Insurance Cost vs Building Construction Quality...

Does it matter what I build my commercial building out of...

So your business is booming and you need to build a new building to accommodate this growth. One questions comes to mind; How is the cost for insurance associated with the construction quality?

Insurance Cost vs Building Construction Quality

Simply put, the better construction (higher ISO rating) of your building results in better insurance premiums.


ISO Types 1-6: Construction Code Descriptions

ISO 1 – Frame (combustible walls and/or roof) Class 1B Buildings where the exterior walls are wood or other combustible materials, including construction where the combustible materials are combined with other materials such as brick veneer, stone veneer, wood iron-clad and stucco on wood. Wood frame walls, floors, and roof deck Brick Veneer, wood/hardiplank siding, stucco cladding

Wood frame roof with wood decking and typical roof covers below: *Shingles *Clay/concrete tiles *BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen) *Single-ply membrane *Less Likely metal sheathing covering *May be gable, hip, flat or combination of geometries

 Roof anchorage *Toe nailed *Clips *Single Wraps *Double Wraps

 Examples: Primarily Habitational, max 3-4 stories


ISO 2 – Joisted Masonry (JM) (noncombustible masonry walls with wood frame roof) Class 2B Buildings where the exterior walls are wood or other combustible materials, including construction where the combustible materials are combined with other materials such as brick veneer, stone veneer, wood iron-clad and stucco on wood. Concrete block, masonry, or reinforced masonry load bearing exterior walls *if reported as CB walls only, verify if wood frame (ISO 2) or steel/noncombustible frame roof (ISO 4) *verify if wood frame walls (Frame ISO 1) or wood framing in roof only (JM ISO 2) Stucco, brick veneer, painted CB, or EIFS exterior cladding Floors in multi-story buildings are wood framed/wood deck or can be concrete on wood or steel deck.

 Wood frame roof with wood decking and typical roof covers below: *Shingles *Clay/concrete tiles *BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen) *Single-ply membrane *Less Likely metal sheathing covering *May be gable, hip, flat or combination of geometries

 Roof anchorage *Toe nailed *Clips *Single Wraps *Double Wraps

 Examples: Primarily Habitational, small office/retail, max 3-4 stories

 If “tunnel form” construction meaning there is a concrete deck above the top floor ceiling with wood frame roof over the top concrete deck, this will react to wind forces much the same way as typical JM construction. It is slightly better from a fire rating standpoint and from a wind standpoint in terms of potential damage if the wood frame is damaged. Please provide comments in the construction details of SOV for this type of construction.

 A subset of JM Construction is Heavy Timber Joisted Masonry JM Class II, also known at ISO 7 (Class 7AB). This is Joisted Masonry constructed buildings where the following additional conditions exist: Where the entire roof has a minimum thickness of 2 inches with Roof Supported by timber and having a minimum dimension of 6 inches, or where the entire roof assembly is documented to have a UL wind uplift classification of 90 or equivalent.

ISO 3 - Non Combustible (NC) Class 3B / NC-I (non-combustible) Buildings where the exterior walls and the floors and roof are constructed of and supported by metal, asbestos, gypsum or other non-combustible materials. Minimal combustible materials in the building construction Typical steel frame walls with masonry in-fill, brick veneer, metal sheathing, EIFS. Steel framing is load bearing portion of the building frame. AMBS (all metal building system) pre-engineered construction is common. Light steel frame ISO 3 smaller geometry with no interior building support columns. Heavier ISO 3 larger geometries with internal support columns and heavier roof framing. If multi-story, floors are commonly concrete on steel frame on steel deck.

 Roof deck and roof cover systems:
 *Steel deck -BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen) -Single-ply membrane -Lesser extent foam/spray applied roof which is typically applied over an existing roof cover – this is not considered a roof cover replacement. -Usually flat/low sloped
 *Metal -Lap seam metal panel (exposed fasteners) -Standing seam metal panel (concealed fasteners) -May or may not be coated/sealed -May be gable, hip, flat or combination of geometries

 Roof anchorage: *Light steel frame ISO 3 may still incorporate clips, single wraps, or double wraps *Because of heavier construction with no wood framing in roof, roof to wall anchorage is typically an engineered bolted and/or structural roof connection. Toe nailing, Clips, single wraps, double wraps do not apply.

 Examples: warehouses, manufacturing facilities
A subset of NC Construction is Superior Non-Combustible Construction NC-II, also known as ISO 8 (Class 8AB). This shall apply to Non-combustible constructed buildings where the following additional conditions exist: Where the entire roof is constructed of 2 inches of masonry on steel supports; or, where the entire roof is constructed of 22 gauge metal (or heavier) on steel supports; or, where the entire roof assembly is documented to have a wind uplift classification of 90 or equivalent.

ISO 4 - Masonry Non Combustible (MNC) Class 4AB / MNC-I Buildings where the exterior walls are constructed of masonry materials as described in code 2 above, with the floors and roof of metal or other non-combustible materials. Concrete block, reinforced masonry, tilt-up concrete load bearing walls – may be combined with some heavy steel framing. Floors commonly concrete on steel deck for multi-story buildings. Roof construction is typically heavy steel frames.

