By Ernie Casados
Market Development Representative, Gulf States
Ecasados@steelframing.org

Insurance premium discounts are available in 2008 to homeowners in Louisiana who build or retrofit a structure to comply with the requirements of the State Uniform Construction Code, install damage mitigation improvements, or retrofit their property utilizing construction techniques demonstrated to reduce the amount of loss from a windstorm or hurricane.
The premium discounts apply to both new and existing homes and are something that everyone who has incorporated one or more of the incentives will benefit from once their insurance company has filed for the rate reductions with the Department of Insurance," said Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon.

Premium discounts are granted based on damage mitigation improvements and construction techniques. These include but are not limited to: buildings designed to code; roof bracing; roof-to-wall strength; roof deck attachment; wall-to-floor-to-foundation strength; and other mitigation improvements and/or construction techniques that the insurer has determined to reduce the risk of loss due to wind.

Inspection and certification must be performed by a building code enforcement officer, registered architect or engineer, or a registered third-party provider authorized by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council to perform building inspections.

Over the past 2 years, SFA regional and head office staff have provided training for over 120 design, engineering and code official professionals in Louisiana.