Despite the fact that the Southeast has experienced more billion-dollar disasters in thepast 30 years than the rest of the country combined, a number ofcoastal states took no action to improve their building codesystems since 2012, and a few have weaker systems in place,according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety(IBHS).

In its 2015 “Ratingthe States” report, IBHS graded the 18 most hurricane-pronestates located along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast ontheir building regulations. “Residential building codes are minimumlife safety standards used in the design, construction andmaintenance of homes,” the report stresses. “The function ofbuilding codes is to increase the safety and integrity of homes toreduce deaths, injuries and property damage from a wide range ofhazards.”

The report assessed codes through a series of 47 questionsconcerning code adoption and enforcement; building officialtraining and certification; and licensing requirements forconstruction trades. Each question was assigned a value reflectingits importance in promoting life safety and reducing propertylosses, with the sum total of the values adding up to 100 points.In general, then, a higher score on the report is better.

IBHS previously published a “Rating the States” report in 2012.Comparing the two editions, IBHS found that most states with strongbuildings codes in 2012 remain committed to building safety. Thesestates have updated their laws to the International ResidentialCode (IRC), endorsed by the International Code Council, or are inthe process or doing so.

Here are the latest findings.

Delaware

2015 score: 17
2012 score: 17

Areas to improve: Delaware does not have a statewide residentialbuilding code, except for a plumbing code. The state has no programto license building officials. General contractors and roofingcontractors are not licensed.

(Shutterstock/Fotoluminate LLC)

Alabama

2015 score: 26
2012 score: 18

Areas to improve: The state has no program to license buildingofficials, and roofing contractors are not required to hold alicense. Alabama bases its building codes on the 2009 IRC, butlocal jurisdictions are allowed to enforce different editions ofresidential building codes.

(Shutterstock/Jorg Hackemann)

Mississippi

2015 score: 28
2012 score: 4

The state passed landmark legislation in 2014,creating its first state building code law. Prior to enactment ofthe new law, only seven counties were required to enforce the windand flood requirements of the 2003 IRC.

Areas to improve: About 50% of the state’s population lives inunincorporated areas, which are not required to adopt the state’snew building code laws. Mississippi has not established a statewideprogram for licensing or training of building officials, andgeneral contractors are the only trade required to obtain alicense.

Shutterstock/f11photo)

Texas

2015 score: 36
2012 score: 18

Areas to improve: The state is working off of the outdated 2006IRC, and building codes are enforced by municipality. Texas has nostatewide program to license building officials.

(Shutterstock/Laura Stone)

New Hampshire

2015 score: 48
2012 score: 49

Areas to improve: The state has no program to license buildingofficials. New Hampshire also does not require enforcement of itsbuilding codes at the local level.

(Shutterstock/Joseph Sohm)

Maine

2015 score: 55
2012 score: 64

Areas to improve: A major weakness in the state regulations(which are based on the 2009 IRC) allows municipalities with fewerthan 4,000 people to choose not to have or enforce a buildingcode.

(Shutterstock/Albert Pego)

New York

2015 score: 56
2012 score: 60

Areas to improve: With the exception of New York City, the 2010Residential Code of New York is enforced throughout the state,which is based on the 2006 IRC. The state does not requirelicensing of general, plumbing, mechanical, electrical or roofingcontractors and does not require continuing education courses.

(Shutterstock/Sean Pavone)

Georgia

2015 score: 69
2012 score: 66

Areas to improve: The state should make adoption and enforcementof the statewide code by all jurisdictions mandatory. The statealso removed the 2012 IRC requirement for automatic residentialfire sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings.

(Shutterstock/Jon Bilous)

Maryland

2015 score: 78
2012 score: 73

The state improved its scores by enacting two separate laws thatprevent local jurisdictions from weakening statewide building codeprovisions regarding residential fire sprinkler requirements andwind design and windborne debris requirements. Maryland is the onlystate in the report that adopted the 2009 IRC residential firesprinkler requirements.

