The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has released the 2025 FORTIFIED Home, FORTIFIED Commercial, and FORTIFIED Multifamily construction standards.
Since its inception in 2010, the FORTIFIED program has set a benchmark for beyond-code construction and re-roofing. The program is designed to reduce storm damage by strengthening areas of homes, commercial buildings, and multifamily properties typically vulnerable to high winds and heavy rain.
In the updated standards, requirements for a FORTIFIED Roof designation in inland areas will be more consistent with requirements in hurricane-prone areas. All FORTIFIED roof decks will now have the tighter nailing pattern, and all roof-mounted vents will have to meet testing standards showing they prevent wind-driven rain from entering a building.
These requirements, which have proven effective against hurricanes, will increase performance of residential and commercial structures as well as reduce the risk of damage from severe convective storms, including derechos, tornadoes, and straight-line winds, an IBHS news release says. The 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard also requires that roofs be installed by certified FORTIFIED roofing contractors.
