Property Insurance In Florida

TALLAHASSEE - The Florida Building Commission today recommended to the Legislature that new buildings along Florida's coast that will be insured by the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation be built to stronger standards than current building codes require. The recommendations, which incorporate "Code-Plus" standards, come in response to the Legislature's direction for the Commission to examine the hurricane risks to structures built close to the Florida coast. The proposed requirements would apply to structures built within a half-mile of Florida's coasts beginning next January 1.

"These buildings are exposed to the strongest winds and pounding surf of oncoming hurricanes, and the risk of building damage and insurance claims to the state-backed insurance provider is enormous," said Raul L. Rodriguez, AIA, who serves as chairman of the Florida Building Commission. "We considered the risks and the latest science in developing the recommendations and concluded that state-insured buildings should be required to withstand a stronger hurricane than those mandated by the state code." The Legislature last year directed the Commission, which is housed within the Department of Community Affairs, to recommend Code-Plus criteria for Citizens-insured buildings constructed after January 1, 2009, within 2,500 feet of the coast. The Commission selected a standard based on a 500-year event, which can carry winds approximating the worst storms on record, such as Hurricane Andrew. Citizens-insured coastal buildings would be built to withstand winds 5 to 25 mph stronger than the code requires, depending on where the building is located along the coast.

In addition to wind speed, the recommendations call for buildings to be elevated 1 to 6 feet higher than current requirements and to meet the stringent wind-borne debris protection requirements for the High Velocity Hurricane Zone. Wind-driven rain damage occurs to building interiors when roof coverings are blown off, windows are broken or other parts of the structure fail. These are major causes of insurance claims. While the damage is not necessarily life-threatening to the occupants, it does result in costly repairs and renovations. Estimates from Hurricane Andrew, as an example, reflect that water damage was responsible for 60 percent of the insured losses. Stronger buildings and protection from wind-borne debris would reduce damage and losses. "The primary purpose of any building code is to provide for the safety of the occupants, and the Florida Building Code does that very well," said Rodriguez. "The 'Code-Plus' requirements address occupant safety and additional property protection in high-risk areas, which will in turn reduce insurance losses."