The insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS)
Research Center is a unique, state-of-the-art, multihazard-applied
research facility in Chester County, S.C. The facility, which
opened in October 2010, enables researchers to more fully and
accurately evaluate various residential and commercial construction
materials and roof systems.
In August 2011, IBHS conducted a full-scale study of
wind-driven, water-penetrating openings in residential roof
systems. The study offered an opportunity to gain insight into roof
and ventilation system wind-driven water entry issues. The study
modeled real-world, post-event damage assessments in areas where
hurricane winds were strong enough to rip off roof coverings but
not strong enough to blow off roof sheathing.
During hurricanes and strong wind events, significant property
damage and extended occupant displacement routinely occur because
of water intrusion. In addition to wind-driven water pouring
in—or being blown through—seams between roof sheathing
elements when the primary roof covering is damaged and underlayment
is lost, water intrusion through residential roof systems can
originate from attic ventilation elements, such as ridge, gable-end
and soffit vents. This type of damage particularly is common in
inland areas where hurricane-strength winds occur but building
codes and standards are not as stringent as in...
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