FORTIFIED is the national standard for resilient construction.
WATERSHED uses FORTIFIED Home™ and FORTIFIED Commercial™ assessment and certification to deliver durable, resilient homes to our architectural clients. FORTIFIED Certification can result in significant immediate savings in insurance costs and long term savings in reduced damages. The program is through The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and employs an incremental approach toward making existing and new buildings more resistant to damage from hurricanes, tropical storms, hailstorms, high winds and wind-driven rain associated with thunderstorms. With three levels of FORTIFIED designation available—Bronze, Silver and Gold— the program allows owners to choose a desired level of protection that best suits their budgets and resilience goals.
Whether you’re building a new home or commercial building, re-roofing, or renovating an existing property, FORTIFIED is affordable and effective at protecting your home. Contact us to see if your project is a good fit for FORTIFIED available certifications.
IBHS created FORTIFIED Home™ to help homeowners protect their investment in the face of hurricanes, high winds, hail, and severe thunderstorms.
FORTIFIED goes beyond emergency and disaster preparedness to give you peace of mind knowing your home is structurally resilient and will better withstand severe weather.
FORTIFIED Commercial™ focuses on community-based and light to moderate commercial structures such as:
- Multi-family residential/residential (when not governed by the IRC)
- Template (“cookie-cut”) stand-alone buildings
- Franchises (e.g., quick-service restaurants)
- Hotels
- Convenience stores/gas stations
- Pharmacies/retail stores
- Business services
- Schools/municipal buildings
- Mixed use
Excluded occupancies include high-hazard and appurtenances such as barns and sheds. Please see the FORTIFIED Commercial standards for more information
