What is wind mitigation and how does it affect me and my home? Did you know a wind mitigation inspection could save you money? Wind mitigation is a strategy of implementing design, construction techniques, and products to mitigate or reduce the effects of wind and wind related damage to a structure. After Hurricane Andrew, Florida passed a law requiring insurance companies to offer discounts or credits on insurance rates depending on existing building features and improvements or upgrades that reduce damage from wind. The Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 is a standard form used by inspectors and provided to insurance companies to document the wind mitigation features of a structure and the form is valid for 5 years provided no material changes have been made to the structure. The form has specific features that are to be inspected for and photo documented to prove the existence of these features. The first section of the form regards to when the structure was built and whether the structure was built according to improvements adopted in the 2001 Florida Building Code. The second section is about the type of roof covering and date in which it was originally installed or replaced. The third section is roof deck attachment which looks at the type of fasteners and fastener spacing used to secure the roof deck sheathing to the roof trusses. Many options for roof to wall connections exist and have been used throughout history and have been grouped into several categories based on the strength of the attachment method. Section four regards to how the roof trusses are attached to the walls of the home. Sections three and four combined determine the approximate amount of uplift force a roof structure can handle. Section five reviews the roof shape and how wind interacts with that roof shape. A hip or pyramid shaped roof will allow wind to flow over the structure better than a big gable end that wind can push against. Section six relates to the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier such as peel and stick underlayment’s which offer increased protection from water intrusion and damage. The final section of the form regards to the presence of opening protection in the form of impact windows and doors or shutter systems. In general, all openings require protection to receive credit. Any features noted in the wind mitigation inspection report should be verified with photographic evidence. A typical wind mitigation inspection takes between 30 and 45 minutes to complete and can save you a considerable amount of money on your homeowner’s insurance premium. If it has been more than 5 years, if you have recently replaced your roof covering, or if you have added opening protection to your home you should consider getting an updated wind mitigation inspection report to ensure that you are receiving all possible discounts or credits. Contact us today to schedule a wind mitigation!
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