Researcher
A benefit-cost analysis of impact-resistant asphalt shingle roofing (March 2022)
Among the catastrophes ICLR addresses are hailstorms, one of Canada’s most serious natural hazards. Hail costs $400 million annually. A June 2020 hailstorm at the edge of Calgary damaged 77,000 homes and cost $1.4 billion. Much of that money paid for roof repairs. This document summarizes a study of one way that homeowners and insurers can prevent costly hail damage: by using impact-resistant asphalt shingle roofs instead of standard shingles.
Hail climatology for Canada: An update
(February, 2018)
Hail is a significant hazard in parts of Canada, causing damage to infrastructure and crops. It is of particular concern to the insurance industry, for which it is an important risk. Risk analysis begins with an understanding of hazard, and for this reason it is important to have an updated climatology of hail frequency in Canada. A previous national climatology was based upon data from 1977 to 1993 (Etkin & Brun, 1999), and therefore it is prudent to examine Canada’s hail climatology based upon a longer time series that includes more recent data. National hail climatologies (e.g. the number of hail days per year in Canada) serve as a foundation for hail risk analyses. Although national hail climatologies cannot be used to determine hailstorm severity or to infer damage, they are used to help identify vulnerable regions, and thus areas where mitigation efforts should be concentrated.
