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FORTIFIED Home™

FORTIFIED Home™

FORTIFIED is the National Standard for Resilient Construction.

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What is FORTIFIED?

FORTIFIED is a better way to build, re-roof, or retrofit your home to protect against severe weather. 

FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program designed to strengthen homes and commercial buildings against specific types of severe weather such as high winds, hail, hurricanes and even tornadoes. The program provides:

  • Free access to construction standards, which are based on more than 20 years of scientific research and real-world testing by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). 
  • A network of contractors trained to provide the right upgrades to protect your home from the type of severe weather events it faces each year.
  • Third-party verification that the upgraded construction materials and installation methods used on your home meet the standards required for a FORTIFIED designation certificate.

There are two FORTIFIED programs, both with specific requirements beyond what’s required by most building codes, that provide protection from storms as strong as a Category 3 hurricane or an EF-2 tornado.

  • FORTIFIED Home™ for homeowners
  • FORTIFIED Commercial™ for commercial property owners

FORTIFIED Home offers three ways to strengthen and protect your new or existing home.

Roofing or Re-Roofing

Focuses on strengthening the roof to help keep it attached to your home during high winds and keep water out if roof covering (such as shingles or tiles) get blown off in a storm.

Best for Existing Homes

Builds on the requirements of FORTIFIED Roof to also help protect vulnerable areas such as windows and doors as well as attached structures such as carports.

Best for New Homes

Builds on requirements of FORTIFIED Roof and FORTIFIED Silver to provide the best protection available against severe weather.

FAQs

How do I know if I need a new roof?

Depending on the product and the local environmental conditions, shingle roofs can last an average of 15–30 years.

  • Common signs your roof may need to be repaired or replaced include: shingles that are missing, cupped, or curled; shingles with blisters and exposed asphalt; large areas of missing granules; deteriorated flashings; and/or evidence of interior leaking and/or water-stained ceilings.  

Metal and tile roofs typically last longer than asphalt shingle roofs.

  • Common signs your metal roofs should be repaired or replaced include: when panels and/or flashings show signs of deterioration, and/or evidence of interior leaking and/or water-stained ceilings. 
  • Common signs tile roofs should be repaired or replaced include: damaged roof tiles, flashings show signs of deterioration, and/or evidence of interior leaking and/or water-stained ceilings. 

Hire an experienced roofing professional to do a complete roof inspection. This will help you and your roofing contractor determine if repair or replacement is the best way to maintain a watertight condition.

Get tips on hiring a roofing contractor.

Who is IBHS?

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an independent, nonprofit, scientific research and communications organization supported solely by property insurers and reinsurers. IBHS’s building safety research leads to real-world solutions for home and business owners, helping to create more resilient communities. Learn more at ibhs.org. 

Does my home qualify for FORTIFIED?

Homes that qualify for FORTIFIED include: 

  • Single-family detached homes (including modular homes)  
  • Two-family dwelling units (duplex)  
  • (HUD) manufactured homes built after 1994 
  • Townhouses (each unit must extend from foundation to roof; no “stacked” dwellings) 

Can I use FORTIFIED for a commercial building?

Yes. Learn more about FORTIFIED Commercial™ at fortifiedcommercial.org.

View All Frequently Asked Questions

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