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OK Insurance Commissioner pushes fortified construction bill

TULSA — A bill that would require insurance carriers to consider the use of FORTIFIED construction techniques when determining premiums is moving forward in the Oklahoma legislature.

The standards are set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

House Bill 1720 does not mandate lower premiums - but Insurance Commissioner John Doak is confident the increased use of the stronger building techniques will drive down the cost of insurance for homeowners.

Basically, FORTIFIED construction involves strongly connecting the roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation, greatly increasing the structure’s resistance to high winds.

The bottom line, proponents say, is that Oklahomans will suffer storm damage every year, no matter what.

But, “there’s going to be less damage for those consumers that embrace this program,” Doak told KRMG Tuesday.

He hopes someday to possibly mandate lower premiums, but starting with a voluntary program is the best way to encourage wider use of FORTIFIED construction, he said.

It’s not only for new homes, he added.

“You can retrofit an older home,” Doak said, and the process doesn’t take very long.

Habitat for Humanity has committed to building dozens of homes in Oklahoma using the new techniques.

While such a home won’t withstand an EF-5 tornado, the great majority of damage in Oklahoma comes from straight-line winds and smaller tornadoes in the EF-1 to EF-2 range.

HB 1720 passed unanimously in the Oklahoma House, by a vote of 93-0, and now goes to the Senate.

Here is a video demonstrating the advantages of FORTIFIED construction:

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