Some kinds of repairs may be minor or involve only small parts of the structure, making full inspection and compliance inappropriate. The Texas Department of Insurance has developed information to assist you in determining when the planned improvement or repair is so limited that an inspection is unnecessary. To obtain a copy call or write your local field office or the Austin office at: Texas Department of Insurance, Windstorm Inspections, PO Box 149104, Austin, TX 78714-9104, Mail Code: 103-1E;512-322-2203.

No, inspections should always be performed while the work is in progress; however, the TDI inspectors are available to meet and/or discuss the work that is to be performed in an effort to educate and inform all parties of our compliance requirements. IRI is a TDI certified inspection company. You may call the IRI office at (361) 776-1820.

Yes. You may have an appointed Texas licensed professional engineer submit a form WPI-2, Building Construction Compliance, to certify your new structure's foundation. You must also contact your local field office to make application for the remainder of the inspections.

If a new structure, an addition to an existing structure or a reroof has already been completed, then an appointed Texas licensed professional engineer must perform the inspections. If repairs were made before inspection, the Texas Department of Insurance inspector may still be able to inspect if the repairs are minimal.

The Texas Engineering Practice Act (Sections 19-20, Article 3271a, VTCS) requires that engineers design certain structures. These types of structures are outlined in Section 106 of the Code or Section 150 of the Guide. Additionally, if the structure falls outside the limitations specified in the prescriptive requirements of the Code or Guide, it must be designed and inspected by an appointed Texas licensed engineer.

No. Inspections must be performed by either and appointed Texas licensed professional engineer or by an individual under direct supervision of a Texas licensed professional engineer. The WPI-2, Building Construction Compliance form must be signed and sealed by an appointed Texas licensed professional engineer.

Yes, if the commercial structure will be insured for windstorm and hail insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Some small commercial structures may be built in accordance with the prescriptive portions of the construction guidelines; however most fall outside the scope of these documents. As a minimum, the commercial structure must be built in accordance with the wind load provisions specified in the construction guidelines. If a Texas licensed professional engineer will be certifying the structure, then the engineer must submit a completed WPI-2 form following the erection and inspection of the structure.

Yes, an appointed Texas licensed professional engineer may be employed to finish the inspection.

The insurance companies requiring the Certificate of Compliance do so because your windstorm and hail insurance portion of your homeowner's policy is actually underwritten by the TWIA. The companies that do not require the Certificate of Compliance are underwriting your windstorm and hail insurance under their own company. Some agents will encourage you to get a Certificate of Compliance in the event windstorm coverage through the open market becomes unavailable.

Possibly, the reason is that your insurance company underwrites your windstorm and hail insurance coverage of your homeowner's policy and does not go through the TWIA for this coverage. Your mortgage company may require the Certificate of Compliance for several reasons. Most importantly, the Certificate of Compliance proves to your mortgage holder that the structure is insurable for windstorm if insurance availability changes. Builder's Risk policies may be written through the TWIA, thus requiring certification by TDI.

You may call the IRI office at (361) 776-1820 and we will research any previous certifications on your property.

No. An appointed Texas licensed professional engineer may inspect a structure according to the prescriptive requirements, or design the structure in accordance with the wind load provisions of either the Guide or the Code, depending on which document is applicable. The engineer shall submit a completed WPI-2, Building Construction Compliance, form to the Texas Department of Insurance following the final inspection of the structure.