National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program Office

NIST is designated by Congress as one of four agencies comprising the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP) created by the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004 (PL 108-360.) The other participating agencies are the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program is currently lead by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).  

NIST's goal for its research and development effort under NWIRP is to improve model codes, standards, design guidance, and practices for the construction and rehabilitation of buildings, structures, and lifelines. This program will (1) support the development of instrumentation, data processing, archival capabilities, and standards for the instrumentation and its deployment, to measure wind, wind loading, and other properties of severe wind and structural response; (2) improve knowledge of the impact of severe wind on buildings, structures, lifelines, and communities; (3) develop cost-effective windstorm impact reduction tools, methods, and technologies; (4) work in conjunction with private-sector organizations and other appropriate Federal agencies to support the development of wind standards, model codes, and better building practices.

The program will coordinate with NIST's Disaster and Failure Studies Program and with the other NWIRP agencies and stakeholders to respond to disaster and failure events following severe windstorm events, and will also support the development of tools and methods for the collection of data on the loss of and damage to structures, and data on surviving structures after severe such events.