{"id":904722,"date":"2025-08-26T15:57:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T21:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/?p=904722"},"modified":"2025-08-26T15:57:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T21:57:30","slug":"stronger-building-codes-reduce-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myconstructionexpert.com\/blog\/stronger-building-codes-reduce-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationwide Survey: How Stronger Building Codes Reduce Risk"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Agency Forward<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As communities across the U.S. face increasingly frequent and severe weather events, the toll on property owners and insurers continues to grow. According to NOAA, between 2020 and 2024, the U.S. experienced 115 billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, totaling nearly $747 billion in losses. Yet despite this trend, 65% of U.S. counties, cities, and towns still lack modern building codes\u2014leaving communities vulnerable to preventable damage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What our 2025 survey tells us<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

According to\u00a0Nationwide\u2019s 2025 Survey<\/a>, the concern around extreme weather is rising. Two-thirds of commercial property stakeholders say they\u2019re worried about the impact of severe weather on their buildings. In response, many have taken steps such as increasing policy limits (48%), expanding coverage (46%), or conducting building assessments (33%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These actions reflect growing risk awareness\u2014but they also highlight a critical opportunity. While coverage enhancements are important, there\u2019s still room to help clients take additional steps to reduce physical risk. Insurance agents play a key role in that effort, serving as trusted partners who can guide clients toward proactive protection and long-term resilience.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This survey data offers a clear takeaway: while risk awareness is high, many communities are missing the tools and resources needed to act. That\u2019s where insurance professionals can step in\u2014as trusted partners helping clients make informed decisions about risk mitigation and long-term protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proof that stronger building codes work<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Research from the\u202fInsurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)\u202fand the\u202fCenter for Risk and Insurance Research (CRIR) at the University of Alabama\u202freinforces the value of resilient construction. A peer-reviewed study examining over 40,000 properties affected by Hurricane Sally found that homes built to\u202fIBHS FORTIFIED standards\u202fwere significantly more resilient than those built to conventional codes: <\/p>\n\n\n\n