 Roof deck and roof cover systems:
 *Steel deck with insulation boards (commonly called insulated steel deck roofing system) -BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen) -Single ply membrane -Lesser extent foam/spray applied roof which is typically applied over an existing roof cover – this is not considered a roof cover replacement. -Flat/low sloped
 *Lightweight insulating concrete or gypsum board on steel deck
 -BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen)
 -Single ply membrane
 -Lesser extent foam/spray applied roof which is typically applied over an existing roof cover
– this is not considered a roof cover replacement.
-Flat/slow slope -Sometimes possibly heavier concrete on steel deck or precast concrete panels for roof frame may still be considered ISO 4 if exposed steel is not fire proofed to obtain fire ratings needed to be ISO 5.
 *Steel frame with metal sheathing roof cover -Lap seam metal panel (exposed fasteners) -Standing seam metal panel (concealed fasteners) -May or may not be coated/sealed -May be gable, hip, flat or combination of geometries

 Roof anchorage
*Because of heavier construction with no wood framing in roof, roof to wall anchorage is typically an engineered bolted and/or structural roof connection. Toe nailing, Clips, single wraps, double wraps do not apply.
 Walls have minimum 1 hour fire rating

 Examples: shopping centers, strip centers, office buildings, warehouses, schools
A subset of MNC Construction is Superior Masonry Non-Combustible Construction MNC-II, also known as ISO 9 (Class 9A). This shall apply to Masonry Non-combustible constructed buildings where the following additional conditions exist: Where the entire roof is constructed of 2 inches of masonry on steel supports; or, where the entire roof is constructed of 22 gauge metal (or heavier) on steel supports; or, where the entire roof assembly is documented to have wind uplift classification of 90 or equivalent.

ISO 5 - Modified or Semi Fire Resistive (MFR or SFR) Class 5A
 Overall construction of fire resistive materials with fire rating less than 2 hours but greater than 1 hour. Exterior walls, floors and roof deck typically of masonry materials not less than 4 in thick but less thick than required for the 2 hour minimum rating for fire resistive construction. Protected steel and/or concrete or heavy masonry walls and floors. Semi wind resistive

 Roof deck and roof cover systems
 *Heavy steel frame with concrete poured on steel deck -BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen) -Single ply membrane -Lesser extent foam/spray applied roof which is typically applied over an existing roof cover – this is not considered a roof cover replacement. -Flat/low sloped -Exposed steel must be fireproofed to achieve required fire rating
 *Precast concrete (PC) panels -BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen) -Single ply membrane -Lesser extent foam/spray applied roof which is typically applied over an existing roof cover – this is not considered a roof cover replacement. -Flat/low sloped
 *Steel deck with insulation boards, gypsum, lightweight insulating concrete -BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen) -Single ply membrane -Lesser extent foam/spray applied roof which is typically applied over an existing roof cover – this is not considered a roof cover replacement. -Flat/low sloped -Exposed steel must be fire proofed to achieve required fire rating. 

Roof anchorage
*Because of heavier construction with no wood framing in roof, roof to wall anchorage is typically an engineered bolted and/or structural roof connection. Toe nailing, Clips, single wraps, double wraps do not apply. .
 Examples: high and mid-rise office buildings and condos

ISO 6 - Fire Resistive (FR) Class 6A
Fire rating not less than 2 hours for walls, floors, and roofs. This typically requires walls of masonry materials minimum of 4 in thick, hollow masonry minimum 8 in thick, floors and roofs minimum of 4 in thick reinforced concrete, and any structural steel load bearing components with minimum of 2 hour fire rating, Reinforced Concrete Construction building frame and floors and/or very well protected steel and concrete Floors are minimum 4" cast in place concrete, precast concrete or concrete on protected steel Wind resistive Precast construction - brought in from elsewhere / Cast in Place is poured on site

 Roof deck and roof cover systems
 *Cast in place reinforced concrete or precast concrete
 -BUR (built up roof with gravel or modified bitumen)
 -Single ply membrane
 -Lesser extent foam/spray applied roof which is typically applied over an existing roof cover
 – this is not considered a roof cover replacement
 -Flat/low sloped -In some cases, structural concrete poured on steel deck, but exposed steel must be fireproofed to achieve required minimum 2 hour fire rating
 -If exposed concrete, such as on parking deck, leave roof cover as Unknown on SOV. This is typically an exposed or sealed concrete roof deck and the ISO 5 or 6 construction and occupancy will account for the roof deck/cover type. Can provide construction comment on SOV.

 Roof anchorage *Because of heavier construction with no wood framing in roof, roof to wall anchorage is typically an engineered bolted and/or structural roof connection. Toe nailing, Clips, single wraps, double wraps do not apply.
Examples: high-rise office buildings and condos, parking garages

Michael Fillers, CPIA, NFIP
Morris Insurance Agency, LLC

3032 Dauphin Square Connector

Mobile, AL 36607

D.251-473-5119/F.251-473-6301/C.251-753-8011

Email: mjfillers@morrisinsmobile.com

Web: www.MorrisInsMobile.com

How I met JESUS in the flesh and HE saved me:

WRITTEN - http://mjfillers.blogspot.com/2014/09/how-i-met-jesus-and-he-saved-me.html

AUDIO - https://soundcloud.com/michael-fillers/michael-fillers-testimony-hot-dogs-at-the-hank-05-14-2015

Matt 24:46-47-"Blessed is he whom his master will find at work when he arrives. Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions."

some of the above info is an excerpt from: http://www.amrisc.com/Amrisc%20pdfs/CompleteSOV/ISOTypesDescriptions.pdf