10 Things to Know About the FORTIFIED Home Program

FORTIFIED helps contractors and roofers build stronger homes to protect against climate change.

The system is popular in states like Alabama – which has no statewide mandatory building code.

A growing number of contractors, insurance agents, roofers, and architects are also becoming FORTIFIED certified.

If you’re shopping for contractors or homes, you may have spotted the FORTIFIED designation. Today, we’re explaining what that means for the average homeowner.

What is FORTIFIED?

FORTIFIED is a voluntary above-code construction standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) based on decades of research.

What’s the Goal of FORTIFIED?

FORTIFIED was developed with the goal of helping to protect your home against severe weather – especially heavy winds from hurricanes and tornadoes.

Typical construction leaves your home vulnerable. Some states have strong and modern building codes, but others do not. Some states, including Delaware and Alabama, have no mandatory statewide building codes at all. That’s a problem – especially with billion-dollar natural disasters becoming more common.

Who Created FORTIFIED?

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) created FORTIFIED after spending decades studying the damage caused by severe weather.

The team identified common weaknesses in homes built with conventional construction standards. Then, they proposed solutions for those weaknesses before testing them in a lab.

We’re not talking about any lab: the upgraded building codes were tested in the world’s only lab capable of full-scale building tests.

Check out a video of the lab in action here. In the lab, we see heavy winds blow away an ordinary home – while the FORTIFIED home remains intact.

What Does FORTIFIED Recommend?

FORTIFIED is a set of building practices and recommendations focusing on the structural integrity of the home and its roof – particularly its ability to withstand natural disasters like heavy winds.

Some of FORTIFIED’s recommendations include:

• Anchoring roofs to wall framing with stronger nails – like ring shank nails
• Adding impact-resistant windows
• Installing pressure-rated doors
• Sealing the seams of your roof deck to avoid water intrusion
• Many other changes to conventional building standards and codes

Who Promotes FORTIFIED? What is Their Motive?

FORTIFIED was created by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and is often promoted by insurance companies as a way to reduce the impact of natural disasters.

An organization called Strengthen Alabama Homes, for example, is funded by the insurance industry and rewards homeowners for meeting certain FORTIFIED standards. Alabama is one of several states with no mandatory statewide building code requirements.

State Farm and Travelers, meanwhile, have both published positive reports about FORTIFIED online.

Why do insurers like FORTIFIED? It makes homes stronger, reducing the damage caused by a single tornado or hurricane. A single hurricane can cost a company billions of dollars in damages. If all homes in the region were FORTIFIED homes, it would significantly reduce costs for insurers.

Does FORTIFIED Make Homes More Expensive?

FORTIFIED was designed with affordability in mind. The goal was to implement cost-effective recommendations to help homeowners enjoy safer homes without spending a fortune.

What Are the Benefits of FORTIFIED as a Homeowner?

Some homes are FORTIFIED certified. Or, you could work with a contractor that is FORTIFIED certified.

As a homeowner, some of the benefits of a FORTIFIED certified home or contractor include:

• Increased home value
• Peace of mind
• Affordability
• Savings
• Third-party evaluations
• Transferable and renewable

According to a recent study by the University of Alabama, the University of Mississippi, and Auburn University, homes that are FORTIFIED certified are worth 7% more – and that number rises when closer to the coast.

Plus, you could be rewarded for implementing FORTIFIED standards. Strengthen Alabama Homes provides grants that cover 100% of the cost of mitigation up to $10,000.

What Are the Different Levels of FORTIFIED?

FORTIFIED certification is available at three tiers, including Bronze, Silver, or Gold:

1. FORTIFIED Bronze, also known as FORTIFIED Roof, doubles the strength of an ordinary roof
2. FORTIFIED Silver strengthens windows, doors, chimneys, and porches against heavy winds – including hurricanes and tornadoes
3. FORTIFIED Gold creates a strong, continuous load path by connecting the floors, walls, and roof of the home together more strongly, helping the house move as one and providing better protection against high winds

Who Can Become FORTIFIED Certified?

Various individuals involved in home building can become FORTIFIED certified, including:

• Architects
• Contractors
• Inspectors
• Insurance agents
• Roofers

To become FORTIFIED certified, complete the IBHS’s FORTIFIED Wise University program.

Why is FORTIFIED Important in 2025?

According to FEMA’s latest “Building Codes Save” report, outdated building codes are expected to cost billions of dollars in excess damage over the coming years.

The report highlighted some states – like Virginia and Florida – with effective building codes.

It also highlighted other states – like Alabama and Delaware – with no mandatory building code requirements.

According to FEMA, upgraded building codes could prevent more than $600 billion in disaster losses by 2060. While FORTIFIED is a voluntary above-code program for now, its standards could become more common as billion-dollar losses become more common (NOAA reported 27 billion-dollar losses in the United States in 2024).

With insurance costs rising – and billion-dollar disasters becoming more common, upgraded building standards like FORTIFIED could save lives and money over the coming years.

Stephanie Corona

Stephanie is a property insurance claim expert with over 20 years of experience working as an insurance adjuster, expert witness, appraiser and umpire. She is passionate about sharing her expertise, knowledge, tips and training to help both property owners and Public Adjusters in their pursuit of effectively managing claims and recovering the claim settlement they deserve after a loss.