Areas to improve: Maryland does not license inspectorsseparately for residential construction, or require completion ofcode training classes prior to certification. It also does not havea system for the public to file complaints against inspectors.

Massachusetts

2015 score: 79
2012 score: 87

Areas to improve: The state is still enforcing the 2009 editionof the IRC, without provisions for automatic residential firesprinklers. Massachusetts also passed legislation—related to windspeed and exposure categories—that weakens wind provisions in theIRC. The state also lacks requirements for code-specific trainingclasses for building officials, and continuing education trainingclasses for residential code recertification.

(Shutterstock/Jorg Hackemann)

Louisiana

2015 score: 82
2012 score: 73

Areas to improve: The state adopted the 2012 IRC, but withoutthe provisions for automatic residential fire sprinklers. Louisianaalso approved wind speed maps without following high-wind designrequirements. Electrical, mechanical and roofing contractors arenot required to take continuing education classes.

North Carolina

2015 score: 84
2012 score: 81

Areas to improve: The state adopted an amended version of the2009 IRC and renamed it the 2012 North Carolina State BuildingCode, which does not include provisions for automatic residentialfire sprinklers. Future adoption of the IRC is also in doubt, asstate laws allow for the adoption of model codes every six years,which means North Carolina won’t update codes until 2018, and thosewould be based on a nine-year-old model.

The state’s building code council also approved weakening of thewall-bracing provisions in coastal hurricane-prone regions, byallowing lower wind speed bracing requirements to be used in higherwind regions than what’s intended in the model code. The councilalso eliminated permanent anchors installed around glazed openings(windows).

Except for electric contractors, trades are not required tocomplete continuing education classes to renew licenses and thereare no licensing requirements for roofing contractors.

(Shutterstock/Jon Bilous)

Rhode Island

2015 score: 87
2012 score: 78

Areas to improve: The state adopted the 2012 edition of the IRC,without provisions for automatic residential fire sprinklers. RhodeIsland also allows design of partially enclosed buildings, whichmakes a structure more secure during a storm, but also increasesthe likelihood that wind and water can enter a home.

Except for electrical contractors, trade professions are notrequired to complete continuing education to renew licenses.

(Shutterstock/Sean Pavone)

Connecticut

2015 score: 88
2012 score: 81

Areas to improve: The state just adopted the 2009 IRC last year,without provisions for automatic residential fire sprinklers, withpossible adoption of the 2012 IRC this fall. Although Connecticutrequires licensing for all construction trades, only electrical andplumbing contractors are required to take continuing education tomaintain their licenses.

(Shutterstock/Sean Pavone)

New Jersey

2015 score: 89
2012 score: 93

Areas to improve: The state is still enforcing 2009 IRC buildingcodes and plans to bypass the 2012 edition, but will possibly adopt2015 codes without provisions for automatic residential firesprinklers. The state requires registration for homebuilders,however an exam is not required for obtaining a license and thereis no continuing education requirement for renewal. Registeredroofing contractors also are not required to take an exam orcomplete continuing education.

(Shutterstock/Fotoluminate LLC)

South Carolina

2015 score: 92
2012 score: 84

Areas to improve: The state’s Building Code Council removedrequirements for automatic residential fire sprinklers. The statedoes not mandate continuing education for renewal of licenses inany category

(Shutterstock/FloridaStock)

Florida

2015 score: 94
2012 score: 95

Areas to improve: The state does not require continuingeducation for building officials specific to the residential codeto maintain certification. Automatic residential fire sprinklerscontinue to be non-mandatory.

(Shutterstock/JBicking)

Virginia

2015 score: 95
2012 score: 95

The state earned the highest score in the 2015 report card, dueto its code adoption and enforcement program. Virginia encouragesresidential sprinklers by providing incentives, such as reducedfire access road requirements and increased fire hydrant spacing tooffset costs when residential dwellings are equipped with automaticfire sprinklers.

Areas to improve: General contractors and roofing contractorsare not required to complete continuing education to renewlicenses. The state also allows the use of the 2009 VirginiaUniform Statewide Construction Code (instead of the 2012 version)until July 15.