A concept for a performance‐based rating system for home resilience: ReScU

Abstract

Purpose

Citizens who live in disaster prone areas need to protect their properties – particularly their homes – against the destructive effects of natural disasters to avoid large‐scale economic losses. The purpose of this paper is to present the basic concepts and methodology for an improved system for rating the resilience of homes against natural disaster perils. This system is referred to as the Resilient Scoring Utility (ReScU) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A two‐pronged approach was undertaken in developing the ReScU framework. Existing building programs for homes were studied as potential models for a system to rate the natural disaster resilience of homes. Simultaneously, a diverse 25‐member stakeholder panel (focus) group was queried periodically, using a Delphi technique, in order to better understand and gain a consensus about the issues surrounding homes, incentives and natural disasters.

Findings

Using the results from the above approach, the ReScU framework was designed with four key operational features: an output that can be tied to incentives; the use of performance‐based evaluation criteria; utilization of “threshold” adjustments to represent the variability due to the location of homes; and adaptability to new technologies, perils, and non‐perils.

Originality/value

There are few existing programs that offer assistance to homeowners by providing them with guidance on how to protect/reinforce their homes against natural disasters. Unlike these other programs, the ReScU framework proposed in this paper is location specific, performance‐driven, and may be tied readily to incentives. These features will assist homeowners, homebuilders, and others in designing, building, and maintaining more natural disaster resilient homes. It should, however be noted that the proposed ReScU framework is a concept, and future work will include testing the assumptions for their reliability and validity when rating homes.

Citation

Csilla Bencze, O., Dasmohapatra, S. and Tilotta, D.C. (2012), "A concept for a performance‐based rating system for home resilience: ReScU", International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, Vol. 3 No. 2, pp. 148-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/17595901211245242