IBHS Hailstorm Demonstration

Initial results of the world’s first indoor hailstorm conducted Feb. 20, 2013 at the IBHS Research Center:

• IBHS achieved the conditions present in a typical supercell thunderstorm that produces hail.

• The majority of impacts from the hailstones were on the roofing system, which is typical of what IBHS researchers have seen when conducting post-hailstorm damage investigations in the field. Read more about IBHS’ work with the RICOWI Post-Cat Hailstorm Investigation. 

• The hail delivery system developed by IBHS successfully propelled the hailstones at the correct terminal velocity for each size of hailstone.

• Post-test damage surveys after the hailstones melted away revealed roof damage patterns consistent with what IBHS researchers have documented in the field following recent hailstorms in Colorado and Texas.

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