Office Of Insurance Regulation Releases Study Of Appurtenant Structures

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation this week issued the results of a study on “Evaluation and Report on the Insurability of Attached and Free Standing Structures.”

This study was commissioned by the 2006 Florida Legislature following extensive damage of exterior structures during the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes, and is the first such review in the nation.

A copy of the study can be accessed by clicking here.

Read news coverage by The Miami Herald on the release of the report here. 

Should you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact this office.

 

 

TALLAHASSEE (05/11/2007) – The Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) issued a final report titled, “Evaluation and Report on the Insurability of Attached and Free Standing Structures.” The report fulfills the requirements of Section 38 of Senate Bill 1980 passed by the 2006 Florida Legislative Session aimed at determining the impact appurtenant structures have on storm damage, and ultimately insurance costs.

During the 2004-2005 hurricane seasons, there were anecdotal reports that appurtenant structures such as pool enclosures, garages, carports, and sunrooms substantially contributed to the total storm damage either directly through loss, or indirectly as wind-borne debris. The Florida Legislature required the Office to study this aspect of storm damage, and provided funding for this study. The Office contracted with an independent expert, Applied Research Associates, Inc., to complete the study.

The study showed the prevalence of exterior structures in Florida (on average one per site-built home, and three per manufactured home), as well as the relative value of these structures (10 percent of the total home value of site-built structures, and 19 percent of the total value of manufactured homes.). While the study did note exterior structures are highly vulnerable to hurricane damage, the study identified aluminum structures as most problematic.

The study concluded aluminum structures are not usually designed by professional engineers, and when these structures fail, the failings are generally catastrophic requiring complete replacement, which increases insurance losses.

“The mixture of factors that determine total storm damage is extremely complicated,” noted Commissioner Kevin McCarty, “but this study demonstrates that appurtenant structures, most notably aluminum structures, are an important component that increases storm damage costs. The State of Florida needs to design additional building code requirements for these structures in order to mitigate storm damage, and ultimately, lower the cost of insurance for our policyholders.”

Click here to view a copy of the report.