What is the Windstorm Inspection Program?

General

1.      When and by whom did this requirement for windstorm inspections begin?

         The requirement was enacted by the Texas Legislature in 1987 (HB 2012) to mitigate losses to structures due to hurricanes along the Texas Gulf Coast. The inspection process through the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) began on January 1, 1988.

2.      Who does the Windstorm Inspection Program apply to?

         The windstorm Inspection Program only applies to structures located in the designated catastrophe areas (refer to Appendix C), known as Texas’ First Tier Counties: Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Willacy and certain cities east of State Highway 146 in Harris County (La Porte, Morgan’s Point, Pasadena, Seabrook, Shoreacres). The designated catastrophe areas, designated as such by the Commissioner of TDI, need the windstorm and hail portion of their homeowner’s insurance policy to be provided by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).

3.      What is the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association?

TWIA is the “insurer of last resort” and provides windstorm and hail insurance coverage for structures located in designated catastrophe areas along the Texas Gulf Coast.

4.      What is the Coastal Barrier Resource Area?

There are certain areas along the Texas Gulf Coast which are located in areas that have been designated by the federal government as Coastal Barrier Resource Areas (COBRA).

Construction in these areas may not be eligible for wind and hail coverage through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). In order for a structure located in a COBRA area to be considered insurable property for wind and hail insurance through TWIA, that property must have had a building permit or plat filed with the municipality, the county or the United States Army Corps of Engineers before June 11, 2003.

To determine if a property is located within a COBRA zone, you can contact the local county permitting office, the district offices for Fish and Wildlife (Clear Lake (281) 286-8282 or Corpus Christi (361) 888-3167) or the local TDI Windstorm field office.

5.      How do I qualify for windstorm and hail insurance coverage through TWIA?

         To qualify for windstorm and hail insurance coverage through TWIA, new structures, alterations, additions, or repairs to existing structures, including re-roofs or roof repairs, located in the designated catastrophe areas must be constructed and inspected according to the building specifications adopted by TDI.

6.      Can structures built prior to January 1, 1988 obtain insurance through TWIA?

         Structures built prior to January 1, 1988 are eligible for insurance through TWIA under certain conditions. Please contact TDI (refer to Appendix A). Structures built prior to January 1, 1988 that have coverage through TWIA MUST have all construction inspected and certified in order to remain covered through TWIA.

7.      What is the BC-10-85 Texas Windstorm Insurance Association form for Building Certification?

         The BC-10-85 Building Certificate is a form used by TWIA to qualify structures built prior to January 1, 1988 for eligibility of windstorm insurance. Please contact TWIA for complete information: www.twia.org.

8.      I just bought a new home and do not know if the house was ever inspected and certified by TDI, how do I find out?

         You or your insurance agent may call TDI’s Windstorm Inspection Division at 1-800-248-6032 or visit TDI’s website at www.tdi.state.tx.us/wind/index.html for any previous certifications (WPI-8) on your property. If there is a WPI-8 on file, it can be downloaded from the web.

9.      Are commercial structures required to follow the construction guidelines adopted by TDI?

         Yes, if the commercial structure will be insured for windstorm and hail coverage through TWIA. As a minimum, the structure must be built in accordance with building standards which have been adopted by TDI.

10.    I live in a city that has adopted TDI’s building standard. Before I am able to get a building permit, I must first prove that I have enrolled with TDI for an inspection. How do I get proof of enrollment?

         You should contact your local Windstorm inspection field office and make application for inspection (refer to Appendix A). Once processed, TDI will post on its website that an application has been set up.

11.    How do I obtain a copy of the International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC)?

         The codes can be purchased from the International Code Council (ICC) www.iccsafe.org.

12.    Am I able to obtain a listing of approved windows, doors and other products that are accepted by TDI?

         Yes. Product evaluations can be obtained by contacting your local field office (see Appendix A) or can be viewed and downloaded from TDI’s website www.tdi.state.us/wind/index.html.

13.    I understand that insurance credits are available from TWIA if I construct my home in a certain manner or if I install exterior opening protection. How can I find out more?

         Windstorm and hail insurance discounts are available for new homes that are constructed in accordance with the International Residential Code (IRC) and the International Building Code (IBC). In addition, a discount is available for existing structures that retrofit their exterior openings with windborne debris resistant products. To learn more, contact TWIA at (800) 788-8247 or visit their website www.twia.org.

14.    I want to install windborne debris resistant products to obtain retrofit insurance credits for protection of all exterior openings; however, I would like to install them a few at a time. How do I go about this?

         An inspection must be made for each windborne debris resistant product that is installed. If a Texas licensed professional engineer performs the inspections, the applicable WPI-2-BC Inspection Verification form must be submitted for each inspection. TDI will keep on file a record of each inspection that has been made. When the final windborne debris resistant product has been installed and inspected, the engineer will check off the appropriate box of the applicable WPI-2-BC Inspection Verification form, which informs TDI that all exterior openings are protected with windborne debris resistant products.

15.    My new home will be complete in the next few days. I do not want my a/c unit installed until such time as we move in. Will I be able to have my home certified if the a/c unit has not yet been installed?

         Yes. Once all required inspections are performed and approved, a WPI-8 will be issued for the home excluding the a/c unit. When and if the a/c unit is to be installed, call for the inspection. A separate WPI-8 will be issued once the a/c unit is installed and inspected.

16.    What is a “roof pitch”?

         The roof pitch is defined as the rise of the roof divided by the total roof span (width).

For more information contact: Windstorm@tdi.state.tx.us