Texas Ranks Low in Study of Building Codes

TCAIS looks forward to working with policymakers to address this important issue.

Texas trails most coastal states when it comes to instituting and enforcing building codes, according to a new residential building code analysis recently released by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Texas scored a dismal 18 points (out of 100) in the survey, lower than all but two of the 18 states along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast.

Though Texas has adopted a statewide building code, the law allows municipalities to adopt weaker standards that set out in the code. Our low score in the IBHS survey is the result of the widespread lowering of standards in various areas allowed by current law, a lack of inspection and enforcement, and a lack of registration and licensing rules for various building trades.

The report bolsters TCAIS' long standing call for the adoption and better enforcement of nationally recognized building codes. Fortunately, the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee will meet this year to “review housing and development codes, and guidelines for structures in areas prone to natural disasters, and make recommendations on how these structures can be 'hardened' to avoid loss.” The IBHS report provides an important look into

TCAIS looks forward to working with the committee on this charge. Good building codes, properly enforced, will save property and lives. They also will help insurers evaluate and manage the risk of property damage in our catastrophe-prone state. Damage to homes built to a strong code is less likely or less severe, leading to fewer losses and lower cost insurance claims.

Read report here.

III - Tips for Planning a Super Bowl Party; Serve Alcohol Responsibly: Review Your Insurance

This Sunday, millions of Americans will drive to a friend or family member’s house to watch Super Bowl XLVI. While the big game is one of the most exciting events of the football season, it is also one of the most dangerous as roads are filled with too many impaired drivers wending their way back home after the parties. 

If you are planning to host a Super Bowl party, the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). suggests the following:

• Make sure you understand your state laws. Before sending out party invitations, familiarize yourself with your state’s social host liability laws.
• Speak with your insurance agent or company representative about your homeowners coverage and any exclusions, conditions or limitations your policy might have for this kind of risk. Homeowners insurance usually provides some liquor liability coverage, but it is typically limited to $100,000 to $300,000, depending on the policy, which might not be enough.
• Consider venues other than your home for the party. Hosting your party at a restaurant or bar with a liquor license, rather than at your home, will help minimize liquor liability risks.
• Hire a professional bartender. Most bartenders are trained to recognize signs of intoxication and are better able to limit consumption by partygoers.
• Encourage guests to pick a designated driver who will refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages so that he or she can drive other guests home.
• Be a responsible host. Limit your own alcohol intake so that you will be better able to judge your guests’ sobriety.
• Offer non-alcoholic beverages and always serve food. Eating and drinking plenty of water, or other non-alcoholic beverages, can help counter the effects of alcohol.
• Do not pressure guests to drink or rush to refill their glasses when empty. And never serve alcohol to guests who are visibly intoxicated.
• Stop serving liquor toward the end of the evening. Switch to coffee, tea and soft drinks.
• If guests drink too much or seem too tired to drive home, call a cab, arrange a ride with a sober guest or have them sleep at your home.
• Encourage all your guests to wear seatbelts as they drive home. Studies show that seatbelts save lives.

Read more.