Recently, we had the opportunity to take an exclusive tour of the IBHS Research Center in Richburg, South Carolina—a world-class facility dedicated to advancing building science and improving the resilience of homes and communities.
The IBHS Research Center is operated by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, an independent, nonprofit research organization supported by the property insurance industry. Its mission is to translate science into action by identifying how buildings perform under real-world natural hazards and using that knowledge to reduce future losses and improve construction practices.
What makes this facility truly unique is its ability to recreate severe weather conditions at full scale. On its 90-acre campus, researchers can simulate high winds, wind-driven rain, hail, wildfire ember exposure, and other extreme events to study how residential and commercial structures respond. This includes the massive 6-story test chamber equipped with a wall of 105 fans capable of generating hurricane-force winds up to roughly 130 mph in a controlled, repeatable environment.
During the tour, we saw how this research directly informs building codes, product standards, and resilient design strategies—turning complex science into practical guidance for builders, insurers, and communities. From full-scale structural testing to component-level experiments, every aspect of the facility is designed to close gaps in building performance knowledge and reduce avoidable damage from natural disasters.
We are incredibly grateful to the IBHS team for hosting us and sharing their expertise, and to everyone who joined the tour for such thoughtful engagement and conversation. Experiences like this highlight the importance of collaboration in advancing stronger, safer, and more resilient homes.
We look forward to continuing the conversation and applying these insights in meaningful ways moving forward.
