The effect on building cost due to improved wind resistant building standards.

In support of legislation to enact an improved wind-resistant building standard, a series of studies were made. A model building standard was designed. An evaluation of this standard estimated that there would be a 1-3% increase in the cost of structures. A Monte Carlo simulation model of hurricanes was used to estimate the relative reduction in change in building to the improved building standards. For the improved building standard the relative reduction was about twenty to one over no standard, not considering debris and about a 40% reduction when debris was considered. Finally, economic incentives were analyzed for adopting the new standards.