What is a WPI-8 certificate?
A WPI-8 is a certificate of compliance issued by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). It shows that a building, or work done on it, was inspected and meets the windstorm building code for the Texas coast. If you own a home in a coastal county, the WPI-8 is one of the most important documents you can have, because it directly affects whether you can buy windstorm insurance through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA).
Why the WPI-8 matters for windstorm insurance
TWIA provides wind and hail coverage when private insurers will not. To qualify, most homes need a certificate of compliance for construction that requires one. Without it, TWIA may decline your application, which can leave you without wind and hail coverage, a problem your lender will not accept. Buyers, lenders, and some private insurers also ask to see the certificate, so a missing WPI-8 can hold up a closing.
Where windstorm certificates apply
The windstorm inspection program covers TDI's designated catastrophe area: the 14 first-tier coastal counties of Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Galveston, Jefferson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, and Willacy, plus the parts of Harris County east of Highway 146. If your home is outside this area, TWIA is not available, and your private insurer sets its own requirements.
Projects that need a windstorm inspection
In the designated area, most new construction, additions, roof replacements, major repairs, and other structural alterations need an inspection and a certificate. Work on exterior openings, such as replacing windows, entry doors, or garage doors, can also require one, so check with your contractor before the job starts.
According to TDI, some projects generally do not need an inspection, including:
- Roof repairs smaller than 100 square feet that do not involve the decking
- Painting, carpet, cabinets, and other non-structural work
- Repairing or replacing fences, gutters, decorative shutters, steps, and screen doors
- Plumbing and electrical repairs
- Replacing the glass in a window or door
WPI-8, WPI-8-E, and WPI-8-C: what is the difference?
- WPI-8: issued for ongoing construction, when the work is inspected while it is being done.
- WPI-8-E: issued for completed construction, when the work is evaluated after it is finished.
- WPI-8-C: an older completed-construction certificate that TWIA issued between January 1, 2017, and May 31, 2020. TWIA no longer issues them, but existing ones are still on record.
Who can perform the inspection?
During construction, the inspection must be done by a TDI-appointed qualified inspector (a Texas licensed professional engineer appointed by TDI) or a TDI windstorm inspector. After construction is finished, any Texas licensed professional engineer can evaluate the work and submit it to TDI for a WPI-8-E. TDI notes that inspecting finished work is harder, so it can cost more. The easiest and usually least expensive path is to plan the inspection before work begins.
How to look up an existing certificate
TDI publishes the certificates it issues. Search by address with the TDI certificate search. For a WPI-8-C issued by TWIA, use the TWIA certificate lookup. If you are buying a coastal home, check for certificates covering the original construction and any later roof replacement or addition before you close.
Watch out for contractors who skip the inspection
After a storm, some contractors offer to skip the windstorm inspection to save time or money. That can leave you with a new roof that does not qualify for TWIA coverage. Before you hire anyone, ask how they will handle the inspection and certificate, and get it in writing. TDI also has tips on avoiding contractor scams.
Once your certificate is in hand, we can help you compare Texas windstorm insurance from private carriers and TWIA. Questions about the program itself can go to TDI at 800-248-6032.
Need Windstorm Insurance?
Have your WPI-8 ready, or not sure if your home has one? Send us your property address and we will help you sort out the certificate and compare windstorm coverage from private carriers and TWIA.
WPI-8 Certificate FAQs
Plan it before the work starts. Hire a contractor who will coordinate the windstorm inspection, and make sure the project is set up with a TDI-appointed qualified inspector or a TDI inspector. The inspector checks the work while it is visible during construction, then submits the documentation to TDI. Once TDI approves it, the WPI-8 is issued and published in TDI's online certificate search. If the work is already finished, a Texas licensed professional engineer can evaluate it and apply for a WPI-8-E instead.
A WPI-8 is issued for ongoing construction that was inspected while the work was being done. A WPI-8-E is issued for completed construction that a Texas licensed professional engineer evaluated after the work was finished. Both are certificates of compliance from TDI, and both can be used to show a home meets the windstorm building code.
In most cases, yes. In the designated coastal area, a roof replacement generally requires a windstorm inspection and certificate. Small roof repairs under 100 square feet that do not involve the decking generally do not. Ask your roofer how they will handle the inspection before you sign a contract.
The property owner is ultimately responsible, but in practice the builder or contractor usually arranges the inspection as part of the job. Put it in your contract. If the inspection is skipped, fixing it later can cost more and may require opening up finished work.
Search the property address in TDI's online certificate search for WPI-8 and WPI-8-E certificates. For certificates issued by TWIA between January 2017 and May 2020, use the TWIA WPI-8-C lookup. Look for certificates covering the original construction and any roof replacements or additions. If something is missing, sort it out before closing.
You have options. A Texas licensed professional engineer can evaluate the completed work and apply for a WPI-8-E, although some work may need to be exposed or corrected to verify it. Some private insurers may still offer wind coverage without a certificate. Contact us and we will help you figure out the best path for your home.
Costs vary by inspector and project size. Inspections done during construction are usually built into the project, while evaluating finished work can cost more because it is harder to verify. Ask for quotes from appointed inspectors, and ask your contractor whether the inspection is included in their price.
Only in the parts of Harris County east of Highway 146, which are within TDI's designated catastrophe area. Homes west of 146 are outside the windstorm inspection program and are not eligible for TWIA, so private insurers set their own requirements there.
The main purpose of a WPI-8 is eligibility, especially for TWIA coverage. It can also make it easier to get quotes from private carriers because it documents your home's construction. Wind-resistant features like an impact-resistant roof or storm shutters may qualify for discounts with some insurers.