Insurance Institute For Business & Home Safety

Programs: Research center projects: at the unique, world-class ibhs research center in south carolina, ibhs conducts a variety of tests to examine the impact of wind, fire, hail and wind-driven water on both residential and commercial structures. The multi-faceted research approach includes: full-scale testing of one- and two-story test specimens; physical testing of individual structural components and building systems; and, evaluation of existing/potential test methods and metrics. Transparent, objective research methodologies are utilized. Research center staff coordinates and leverages institute resources through partnerships with manufacturers, trade groups and other scientists and research organizations. Total expense for this work is approximately $5. 8 million annually; partnerships with public, private and academic organizations brought in $20,736 of revenue to the research center, all of which was utilized for research conducted in conjunction with that specific partnership.

fortified programs: ibhs has developed and promulgated a set of science-based, hazard-specific building design, repair, and retrofitting standards for residential and commercial construction. Further development of individual standards is ongoing, and ibhs is in the midst of working to scale up our hurricane standard for new and existing site-built, manufactured and modular homes - while maintaining quality control over the standard and designation process. Total expense for this work in 2016 was confined to the ibhs annual budget in the form of personnel, it, and travel costs. No revenue is generated by this work.

communications projects: ibhs has a robust communications function in addition to our research capabilities; in this way, we work to engage and compel action by building stakeholders in order to increase the resilience of both residential and commercial structures. Each year, the institute creates a substantial amount of original data and other types of content. This information is pushed outward to the public through ibhs member companies, via the ibhs web site, and utilizing both digital and traditional media outlets. Costs associated with this work all fall within the ibhs annual budget's personnel, printing, graphics, and it expense items. No revenue is generated by this work.