TDI Statement Regarding IBHS Report
On January 9, 2012, the Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) released its report Rating the States: An Assessment of Residential Building Code and Enforcement Systems for Life Safety and Property Protection in Hurricane-Prone Regions, which ranks and compares the regulations and processes governing residential building construction of the 18 states most vulnerable to hurricane losses, i.e., coastal states from Maine to Texas. Texas ranked 16th, primarily because it does not have statewide building codes. All states in the study except Alabama, Delaware and Texas have adopted the International Residential Code (IRC) on a statewide basis.
Given that Tier 1 (the 14 coastal counties) represents less than 6% of the risk exposure of the state, statewide building codes may not be appropriate for Texas. The Texas Local Government Code adopts the IRC for municipalities, allowing local leaders to adopt and amend the IRC to meet their needs, rather than taking a “one size fits all” approach.
At least 25 Texas cities in Tier 1 coastal areas have adopted the 2006 or 2009 IRC. Additionally, through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), which insures 57% of the wind exposure in Tier 1, Texas actually has protections that go further than the IRC and local requirements. TWIA requires inspections and certifications verifying windstorm code compliance by TDI inspectors certified by the International Code Council, and approved licensed professional engineers.
TDI is a firm proponent of strong building codes, particularly in areas subject to severe weather and is reviewing the most recent IRC (2012) for use by TWIA. We will continue to explore the role of building codes in protecting the welfare and safety of Texas residents.
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Last updated: 01/10/2012
