ICLR Friday Forum: Building Codes Prevent Wind Damage (June 12, 2020) скачать в хорошем качестве

ICLR Friday Forum: Building Codes Prevent Wind Damage (June 12, 2020)

On June 12, 2020, ICLR conducted a Friday Forum webinar led by Dr. Kevin Simmons, Austin College, titled 'Building Codes Prevent Wind Damage'. Engineers have designed structures that limit damage from some of nature’s most powerful wind storms. But before those innovations can do their job they must be incorporated into common construction practice either through inclusion in building codes or through increased demand by homebuyers. The cost of homeownership includes more than the purchase price. But because codes aim to minimize first costs, new design tends to be economically inefficient. It’s here that economists can demonstrate resilient construction is cost effective with a positive return on investment in areas where damaging wind storms are common. Analysis from Florida after Hurricane Andrew and from Moore Oklahoma after it changed its wind ordinance demonstrates that resilience is worthwhile, showing benefit-cost ratios for better design on the order of 4:1 and higher with no effect on affordability or market activity. Dr. Kevin Simmons is known internationally for his work on the economics of natural hazards. His research has been highlighted and he has been interviewed by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS Evening News, Weather Channel, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, Christian Science Monitor and USA Today among others. He has published more than 100 articles and co-authored 2 books with Dan Sutter, Economic and Societal Impacts of Tornadoes and Deadly Season: Analyzing the 2011 Tornado Outbreaks. Dr. Simmons served as a Fulbright Scholar to Norway in 2010 and again to Canada in 2014 as well as a Visiting Scholar with NOAA in 2017. Currently, he is a Professor of Economics at Austin College where he holds the endowed Clara R. and Leo F. Corrigan Chair of Economics.