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Construction

2025's Updated Resilient Construction Standards for Homes & Comms

2024-11-27

In 2024 up to November 1, a significant 24 weather and climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each have had an impact on the U.S., as reported by the National Centers for Environmental Information. With these events coming to the forefront, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) has presented the 2025 versions of its FORTIFIED resilient construction standards for both home and commercial projects. The updates to the three trademarked standards - FORTIFIED Home, FORTIFIED Commercial, and FORTIFIED Multifamily - are in line with building codes and design standards. The FORTIFIED series, introduced in 2010, aims to reduce storm damage by strengthening vulnerable areas of homes, commercial buildings, and multifamily properties during severe weather events.

Enhanced Roof Requirements in Inland and Hurricane-Prone Areas

In the updated standards, the criteria for a FORTIFIED Roof designation in inland regions are now more in line with those in hurricane-prone areas. All FORTIFIED roof decks will now feature a tighter nailing pattern, and all roof-mounted vents will have to meet specific testing standards to prevent wind-driven rain from entering the building. These enhancements will not only improve the performance of residential and commercial structures but also decrease the risk of damage from severe convective storms such as derechos, tornadoes, and straight-line winds.

Certified Roofing Contractors and Roofing Products

The 2025 FORTIFIED Home standard mandates that roofs be installed by certified FORTIFIED roofing contractors. This ensures a higher level of expertise and quality in the roofing installation process. Additionally, for steep-roofed structures with asphalt shingles to be eligible for the hail supplement to a FORTIFIED designation, they must use a product rated as “Excellent” or “Good” on the IBHS Impact-Resistant Shingle Performance Ratings. This optional requirement gives property owners confidence that their roofs can withstand hail up to two inches in diameter. Prior versions of the FORTIFIED standard allowed the use of asphalt shingles with a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating if they had not been tested by IBHS. The IBHS protocol uses manufactured hail to conduct more realistic tests on shingles compared to traditional testing methods.

Integration of Latest Building Science in Standards

The FORTIFIED standards incorporate the latest advancements in building science. This integration ensures that the construction methods and materials used are based on the most current research and knowledge. By following these standards, builders and homeowners can enhance the resilience of their properties against weather-related disasters. The updates reflect the continuous evolution of construction practices to better protect against the increasing frequency and severity of severe weather events.