IBHS Research Center Paves the Way for Safer Buildings
December 7, 2011On the second day of the Southeast Region Fall Meeting, members heard from Dr. Tim Reinhold of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) Research Center, an applied research and training facility on a 90-acre parcel of land in Chester County, SC, some 45 minutes south of the Charlotte airport. The facility was the venue for a tour by Southeast Region members at the 2011 Spring Meeting.
Pointing to the multiple risks posed by high winds, flood, hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, wind-forced rain, earthquakes, freezing weather, hail and wildfire, Reinhold noted that “Community survival should not be based on luck; effective mitigation can protect people, property and public resources.” He went on to explain that this can be done by research and development of better products and building techniques as well as by “code plus” standards.
Reinhold noted that natural disaster-related losses have increased exponentially since 1980, totaling more than $26 billion across the U.S. in 2009 alone, and are expected to double every decade. In the first six months of 2011, $27.8 billion in losses were logged, 85 percent of which were due to severe thunderstorms. He explained how IBHS is pursuing research at the Center that “will influence residential and commercial structural design and construction for decades to come.”
The focal point for that work is the South Carolina facility where researchers plan to more fully and accurately evaluate various residential and commercial construction materials and systems. The large test chamber at the site measures 145 feet square and 70 feet high. A 60- by 30-foot wind inlet directs the force of 105 fans, each rated at 350 horsepower, to simulate up to a Category 3 hurricane, tornado vortex edge conditions or frontal winds for thunderstorms. High-speed cameras and TV lighting record the results.
Additionally, Reinhold unveiled a related study of wind forces conducted by building a replica of the 30- by 45- by 132-foot Wind Science and Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University. The building is being used to develop accurate indoor simulations of real-world, full-scale wind patterns based on data collected from the site of the Texas Tech building.
A full-size mock-up of a home can be subjected to wind-driven rain at the equivalent of eight inches per hour. A drainage system in the attic collects water that enters through vents and where roof shingles are blown off the roof deck. The water is accumulated at 50 different collection zones inside the test house. One result of the test showed that using sealant between the roof deck panels can reduce water entry and the cost of interior cleanup by two-thirds.
Flying embers from a wildfire can also be simulated, providing critical data for ignition modeling and testing the fire resistance of materials and construction measures.
Reinhold explained that the next level of capabilities being developed will create artificial hailstones of up to approximately the size of a baseball and means to simulate wind loads on rooftop equipment and photovoltaic systems.
The speaker also explained the three IBHS “FORTIFIED” programs for new and existing homes and for new light commercial buildings. These are “code-plus” standards that can be tailored to address the primary risks at a building’s location.
The FORTIFIED for Safer Living® single family residential construction program offers a package of "code-plus" upgrades that greatly increase a new home's resistance to natural perils, including hurricane, tornado, wildfire, flood, freezing weather, hail and earthquake, as well as fire and interior water damage. Specifically, FORTIFIED for Safer Living requirements strengthen a home’s outer envelope-notably roof and wall systems, doors, glazed openings and the foundation. These standards offer enhanced protection for about 90 percent of the areas affected by tornadoes of F2 or lower strength in any given year.
Launched in 2010, this program is designed to help strengthen existing homes through retrofit techniques that will ward off damage from specific natural hazards
The FORTIFIED for Existing Homes™ program, launched in 2010, has three building designations to choose from: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. It offers homeowners and builders a road map to make significant, affordable durability upgrades to any home.
The Fortified for Safer Business™ code-plus new construction program offers a package of improvements that greatly increase a new light commercial building’s durability and resilience to natural hazards prevalent in the area where it’s being built. Achieving a FORTIFIED for Safer Business designation gives businesses the advantage of remaining open or re-opening faster during a time of need for their local customers, employees and often their own family members.
Information on IBHS’ FORTIFIED building standards is available at www.DisasterSafety.org.
American Architectural