The institute, in an update of its 2015 findings, gave Florida 94 points out of 100, placing it just behind Virginia's 95. In 2012, Florida and Virginia tied at 95.
The report's release came the day of the opening session of the National Hurricane Conference, meeting in Austin, Texas.
The 2015 edition of the institute's "Rating the States" report found that most states with strong building code systems in place at the time of the original 2012 report either updated their codes or are in the process of doing so, and have maintained enforcement.
Florida dropped a point because it did not update its codes to the 2012 International Residential Code, although it is in the process of doing so now, IBHS President Julie Rochman said. The Washington, D.C.-based International Code Council was founded in 1994 to streamline nationwide building rules with a single set of codes. It updates codes every three years.
"Unfortunately, a number of states took no action to improve their code systems, and a few have weaker systems in place now than in 2012," an IBHS release said.
In a press conference Wednesday, Rochman stressed that strong building codes are the minimum of what a state should be doing for hurricane preparation.
"In no other aspect of your life would you accept the minimum," Rochman said. "We're spending tens of billions in some years to rebuild structures that were damaged by Mother Nature."
She also said in a press release, "When disasters strike, communities with strong, well-enforced building codes fare better than those with weak or no codes. When buildings are stronger and more resilient, property damage is greatly reduced, home and business owners are able to recover faster, the local economy and tax base are maintained, and the amount of government disaster aid is decreased."
The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety is a nonprofit group financially supported by the property insurance industry.
In the 2012 study, which the institute said was the first state-by-state assessment of its kind, the institute cited Florida's mandatory programs for code officials' certification, training and continuing education, as well as its required licensing of general, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and roofing contractors.
Florida's codes underwent a major overhaul after Hurricane Andrew slammed South Florida in 1992. Some of those code changes started only in Miami-Dade County, but they have since been made into a uniform code for the entire state, including Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast.
A study by the institute, the University of Florida and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, following Hurricane Charley's strike on Florida in 2004, found modern building codes reduced the cost of insurance losses by 42 percent and the frequency of insured losses by 60 percent.
The institute's 2015 study assessed the progress of the states with coasts on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic in strengthening home building code systems since the 2012 report. It evaluated 47 aspects to assess states' residential building codes and enforcement, building official training, and licensing requirements.
©2015 The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
