Wind Mitigation Programs

Effective July 1, 2009 MWUA policies may receive credits for risks constructed in jurisdictions which have been graded with the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS) for residential and commercial structures. BCEGS develops classifications of 1 thru 10 for a community based on the adequacy of its building code and the effectiveness of its enforcement of that code. A copy of the certificate of occupancy for the location must be provided to MWUA in order for the credit to be applied. A Certificate of Completion does not qualify.  A Certificate of Occupancy for an addition or renovation does not qualify  The Certificate of Occupancy (CO) must be for the entire structure being constructed to the code enforced at the time. The MWUA will use the BCEGS classifications as established by the Mississippi State Rating Bureau (MSRB).  The MWUA Manual of Rules and Procedures provides the premium credits for each BCEGS classification.  Note the classification for each jurisdiction is based on the effectiveness of building code enforcement and the BCEG credit for each classification is a community based credit recognizing the community aspect of building better and stronger in each jurisdiction.  The classification and credit will reflect the code enforced at the time the home was originally constructed.  Some older homes constructed prior to a given jurisdiction's adoption and enforcement of International Building Codes are not eligible for a BCEGS credit. 

Note:  Dwellings with original built new construction dates greater than 20 years old (verified by the original certificate of occupancy on file) will receive 50% of the otherwise applicable BCEGS MWUA premium credit as outlined in the manual of rules and procedures.  Dwellings more than 20 years old or older will in essence only be eligible for 50% of the classification table posted premium credits.  Also note, structures qualifying for an IBHS Fortified for Safer Living new home certification qualify for the BCEGS 1 individual risk credit in addition to the fortified home premium credits . All other individual risk wind mitigation premium credit programs require acceptance of the community BCEGS credit applicable, or individual risk certified applicable credit (whichever is best for the insured) since the two credits do not stack together. 

Information Recap – Fortified New Home or Wind Mitigated Existing Home

The following Mitigation Enhancements receive Premium Credits Available for MWUA Dwelling Policies, Updated 9-23-15.

Part I: New Home Only Option:

A.     BCEGS 1 Individual Risk

• Manual rules allow a non commercial dwelling homeowner to hire a licensed engineer or architect for certification that the dwelling under construction meets the current code requirements of the most recent edition of the International Building Code/International Residential Code.
• In essence, rather than be rated for BCEGS credits based on the community rating where the home is being built that is based on local code enforcement for certificates of occupancy, the owner is going for the individual risk rating for BCEGS 1 credit (25% credit) which if certified by the engineer would be eligible for credit when the certification form is received by MWUA. 
• The certification form requires the engineer to personally sign and attest that the new dwelling plans were reviewed for design, the construction process was observed, and the final completed condition is certified as meeting structure requirements including roof, walls, windows, doors, and foundation (wind pressure requirements) of the current IBC/IRC code.  If the construction is elevated, the engineer must also certify the structural members are designed and constructed to current code requirements.  The certification form requires the engineer maintain documentation of the inspection process for at least 10 years and agree to provide copies to MWUA on request.  MWUA management must approve these engineer certified forms before applying any credits.
• The MWUA BCEGS 1 Individual Risk credit is 25%, no other mitigation, or community BCEG credits apply.

Part II: New Home and Existing Home Options:

A.     IBHS Fortified Home  Fortifed Roof (formerly known as Bronze), Silver, or Gold Certification: 

• The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety Fortified Home Program is designed to provide property owner peace of mind with the knowledge their home is built to last, is built to protect the family belongings and heirlooms, is built to be more sustainable over time and energy efficient, improve the dwelling market value with the “Fortified Home” designation, and improve both community and individual homeowner post disaster loss recovery and expense.

• The Fortified Roof (formerly known as Bronze level) Certification is the base level and most easily achieved level of certification.  Requirements of this level address the roof system, attic ventilation system, and portions of the Gable end wall system in some cases.  This level includes requirements on roof decking, roof sheathing, fastening of the roof deck sheathing, sealing/waterproofing of the roof decking, wind rating and proper installation of the roof covering, remaining roof life, drip edging, attic ventilation, roof mounted vents, soffits, gable end wall system, gable end vent protections, roof to wall connections, toe nails/connectors/clips, wraps/straps, and other facets of roofing systems.

• The Silver level Certification builds on the Fortified Roof (Bronze) level requirements and focuses on protecting openings, attached structures, and in some cases gables.  Garage door, windows, roof skylights, and other opening protections including wind rating of installed products are added to the base Bronze certification requirements. 

• The Gold level Certification is designed to minimize damage and loss resulting from a moderate level hurricane.  Gold requirements focus on design pressure ratings of windows, doors, skylights, structure continuous load path, sheathing of exterior walls, and chimneys that may exist on the structure.  The gold requirements are added to the base bronze and silver requirements at this level.  It is very difficult to achieve silver or gold certification on an existing home (those two levels are most often only achieved on new home construction planned ahead to meet the certification requirements). 

