Munich Re confirms its commitment to Building Science with investment in the IBHS Research Center

Tampa, Florida, 17 December 2012 – The world’s leading reinsurers and a founding member of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Research Center, has made an additional $750,000 investment, which will be used to further ground-breaking building science research conducted at the world-class research facility in South Carolina.

“IBHS and Munich Re have long shared a strong, productive partnership and we are grateful for their leadership at the Institute on many levels,” said Julie Rochman, IBHS president and CEO. “Munich Re’s generous investment will help IBHS continue its work to identify new ways to create stronger, safer residential and commercial structures.”

The IBHS Research Center is a unique, state-of-the-art, multi-risk applied research facility that has been in operation for just over two years. The center allows IBHS researchers to conduct full-scale building science research to more fully and accurately evaluate various residential and commercial construction materials and systems.

While the initial research protocols are focused on U.S. building and construction issues, IBHS will be exporting its research findings globally and expects to expand its work with science, building and insurance organizations in other countries.

“This facility is a tangible, very public demonstration of the property insurance industry’s deep commitment to reducing and preventing losses that disrupt the lives of millions of home and business owners each year. IBHS’ scientific research has already influenced residential and commercial structural design and construction, and will continue to do so for decades to come,” Rochman said.

“Munich Re is pleased to support the IBHS’s mission to research and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses, and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss,” said Anthony J. Kuczinski, Munich Re America president and CEO. “The important work of the IBHS helps improve safety and security when natural disasters and other risks occur.”