Water Intrusion Prolific Following Sandy

Bry Shields, CEO of Mobile-basedShields Insurance Agency, sent BBN some hurricane-focused advice. He said that while the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) guidelines have performed very well at minimizing loss directly related to wind load (like windows busting out and roofs peeling back), the IBHS guidelines and Mobile and Baldwin building codes do not address standards for the prevention of water intrusion (wind-driven rain). “Doors and windows need to be installed a certain way and with moisture barriers to prevent this,” he added. “When 120-mph winds are blowing rain at vulnerable openings for 5-plus hr, the damage can be extensive.” For more on insurance-related matters, such as assessing risks and preventing cyberattacks and mold, visit Shields’blog.