Grow your business and protect your community from severe weather
Based on decades of research by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the FORTIFIED Commercial™ construction standard minimizes the risk of storm damage allowing businesses to quickly re-open following hurricanes, tornadoes and other severe weather.
Resilient Building Design and Stronger Construction Standard
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) developed FORTIFIED Commercial™ as a construction standard and designation to reduce damage to commercial structures and help businesses re-open more quickly following severe weather.
FORTIFIED Commercial focuses on community-based and light to moderate commercial structures such as:
Template (“cookie-cut”) stand-alone buildings
Franchises (e.g., quick-service restaurants)
Hotels
Convenience stores/gas stations
Business services
Schools/municipal buildings
Mixed use
Excluded occupancies include high-hazard and appurtenances such as barns and sheds. Please see the FORTIFIED Commercial standard for more information.
FORTIFIED Commercial includes three levels of resiliency:
FORTIFIED Silver includes the protection of FORTIFIED Roof and adds additional protection to vulnerable and often overlooked components, including parapets, doors and windows.
Building to FORTIFIED Commercial Standard
Giving your business the added protection offered by the FORTIFIED program is a simple process you can start today.
Get the Factsheet
01
Select Your Level of Protection
Review the standard to better understand the upgrades required for each designation level and choose the one that best meets your needs.
02
Apply for FORTIFIED
Complete the online application, which will be reviewed by the FORTIFIED team. If your project is eligible for the program, an independent, third-party FORTIFIED evaluator will be assigned.
03
Work with an Evaluator
Once you negotiate a consulting agreement with the Evaluator, they will complete the necessary reviews and evaluations to verify the construction project complies with the FORTIFIED standard.
04
Enjoy Reduced Risks
When the next storm hits, you’ll have some peace of mind, knowing you’ve taken the extra steps to protect your property. The lower risks may also help to reduce insurance costs.
Stay In The Know
Do you want to keep up with the latest resiliency research? Would you like timely tips and reminders to keep your home safe from Mother Nature? Are you interested in the science behind the FORTIFIED standard? Then, sign up for customized emails to learn more.