• Currently the MWUA credits for IBHS Fortified Certification are:
  • Fortified Roof (formerly known as Bronze) – 20%
  • Silver – 25%
  • Gold – 30%
  • (Plus an additional 5% credit if the MWUA site hazard inspection requirements are confirmed complete). 

IBHS Fortified Overview - 3 Steps to IBHS Fortified Roof Certification

IBHS Fortified Roof - Re-roofing Checklist as of 11-4-2020

• To find a FORTIFIED Evaluator or Roofer, click here.

• For disaster recovery information, click here

Information for Roofers:

• For more information on FORTIFIED Roof, click here.
• For technical requirements for FORTIFIED Roof™, click here
• For additional resources for contractors and for information on the FORTIFIED Roof online training, click here.  

B.      Semi Wind Resistive Construction Certification 

A homeowner can hire a licensed engineer or architect to inspect the new construction or existing completed dwelling to certify the design, construction and present condition meet semi-wind construction requirements.  Since this construction designation requires concrete or solid masonry wall systems it is expensive to build and achieve. 

DEFINITION OF SEMI – WIND RESISTIVE CONSTRUCTION

The definition for semi-wind resistive construction:

    WALLS:  Must be one of the following:

A.  Constructed of masonry, (Solid Brick, Stone, Solid or Hollow Block, or Reinforced Concrete), both bearing and non-bearing; or

B.  Skeleton reinforced concrete. Heavy skeleton steel.

    FLOORS: Must be of the following:

A.  Reinforced concrete, gypsum, or pre-cast slabs properly supported in accordance with the most current edition of the International Building Code.

    ROOF:  The roof deck and supports must be one of the following:

A.  Pre-cast concrete, gypsum, or other noncombustible pre-cast slabs, poured concrete, or gypsum, or steel; all properly supported and anchored in accordance with the most current International Building code; or

B.  Roof deck assemblies listed by Underwriters Laboratories for wind uplift Class 30 or higher and less than Class 90.The installation shall be properly anchored against wind uplift pressures relating to the Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated listed design. The overall design shall be certified having met the Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated specifications by a registered professional engineer or architect submitted on this form with the professional seal applied; or

C.  Noncombustible structural wood fiber slabs not less than 2 inches thick on noncombustible supports and properly supported and anchored in accordance with the  most current International Building Code; or

D.  Wood, with poured reinforced concrete or gypsum slab, not less than 2 inches thick and properly supported and anchored in accordance with the most current International Building Code.

The semi-wind base rates are materially discounted and require a referral to MWUA for a rate quotation.  MWUA is unable to apply semi-wind resistive construction rating without the fully completed and engineer/architect certified form MW-SWR (09-15).

Note – the community BCEG credit for the dwelling location based on certificate of occupancy applies to the discounted semi-wind resistive rating (BCEG credit applies if eligible by location with a certificate of occupancy). 

C.  Wind Resistive Construction Certification 

A homeowner can hire a licensed engineer or architect to inspect the new construction or existing completed dwelling to certify the design, construction and present condition meet wind resistive construction requirements.  Since this construction designation requires concrete or solid masonry wall systems and Underwriters Laboratories wind uplift 90 or higher roof deck assemblies, building to this standard can be expensive and difficult to achieve.

DEFINITION OF WIND RESISTIVE CONSTRUCTION

The definition for wind resistive construction is as follows:

WALLS: Must be one of the following:

     A. Constructed of masonry, (Solid Brick, Stone, Solid or Hollow Block, or Reinforced

          Concrete), both bearing and non-bearing; or

FLOORS: Must be one of the following:

     A. Reinforced concrete, gypsum, or pre-cast slabs properly supported in accordance with

         the most current edition of the International Building Code.

ROOF: The roof deck and supports must be one of the following:

     A. Poured reinforced concrete or gypsum not less than 2 inches thick properly supported

          and anchored in accordance with the most current International Building Code; or

     B. Roof deck assemblies listed by Underwriters Laboratories for wind uplift Class 90 or

          higher. The installation shall be properly anchored against wind uplift pressures

         relating to the Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated listed design. The overall design

         shall be certified having met the Underwriters Laboratories Incorporated specifications

         by a registered professional engineer or architect submitted on this form with the

         professional seal applied.

The wind resistive base rates are materially discounted and require a referral to MWUA for a rate quotation.  MWUA is unable to apply wind resistive construction rating without the fully completed and engineer/architect certified form MW-WR (09-15).

Note – the community BCEG credit for the dwelling location based on certificate of occupancy applies to the discounted semi-wind resistive rating (BCEG credit applies if eligible by location with a certificate of occupancy).