IBHS Updates for Connecticut Homes & Businesses

In recent news, the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) released an up-to-date version of its ‘Rating the States’ report. The report does not necessarily admonish or reward states; its purpose is to provide 18 hurricane-prone states with the resources (engineering expertise, data collection and analysis) to protect their homes and businesses. Furthermore, it hopes to motivate states, such as Connecticut to implement any changes to their building code systems (code adoption/enforcement, code official training/certification, and lastly, licensing requirement for construction trades).

Due to the severity of recent hurricanes, such as Hurricane Sandy, all 18 states are encouraged to maximize the benefits of IBHS’s updates. Although it will certainly require a large sum of money, it’s an investment worth considering. After all, we’ve seen just how much hurricanes can cost.

Connecticut received 81 points in its original report and is said to have taken positive action. IBHS states that Connecticut is still utilizing 2003 ICC codes, while they anxiously wait to adopt the 2009 edition of the IRC. However, the long process of adopting the 2009 edition of the IRC (instead of 2012s) gives Connecticut residents a reason to worry. Although the Connecticut Code and Standards Committee have already completed is review, the state legislature may not approve the updated editions of codes until fall of this year.

Since it’s still hurricane season, residents are still encouraged to prepare for potential tropical and winter storms by drafting an evacuation route, creating a first aid kit and purchasing Connecticut flood insurance.

Byrnes Agency has been providing communities throughout Connecticut and neighboring states with business and individual insurance programs and services for seven decades. When we opened our doors in 1932, we made a commitment to dedicate ourselves to putting our clients first. Generation after generation we’ve held true to that commitment and today we are one of the largest privately owned insurance agencies in Eastern Connecticut, and have expanded our services beyond our backyard and borders.

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