Georgia homeowners might be a little less prepared for hurricanes if 2018 turns out to be a stormy year.
The state of Georgia’s rating from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety for residential building code systems slipped a point from the last rating three years ago.
Of 18 states that are considered to be “hurricane-prone,” the IBHS ranked Georgia No. 11 in terms of safety with a score of 68 out of 100. Georgia was rated 69 in 2015.
“Georgia is currently enforcing the 2012 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC), with state amendments consistent with the major provisions of the model code, except that the requirements for automatic residential fire sprinklers are optional in new one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses,” the 2018 report from the IBHS said. “In Georgia, the decision to enforce the building code is left up to local jurisdictions…To strengthen its building code system, Georgia should make adoption and enforcement of the statewide code by all jurisdictions throughout the state mandatory.”
The IBHS assessed several factors in compiling the ratings, such as code adoption and enforcement, building official training and certification, and licensing requirements for construction trades who implement building code provisions.
Florida’s residential building code systems ranked as No. 1 among “hurricane-prone” states on the list with a score of 95 out of 100.
