Call for Stricter Building Codes to Enhance Disaster Resilience
Housing advocates and industry experts are calling for stricter building codes to enhance homes' resilience to natural disasters. They argue that current regulations may not be sufficient to tackle the increasing frequency and severity of these events.
The National Green Building Standard (NGBS) has taken a step towards addressing this issue by introducing the +Resilience measure in 2022. This will be further enhanced in the 2025 version, offering a more practical approach to disaster resilience. Ensuring homes are constructed according to good codes can significantly improve their resilience.
However, efforts by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to roof and reroof homes to Fortified Home standards have revealed weaknesses in modern code enforcement. Both NGBS +Resilience and IBHS Fortified Home standards employ independent evaluators to guarantee compliance, a practice that could be adopted more widely.
FM Global suggests that relying solely on existing codes and standards may not be enough to address disaster resilience. Retrofitting existing homes, particularly those built before 2010, should be a priority to achieve this goal. Roofs, in particular, are often not inspected frequently enough, leading to vulnerabilities and high replacement costs.
To enhance disaster resilience, stakeholders are pushing for more stringent building codes and third-party verification. The National Green Building Standard is leading the way with its +Resilience measure, while retrofitting existing homes and improving roof inspections should also be priorities. By working together, the industry can better protect homes and communities from natural disasters.
