRC) or International Building Code (IBC) Publications
- Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) Publications
Engineering Services
The Engineering Services Section of the Texas Department of Insurance provides development, maintenance and education of the prescriptive requirements contained in the construction documents adopted by the Texas Department of Insurance and provides support and technical assistance to the Windstorm Inspection Unit.
The engineering staff evaluates construction designs and test information on building products to determine their ability to withstand the wind load requirements specified in the building specifications.
The engineering staff develops product evaluations based on the test information submitted by manufacturers and distributes the product evaluations through the publications department.
The engineering section maintains and provides access to the construction documents along with the product evaluations on the internet.
The engineering section also provides continued education in conjunction with the Windstorm Inspection Unit regarding the building specifications and inspection related issues.
The engineering staff welcomes educational opportunities and is dedicated to furthering education on the construction documents adopted by our agency.
Please contact the engineering staff to request education programs that would be beneficial to your community.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone Number: (512) 322-2212
Fax Number: (512) 463-6693
Engineering@tdi.state.tx.us
PRODUCT EVALUATION INFORMATION:
Manufacturer’s submitting information for generation or revision of a product evaluation, please send the information to the following address:
Texas Department of Insurance
Engineering Services
Mail Code 103-3A
P.O. Box 149104
Austin, Texas 78714-9104
Windstorm Inspections
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Windstorm Inspection Unit is responsible for the inspection and certification (WPI-8), of residential and some commercial structures located in the designated catastrophe area along the Texas gulf coast. To facilitate the inspection of structures along the Texas Gulf Coast, seven (7) field offices where established. The Windstorm Field office personnel are available to the area builders and residents to assist them in knowledge and implementation of the construction documents adopted by the TDI. Copies of all of the product evaluations, code and guide may be viewed at the local field offices by the public.
Certification of a structure is dependent on a structure’s compliance with either the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association Building Code for Windstorm Resistant Construction, Texas Department of Insurance Windstorm Resistant Construction Guide, the wind loads specified in the ASCE 7-93 or the Southern Standard Building Code as amended May 8, 1973.
Inspection and/or certification by the TDI will enable a structure to be eligible for windstorm insurability through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone Number: (512) 322-2203
Toll Free: (800) 248-6032
Fax Number: (512) 322-2273
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) is the organization which underwrites the windstorm and hail portion of insurance policies for structures certified to meet the construction requirements adopted by the Texas Department of Insurance. The contact information for TWIA is as follows:
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone: (512) 899-4900
Toll Free Phone: (800) 788-8247
Fax: (512) 899-4950
MAILING ADDRESS:
Texas Windstorm Insurance Association
P.O. Box 99090
Austin, Texas 78709-9090
www.twia.org
International Residential Code (IRC) or International Building Code (IBC) Publications
The International Codes are not available for purchase or for viewing through the Texas Department of Insurance since they are proprietary documents. The codes and other referenced documents can be purchased at the following link.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
ICC
Phone: (888) 699-0541
www.iccsafe.org
Wood Frame Construction Manual (WFCM) Publications
CONTACT INFORMATION:
American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)
American Wood Council Publications
Phone: (800) 890-7732
www.awc.org
Dennis Pitts, Regional Manager
Phone: (972) 398-9095
MAILING ADDRESS:
1721 W. Plano Parkway, #224
Plano, TX 75075
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone: (253) 565-6600
Fax: (253) 565-7265
MAILING ADDRESS:
APA - The Engineered Wood Association
7011 S. 19th
Tacoma, WA 98466
www.apawood.org
Institute for Business Home & Safety
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone: (813) 286-3400
Fax: (813) 286-9960
MAILING ADDRESS:
Institute for Business Home & Safety
4775 E. Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33617
www.ibhs.org
For further information, contact: Windstorm@tdi.state.tx.us
For more information contact:
Last updated: 01/21/2010
