FEMA. Mitigation Minute for May 20, 2020. Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study of Loss Prevention. Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study of Loss Prevention is part of FEMA’s ongoing efforts to analyze the effects of adopting modern, hazard-resistant building codes. This multi-phase, nationwide study quantifies the physical and associated economic losses from flooding, hurricane, wind and earthquakes that were avoided by constructing buildings according to modern, hazard-resistant building codes and standards. Billions of Dollars Saved. Preliminary findings show that adopting hazard-resistant codes will avoid billions of dollars in future losses and provide a sustainable return on hazard mitigation investment. Photo of Building Codes Save: A Nationwide Study of Loss Prevention Fact Sheet. The study analyzes nearly 17 million buildings constructed in the U.S. over the past 20 years after the launch of the International Building Codes® and the International Residential Codes® in 2000 and compares losses as if the same buildings were designed to 1990s-era building codes. The study: 1. Incentivizes whole-community mitigation. Demonstrates the value of adopting and enforcing hazard-resistant building codes nationwide. Incentivizes building code adoption to reduce disaster losses. 2. Quantifies Disaster Risk Reduction. Identifies anticipated damages prevented during natural hazards due to provisions in modern building codes. Supports FEMA Strategic Plan, National Mitigation Investment Strategy, and building more resilient communications. Loss Modeling Framework Using HAZUS. FEMA used their GIS-based software, Hazus, to estimate the losses avoided. For each scenario, FEMA will compute the difference of the results with and without the use of modern building code provisions. Covered Hazards. Three dominant natural hazards in the United States are covered in the study. Flood, Hurricane Wind, and Earthquake. Modeling Platform. HAZUS is used to evaluate pre- and post-code building performance. Physical, Building Code Adoption, and Economic. The nationwide study is expected to be released in Summer 2020. To learn more about the study visit fema.gov/building-codes-save-nationwide-study-loss-prevention.
For more information about Building Code Resources, visit: www.fema.gov/building-code-resources.
To view FEMA's Building Codes Toolkit, visit: www.fema.gov/building-codes-toolkit.
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About "Mitigation Minute"
This series is provided by FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance Division. The "Mitigation Minute" contains a weekly fact about grants and resources provided across the country to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and does not endorse any non-government organizations, entities or services.
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