Nov 30 2007
Louisiana System Built Homes announced Wednesday that its modular homes are being built to the Fortified...for safer living(R) standard. Fortified...for safer living(R) is the designation granted by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) for homes built to its code-plus program for disaster resistant construction.
The "Fortified" program specifies construction and design guidelines to increase a new home's resistance to natural disasters. The program pays special attention to the most vulnerable areas: openings such as doors and windows, connections from the foundation up, roof construction and building elevation. The program also requires a series of third-party inspections. Construction and materials must meet program standards, but specific products or brands are not required.
In Louisiana, "Fortified" homes:
- Are designed to withstand wind speeds 20 MPH above those set by the American Society of Civil Engineers;
- Have higher design pressure rated windows and doors, and in the southern portion of the state require impact-resistant opening protection;
- Have roofing materials that provide resistance to water penetration, high winds and hail and provisions that take flood and wildfire into consideration.
For system built homes like those offered by LASBH, the "Fortified" designation is granted once the home is permanently sited and an inspection shows elevation and connection details meet IBHS requirements.
Louisiana System Built Homes was founded after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. "In an effort to rebuild the coast, people needed affordable, energy efficient, quality homes built to a higher standard of construction than previously offered in factory-built or site-built homes," said LASBH Founder Aubrey Shoemake. "We are proud that we can build homes in a timely manner while achieving the 'Fortified' standard, which is important to us as well as our customers."
To promote safer construction in Louisiana, American National Property And Casualty Company (ANPAC) is offering a 25 percent discount off the hurricane portion of a homeowner's policy for homes built to the Fortified...for safer living(R) standard. Homes must also meet other ANPAC underwriting requirements. ANPAC is an IBHS member company.
"ANPAC adopted the Fortified...for safer living(R) model after the Gulf Coast was devastated in 2005," said ANPAC Agent Doug Jones. "ANPAC believes that homes within 100 miles of the coast should be built to a higher standard. The discount we offer can reduce the insurance cost by hundreds of dollars per year by protecting against the major risks Louisiana residents face."
The Institute for Business & Home Safety is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry that works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices. Visit IBHS online at http://www.DisasterSafety.org.