Building codes should require continuous connection from roof to foundation, says IBHS chief

“One of the most effective ways to greatly increase a building’s strength and safety during hurricanes, tornadoes and straight-line windstorms is to be sure the building is tied together properly,” says Julie Rochman, president and CEO of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). “The cost for strapping to provide a continuous connection from the roof to the foundation is less than $1,500 to $2,000 for a home or small business,” Rochman told a Congressional Subcommittee. “A continuous load path should be a feature of residential and commercial construction everywhere in this country, and it could be through building codes.”

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