Planning for Severe Weather

Planning for Severe Weather:

Wind, Hail and Flood

Our risk control service is advisory only. We assume no responsibility for management or control of customer safety activities nor implementation of recommended corrective measures. The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards, or regulations. Please refer to the appropriate code-, standard-, or regulation-making authority for interpretation or clarification. Only your policy or contract can give actual terms, conditions and exclusions.

Liberty Mutual Insurance 2

Objectives & Agenda

Objective – provide guidance on mitigating the risk of severe storm perils to reduce the cost of loss

Agenda– High risk and cost of hail damage claims– Roof damage and controls– HVAC equipment damage and controls– Skylights damage and controls– Tornado preparedness– Loss Mitigation – after the damage– Loss Mitigation – business continuity


Welcome to Hail Alley

You can’t control the weather, but you can manage the loss!


Liberty Mutual Severe Storm Experience

*305 HAIL OCCURANCES BETWEEN JUNE 09 AND MAY 12 AMOUNTING TO ABOUT $55 MILLION IN LOSS – TX ONLY

2009 2010 2011 2012


Small


Medium


Large


XXX Large


What gets Damaged?

RoofHVAC equipmentSkylights


Roof Type – Hail Damage

Rubber Membrane

Steel RoofBUR Blister

Composition


Roof Susceptibility

Roof Type Built Up Roofs with Gravel

BallastBuilt Up Roof with smooth

or coated surfaceSingle ply's and

elastomericsMetal Roofs (varies with

gauge thickness) Composition Shingle

RoofingExpanded Urethane Foam

Impact Resistance 3 inches plus2 1/2 inches plus2 1/2 inches plus2 inches plus1 inch plus3/4 inch plus


Roof Damage Control

Repair blisters on roof coverings and uneven ballast distribution.Benefit – blistered roofs are more susceptible to damage,

and can grow larger over time, leaving the covering above the blister unattached to the roof. Hail may break the blister, allowing water to penetrate the roof covering, resulting in leaks that can cause damage to electrical equipment, mold development, etc.Increasing the ballast increases the protection available

to the roof and decreases the potential for damage.


Roof Damage Control

When building or replacing roof, specify an impact resistant roof covering to the contractor. Roof coverings are tested for impact by UL, and assigned a class of 1-4, with 4 having the most impact resistance.Benefit – impact resistant coverings can significantly

reduce your risk of damage and possibly save costs associated with total roof replacement.


Roof-Mounted Equipment


Damaged Roof-Mounted Equipment


Hail Damage Control

Install protective shields (hail guards) on all exposed equipment to provide better protection against hail damage.Benefits – the cost of installing a hail guard is cost

effective when related to what you will pay on your deductible. Most underwriters will provide pricing consideration for your property policy if you have hail guards and/or other similar controls in place. Lastly, improved energy efficiency because fins are not damaged.


Cost Effective Controls

Cost of installation – the cost of hail guards varies depending on the design, materials and amount of labor.Cost of Loss – depending upon the size of your business,

hail deductibles can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars; therefore, real cost savings are possible with a reasonable expense for installing guards.


HVAC Hail Guards


Left is protected (right is not) Fall protection, not hail.

Poor Examples of Protection


Hail Effects on Air Conditioner Performance

Proceedings of IMECE2007 - 415182007 ASME International Mechanical Engineering

Congress and ExpositionNovember 11-15, 2007, Seattle, WashingtonHVAC unit’s power consumption increases as the

percentage of dented area increases.


100% Flattened and Combed


Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)

At 41% damaged, efficiency decreased 6%; At 100% damaged, efficiency decreased 36%


Hail Damage Multiple Skylights

Skylights


Skylight Control

When replacing or installing skylights, pick the highest rated impact resistant skylight. Another control option for skylight protection is screens.

Benefit – these materials provide significant resistance to impact and may save costs associated with replacing skylights of inferior material or design.


Polycarbonate panel Protective Screen

Skylight Control


TORNADOS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTpceWd8UE4


Tornado (Enhanced Fujita Scale)*Source – NOAA.gov

Wind Speed (appr. 400 feet high) Damage estimate (EF scale)

Over 97% of tornados are EF2 or less


Recorded Tornados in 1952 - 240






Average Number of Tornados per State per Month


Average Number of June Tornados


Tornado Maps


Average Annual Tornados per 10K Miles per State 1991 – 2010


Tornado – What’s the plan?

Life SafetyBuilding Design for loss mitigationBusiness ContinuationRecovery


Life Safety

Community planRisk Assessment of facilityDevelop written planCommunication – before, during and afterWhen to leave, when to stayShelter – where, when and whoSupplies – what, where, who


Video on Tornado destruction on buildingIBHS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZyjMbMHbTU

Gone in 4 seconds – EF 2 windsThe energy looks for the weakest spotFor homes in this order

– Garage door off– Windows– Roof– Walls


Building Design –Can you design to withstand a tornado?

Moore OK building codes, Dade County FL, Mercy Hospital in Joplin, MO – buildings to withstand EF2 windshttp://www.mercy.net/newsroom/2015-02-27/mercy-hospital-

joplin-built-to-stand-against-natureNew buildings in high risk areas should considerCost estimates are generally 2% more Keys are pre-cast reinforced concrete, proper connections

from slab, floor to floor, and roof. Hurricane grade glass in critical areas, protected interiors for refuge, protection for equipment such as generators“Fortifide for Better Business Standards ™” (IBHS)https://www.disastersafety.org/wp-

content/uploads/FFSB_Volume_I_Standards-2014.pdf


Mitigating the Damage - After the Claim

Tarp and plywood to cover the damage, equipment, etc.Cover electrical panels to prevent water intrusionSqueegees or wet vacuums to collect the waterContractors on call or have a maintenance contractContact insurance company – keep receipts/records, take

pictures


Mitigating the Loss – Business Continuity

Communication plan – who, how, where to call internally and externally If operations in a building are impaired due to weather are

their back-up plans to move operations How is electronic data backed-up so business records are

secured


Action Plan

Take this information to your businessDevelop a plan to address the riskHave peace of mind


References & Resources

FEMA reference – Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry

– http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/3412?id=1689

PE1038 Hail Action PlanPE1042 Roof SystemsInternational Insurance Institute for Business and Home

Safety (IBHS)– https://www.disastersafety.org/

2015 National Tornado Summitt in OKCOSHA Resource

– https://www.osha.gov/dts/weather/tornado/checklist.html


OSHA


FEMA –Emergency Management Guide










OSHA – Basic Disaster Supplies Kit -


RED CROSS TORNADO SAFETY CHECKLIST


SafetyNet


Risk Control Consulting Center

Speak directly to a consultantwho can:

Recommend practical ways to mitigate risks and identify exposures

Offer tools, resources, and training on specific topics related to your business

Use videos or photos to analyze exposures and help identify controls

Help you implement safety protocols

Our consultants can answer your questions, such as how to reduce slips and falls, how to prepare for

natural disasters or about state specific requirements.

[email protected]

M-F 8am-8pm ET

CONSULTING CENTER

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Planning for Severe Weather