Freedonia Analyst Weighs in on Hurricane Season, Building Codes, & the Impact on Windows & Doors

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Sep 19, 2017, 11:17 ET

CLEVELAND, Sept. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Building codes in South Florida were put to the test earlier this month as Hurricane Irma roared on shore, battering homes and businesses with Category 4 winds. While the storm made landfall first in the Florida Keys, then in Marco Island, the entire state felt Irma's impact and thousands of residents remain without power. Within days of Irma's landfall, two more powerful hurricanes – Jose and Maria – churned in the Atlantic and were headed eastward, and are affecting the US and Caribbean this week.

With both the frequency and strength of major tropical storms intensifying, Floridians (and others along US coastlines) are paying extra attention to the effectiveness of building codes designed to protect structures from high winds and flying debris. Such codes were prompted by the devastating effects of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which exposed the how lax building codes in South Florida contributed to widespread damage.

Initial assessments of Irma's aftermath reveal that newer homes designed with impact-resistant windows and doors, cinder block masonry construction, and stronger roofs suffered less severe damage compared to homes built prior to 2002. Such results are benefiting companies like PGT Innovations – the market leader for impact-resistant windows and doors in Florida – which saw shares jump last week to a 52-week high.

According to Freedonia Group analyst Carolyn Zulandt, "impact-resistant windows and doors are a quickly expanding segment of the overall market, with sales expected to climb 7.5% annually over the next five years." Eroding complacency in at-risk areas is expected to spur investment in stronger windows and doors. Lawmakers in states such as Texas, Louisiana, and South Carolina – which have been slower to adopt more stringent building codes – are also likely to reevaluate codes for products like windows and doors.

However, there remains controversy over a bill passed in Florida earlier this year, eliminating a requirement that the Florida Building Commission automatically adopt International Code Council standards every three years. Opponents to the decision argue that the change could result in weaker building codes throughout the state, while supporters of the bill argued that it removes undue burdens for the local building industry. With concerns about hurricanes and global warming expected to remain heightened, regulators are likely to face tough criticism for any measures that could weaken existing building codes.

For more information on the impact-resistant windows and doors market, as well as the outlook for the wider window and door industry, see the Construction & Building Products page featuring the following industry studies by The Freedonia Group:

Windows & Doors Market Forecasts (September 2017)

https://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/windows-doors-market-forecast-in-the-us-by-product-material-market-and-region-3572.htm

Doors Market in the US (August 2017)

Windows Market in the US (June 2017)

About The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com – The Freedonia Group is a leading international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually. Since 1985, we have provided research to customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning. Studies can be purchased at www.freedoniagroup.com, www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

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SOURCE The Freedonia Group