FORTIFIED™ Roof is a roofing system designed to provide stronger protection against severe weather, including high winds and wind-driven rain. Developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard is based on research into how roofs are damaged during real storm events.
Rather than focusing on minimum building code requirements, a FORTIFIED™ Roof focuses on critical roof-level improvements that help keep water out and help the roof remain in place during extreme weather.
Why the Roof Matters
IBHS research has shown that storm damage often begins at the roof. When the roof covering is lost or water enters through the roof deck, damage can quickly spread into the rest of the building.
Because of this, the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard concentrates on strengthening the roof system where failures most often occur.
What the FORTIFIED™ Roof Standard Focuses on
A FORTIFIED™ Roof is not a single product. It is a system-based approach that focuses on how the roof is installed and detailed so it performs better during severe weather.
The FORTIFIED™ Roof standard emphasizes securing the roof deck to the structure, reducing water intrusion if roof coverings are damaged or lost, and strengthening vulnerable roof areas where failure often begins. These elements work together to improve overall roof performance, while attic ventilation requirements remain governed by applicable building codes. When sealed roof decks are incorporated as part of a FORTIFIED™ Roof system, ventilation must be addressed in accordance with adopted building codes and applicable program requirements.
What Makes a roof a FORTIFIED™ Roof
A roof is designated as a FORTIFIED™ Roof when it:
- Is installed using FORTIFIED™ Roof standards
- Is completed by a FORTIFIED™-trained contractor
- Is verified by an independent FORTIFIED™ evaluator
- Is documented and registered through IBHS
FORTIFIED™ Roof designation is based on installation and verification, not on products alone.
