Fortified Construction

Fortified...for Safer Living® is a program designed to raise national awareness about home safety features that can help families become better prepared for windstorms, floods, wildfires, earthquakes and freezing weather. Homes all across the country are at high risk from property damage due to natural disasters. For example, Florida has had more than $35 billion in insured losses due to disasters in the past decade, the highest of any state in the nation, whereas wildfires caused $2.1 billion losses in the year 2000 alone. Safer homes would mean fewer damages after a natural disaster—saving lives and money. The Fortified Builders' Guide explains the benefits of building a Fortified home, and lists the criteria required to achieve this level of disaster-protection. Download the Fortified Builders' Guide (PDF - 3.5MB)

Fortified... for safer living®

Fortified...for safer living® is a national new-home construction designation granted by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a national nonprofit organization based in Tampa. The inspection-based program features affordable construction options designed to help safeguard homes from the ground-up against the natural hazards they face, as well as other causes of property loss. Depending on location, this could include protection from high wind, flood, earthquake, freezing weather, hail and/or wildfire.

IBHS mission statement:

The Institute for Business & Home Safety, an initiative of the insurance industry, works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Fortified Program

When did the Fortified program begin?
The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) launched the Fortified...for safer living® program with three demonstration homes in west central Florida in October 2000.

Why was it started?
IBHS is funded by insurers, and many of our member companies saw the need to promote disaster-resistant construction of new homes in this country. They not only wanted to promote stronger, safer concepts, but they wanted to create a standard designation that would eventually be a way to recognize better-built homes.

As a national program, how does the program take regional requirements into account?
The Fortified program goes beyond local codes, which represent minimum acceptable standards, to implement even stronger hazard resistant products and techniques. Construction criteria are based on the appropriate hazards where the home is built. For example, homes in Illinois have added protection from high wind, freezing weather and hail; Myrtle Beach, SC homes include seismic criteria and flooding as well as high wind; and in other areas there is greater wildfire protection. You can get more examples by visiting the Fortified section of our web site and using our zip code tool (green box below map that says "get a checklist to take to your builder").

A key goal of the program is affordability. For example, we don't require metal vs. asphalt or tile roof. It is builder/buyer choice, as long as the product meets the appropriate criteria (wind or impact rating). Impact protection is another flexible option, where required. It doesn't matter whether impact-resistant windows, shutters or panel products are used as long as they meet proper approvals.

How does the program work (working with builders, etc.)?
In general terms, the builder, contractor or developer would contact IBHS to discuss their construction plans, building site, location, etc. House plans are examined to ensure they meet the applicable criteria. Revisions are made where necessary. Methods and materials are discussed, but IBHS does not recommend product brands. The builder then contacts the Fortified inspector and the process begins. The Fortified builder's guide is online, so anyone interested can get a good idea of the requirements there.

How is Fortified different from other building certification programs?
There is no other inspection-based new home construction designation for disaster-resistance. Fortified....for safer living® requires an independent third-party inspection throughout the process to verify the methods/materials were used properly. The designation will not be granted until this process is fulfilled and complete. At that point, the home's information goes into our database, so future owners and others interested in the construction characteristics of the property can learn how it was built.

Fortified...for safer living® can provide a competitive edge for builders who know the value of a practical, yet strongly built, disaster resistant home in a market where more consumers are demanding them.

How many projects have earned the Fortified designation?
The Fortified...for safer living® program is now in more than a dozen states, with some 2,500 homes either complete, under construction, or part of larger development plans (some are individual houses and some are subdivisions or community developments). This includes Fortified Habitat for Humanity homes.