FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction standard from IBHS, a nonprofit research organization supported by property insurers and reinsurers. A FORTIFIED Roof uses sealed roof decks, ring-shank nails in an enhanced pattern, stronger roof edges and rated roof covers, and FORTIFIED Silver and Gold add protection for the rest of the house. The designation, not just the work, is what insurers usually look for, and it must be renewed every five years. Whether it reduces your premium depends on your insurer and your state, and a few states require discounts by law.
What makes a roof FORTIFIED
IBHS describes FORTIFIED as a voluntary construction standard built on decades of research into how storms damage homes. The roof requirements focus on the places a roof typically fails:
- Stronger edges: a wider drip edge and a fully adhered starter strip.
- A sealed roof deck, so water does not pour through if the covering blows off.
- Better attachment: ring-shank nails in an enhanced pattern instead of common smooth nails.
- Tested and rated roof covers, whether shingle, metal, tile or low slope, with an optional hail supplement.
The requirements vary by location, with separate standards for hurricane and high-wind areas.
How a home gets designated
Every level of FORTIFIED designation requires a FORTIFIED Roof installed by a certified FORTIFIED roofing contractor. An independent, third-party FORTIFIED Evaluator documents the work, and IBHS reviews that documentation and issues the designation certificate.
Designations do not last forever. IBHS says initial certificates expire five years from issue, and a redesignation inspection is needed to keep the designation, which is renewed if the structure has not substantially changed and the roof covering is within its life expectancy.
Eligible homes include single-family detached homes, duplexes, townhouses that run from foundation to roof, and manufactured homes built after 1994. FORTIFIED Silver adds bracing for gable ends, chimneys and attached structures and pressure-rated garage doors, and FORTIFIED Gold adds an engineered continuous load path.
Does it lower insurance costs?
Sometimes. IBHS says insurers sometimes discount the wind portion of the premium for homes with an active designation, and many require the designation to be renewed every five years to keep the discount. The designation is generally what insurers need to see.
A few states put this in law:
- Alabama. The Alabama Department of Insurance says Act 2015-313 requires all insurers in the state to provide discounts once a structure is built or retrofitted to IBHS FORTIFIED standards.
- Georgia. HB 279 (2024) requires insurers, by March 1, 2025, to provide a premium discount or rate reduction for homes certified to FORTIFIED standards by an IBHS-certified evaluator. It applies to policies that provide wind coverage.
- Arkansas. Act 427 of 2025 directs insurers writing wind or hail coverage on FORTIFIED-certified property to provide a premium discount or rate reduction where actuarially justified, or to use benchmark amounts the commissioner may set.
Elsewhere, check the state’s rules and each insurer’s rating plan. IBHS notes that in some states, discounts apply to specific upgrades that FORTIFIED includes, such as storm shutters or impact-resistant glass, rather than to the designation itself.
What it means for an expensive home
IBHS is clear that FORTIFIED does not prevent all damage. Siding, for example, is not addressed by the standards, and no home is stormproof.
On a large or complex roof, the bigger benefit may be keeping a wind loss small rather than the discount itself. IBHS also lists Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Mississippi as states where some insurers offer a FORTIFIED endorsement that helps with the cost of upgrading a roof to the standard when it is replaced.
State-by-state mitigation rules are summarized on the high-value home insurance by state page.
If you are re-roofing
- Hire a certified FORTIFIED roofing contractor and line up an evaluator before work starts.
- Choose the standard that matches your area’s risk, hurricane or high wind, and decide on the hail supplement.
- Keep the designation certificate and send a copy to your insurer.
- Note the expiration date on the certificate and plan the redesignation before it lapses.
- Ask your broker how each market you are shopped with treats the designation.
Common questions
Who created the FORTIFIED standard?
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), an independent nonprofit research organization supported by property insurers and reinsurers.
Do I need a designation, or just the upgrades?
The upgrades add protection either way, but IBHS says verification by an evaluator and the resulting designation are generally needed for insurance discounts and mitigation credits.
How long does a FORTIFIED designation last?
Initial certificates expire five years from issue. A redesignation inspection is required to keep the designation.
Which states require FORTIFIED discounts?
Alabama, Georgia and Arkansas are examples of states with laws directing insurers to provide premium discounts or rate reductions for FORTIFIED homes. Other states have their own rules, and where there is no requirement, discounts depend on the insurer.
Does a FORTIFIED roof make my home stormproof?
No. IBHS says FORTIFIED homes can still be damaged in extreme weather, and some parts of a home, such as siding, are not addressed by the standards.
Sources
- IBHS FORTIFIED: FORTIFIED Roof
- IBHS FORTIFIED: Frequently Asked Questions
- IBHS FORTIFIED: FORTIFIED Silver
- IBHS FORTIFIED: FORTIFIED Gold
- IBHS FORTIFIED: Financial Incentives
- Alabama Department of Insurance: Alabama announces new mitigation discounts for IBHS FORTIFIED structures
- Georgia HB 279 (2024), as passed and signed, adding O.C.G.A. § 33-32-10 and § 33-32-11
- Arkansas Act 427 of 2025 (Strengthen Arkansas Homes Act), Ark. Code § 23-88-607
General information about the IBHS FORTIFIED program and state discount laws as of October 2026, not legal advice. Coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.