A windstorm inspection, also referred to as a windstorm mitigation inspection, windstorm insurance inspection or wind mitigation inspection, is a kind of
home inspection common in the coastal areas of the
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern por ...
. The purpose of a windstorm inspection is to determine the appropriateness of a given structure's construction in the event of strong
wind
Wind is the natural movement of air or other gases relative to a planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heating of land surfaces and lasting a few hou ...
s, such as those present in a
hurricane
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Depend ...
.
Windstorm inspections look for construction features that have been shown to reduce losses in hurricanes, such as a
hip roof
A hip roof, hip-roof or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope (although a tented roof by definition is a hipped roof with steeply pitched slopes rising to a peak). Thus, ...
,
concrete block
A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard-size rectangular block used in building construction. CMUs are some of the most versatile building products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using them.
Tho ...
construction, the presence of
gable end bracing,
shutters and opening protections, the presence of roof to wall attachments such as toe nails, clips or
hurricane strap
A tie, strap, tie rod, eyebar, guy-wire, suspension cables, or wire ropes, are examples of linear structural components designed to resist tension. It is the opposite of a strut or column, which is designed to resist compression. Ties may be ma ...
s, and the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier.
A homeowner with windstorm
insurance
Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to hedge ...
can often submit the results of a windstorm inspection to their insurer to obtain discounts on their windstorm insurance. In
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, for example, premium discounts for certain favorable wind mitigation features are mandated by State law and can total 45% of the original policy's premium. In coastal parts of Texas, the State mandates windstorm inspections prior to certifying a new building.
Florida wind mitigation
In Florida, a wind mitigation inspection is performed by a licensed general contractor, building contractor, architect, engineer, building inspector or home inspector. The information gathered is presented on a standard wind mitigation form, OIR-B1-1802, commonly referred to as the 1802 form. As of Feb 1, 2012, all inspections must have photos showing each feature listed on the wind mitigation form.
The uniform mitigation verification inspection form (commonly referred to as form 1802) created by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is divided into 7 sections and is used to verify the presence of windstorm mitigation features on a policyholder's property so the insurer can calculate proper discounts. The form is valid for up to 5 years, provided that no material changes have been made to the structure.
Inspectors will collect the following information during an inspection, the age of the home to determine what building code was in place at the time of construction, the age of the roof, documentation to prove if the roof was installed to any certain building code, the types of roofing materials, the roof deck attachment, roof to wall connection, roof shape, existence of a SWR and the opening protection of the doors and windows.
See also
*
Hurricane-proof building
Tornadoes, cyclones, and other storms with strong winds damage or destroy many buildings. However, with proper design and construction, the damage to buildings by these forces can be greatly reduced. A variety of methods can help a building surviv ...
References
External links
Florida Office of Insurance RegulationBuilding Inspections Adelaide
Insurance in the United States
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