Florida OIR and University of Florida Promote Resilient Homebuilding to Mitigate Water Intrusion and Insurance Costs

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and the University of Florida have released the Resilience Inference Performance Level (RIPL) Report, aimed at guiding homeowners to strengthen their homes against water intrusion caused by flooding and storms.

The report emphasizes the importance of using high-performance building materials and integrates smart home technologies to enhance the resilience of single-family homes. Such measures could potentially mitigate risk and decrease insurance costs for homeowners in Florida. The report details recommended materials, including exterior cladding and interior finishes that are tested for flame spread resistance and water intrusion prevention, highlighting the role of sub-standard material failures in driving insurance claims and costs. In addition, smart technologies such as utility shutoff mechanisms, foundation monitoring, and sensor networks are identified as added layers of protection.

This initiative stems from a collaboration between the Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience and the OIR, which aims to make homes more resilient and affordable to insure. The RIPL report represents a significant step towards creating a decision support system focused on home resilience performance, aiding insurers and homeowners in understanding and reducing risk. The proactive approach combines innovative materials with smart technologies to support community resilience, potentially leading to insurance premium reductions and increased homeowner assurance against natural hazards.