FORTIFIED certification
Resilient building certification for stronger homes and communities
RunBrook helps builders, developers, owners, and project teams pursue FORTIFIED certification with practical guidance, documentation support, field verification coordination, and building performance expertise.
FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, or IBHS, to help strengthen homes, multifamily properties, and commercial buildings against severe weather such as high winds, hurricanes, hail, tornadoes, and wind-driven rain.
Why FORTIFIED certification matters
Build beyond code for severe weather resilience
FORTIFIED standards go beyond typical building code requirements and are based on IBHS research and real-world storm testing. The program focuses on strengthening vulnerable building areas so homes and buildings have a better chance of reducing damage during severe weather events.
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FORTIFIED helps address common building weaknesses that can lead to damage during hurricanes, high winds, hail, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.
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The roof is often the first line of defense during severe weather. FORTIFIED roof requirements can include enhanced nailing, sealed roof decks, and improved edge protection.
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Stronger buildings can help families, residents, and businesses return to normal sooner after severe weather.
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FORTIFIED certification can help communicate that a project was built or upgraded with resilience and severe weather performance in mind.
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FORTIFIED documentation may help owners, developers, or insurers better understand a building’s resilience measures, depending on the project location and insurance program.
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FORTIFIED designations require independent verification to confirm that required measures were properly completed and documented.
What is FORTIFIED certification?
FORTIFIED is a voluntary, beyond-code construction and re-roofing standard developed by IBHS. The program is designed to reduce damage from severe weather by focusing on critical building components and connections that are commonly vulnerable during storms.
The program includes certification pathways for homes, multifamily communities, and certain commercial buildings. Depending on the project type and certification level, FORTIFIED may evaluate roof systems, roof deck attachment, water intrusion protection, roof edges, openings, gable ends, load paths, and other resilience-related construction details.
For project teams, FORTIFIED certification provides a clear framework for designing, building, documenting, and verifying stronger structures.
FORTIFIED levels
Roof, silver, and gold designations
FORTIFIED includes multiple designation levels that increase in scope. The right level depends on the project type, construction stage, resilience goals, and program requirements.
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FORTIFIED Roof focuses on strengthening the roof system, which is one of the most vulnerable parts of a building during severe weather. Measures can include enhanced roof deck attachment, a sealed roof deck, and improved roof edge protection.
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FORTIFIED Silver builds on the roof-level requirements and adds additional protections for areas that may be vulnerable to high winds and storm damage.
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FORTIFIED Gold includes the roof-level requirements and adds broader whole-building resilience measures intended to strengthen areas conventional construction may leave susceptible to high winds and wind-driven rain.
RunBrook’s role
Guidance and coordination for the certification process
RunBrook can help project teams determine whether FORTIFIED certification is a good fit for the project’s goals, location, budget, timeline, and resilience requirements. If FORTIFIED is selected, our team can help coordinate the certification process, documentation, inspections, and related building performance services.
RunBrook can support your project with:
FORTIFIED certification strategy
Program pathway and designation level guidance
Documentation coordination
Construction team coordination
Field inspection coordination
Testing and performance verification support
Building envelope and air sealing review
Quality assurance inspections
Coordination with builders, developers, owners, contractors, and design teams
Final documentation and closeout support
FORTIFIED home and residential support
Resilience support for homes and residential communities
FORTIFIED Home is designed to help strengthen single-family homes against severe weather. It can apply to new construction, re-roofing, and certain retrofit projects depending on the project conditions and certification goals.
RunBrook can support builders, developers, and homeowners with project coordination, documentation support, inspection planning, and related building performance services that help keep the certification process organized.
Best for:
New single-family homes
Re-roofing projects
Residential retrofits
Production home communities
Townhome projects
Build-to-rent communities
Coastal and high-wind region projects
FORTIFIED multifamily support
Stronger apartment communities and multifamily properties
FORTIFIED Multifamily is designed to strengthen new and existing multifamily properties against severe weather, including hurricanes and tropical and convective storms.
For developers, owners, and property managers, FORTIFIED Multifamily can provide a structured path to resilience-focused design, construction, verification, and documentation. RunBrook can support multifamily teams with project planning, certification coordination, inspection scheduling, documentation management, and related performance services.
Best for:
Apartment communities
Multifamily developments
Affordable housing projects
Mixed-use residential projects
Existing multifamily properties
Coastal residential communities
Large-scale residential developments
Commercial and resilience support
Building performance support for severe weather readiness
FORTIFIED Commercial was developed by IBHS as a construction standard and designation intended to reduce damage to commercial structures and help businesses reopen more quickly after severe weather.
RunBrook can support commercial project teams with resilience planning, certification coordination, building envelope review, quality assurance inspections, documentation support, and related energy and performance services.
Best for:
Commercial buildings
Mixed-use developments
Office spaces
Retail spaces
Institutional buildings
Community facilities
Renovations and retrofits
Projects in hurricane or high-wind regions
What FORTIFIED evaluates
Critical details that improve resilience
FORTIFIED certification focuses on construction details that help buildings better withstand severe weather. Depending on the project type and designation level, this may include:
Roof deck attachment
Sealed roof deck
Roof edge protection
Roof covering installation
Opening protection
Gable end bracing
Continuous load path
Attachment of porches and attached structures
Water intrusion protection
Wind-driven rain protection
Documentation and third-party verification
These measures are intended to address common failure points observed during severe weather and help reduce the likelihood of avoidable damage.
Related RunBrook services
Support beyond certification coordination
FORTIFIED certification often connects with other building performance and field verification services. RunBrook can support project teams with related services that help improve resilience, energy performance, comfort, and construction quality.
Related services may include:
Certification process
A clear path from strategy to designation
Step - 1 Define project goals
We begin by reviewing the project type, location, resilience goals, construction phase, timeline, and target designation level.
Step - 2 Develop the certification strategy
Our team helps identify the appropriate rating system, target credits, documentation needs, and potential risks.
Step - 3 Coordinate inspections & documentation
Our team works with the project team to help align construction activities, field verification, and required documentation.
Step 4 - Support final designation
RunBrook helps organize project records and closeout materials needed to support the certification or designation process.
Why choose RunBrook?
Building performance expertise for resilient construction
RunBrook brings field experience, construction coordination, and building science knowledge to FORTIFIED certification projects. Because our team also provides quality assurance inspections, energy modeling, HERS ratings, blower door testing, duct leakage testing, HVAC grading, LEED support, NGBS support, FGBC support, ENERGY STAR support, and peer review services, we understand how resilience, energy performance, durability, and construction quality work together.
Project teams choose RunBrook for:
FORTIFIED certification guidance
Residential, multifamily, and commercial project support
Building envelope and air sealing expertise
Quality assurance inspection experience
Field coordination with builders, contractors, and project teams
Clear documentation support
Practical construction-phase guidance
Experience with Florida and coastal projects
Support for select projects outside Florida
Frequently asked questions
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FORTIFIED certification is a voluntary, beyond-code construction and re-roofing program developed by IBHS to help strengthen homes, multifamily properties, and commercial buildings against severe weather.
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FORTIFIED is designed to reduce damage from severe weather such as high winds, hurricanes, hail, thunderstorms, tornadoes, and wind-driven rain.
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FORTIFIED commonly includes Roof, Silver, and Gold designation levels. Roof focuses on the roof system, while Silver and Gold add additional resilience measures depending on the project type and program requirements.
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FORTIFIED is generally a voluntary program that goes beyond typical building code requirements. Some owners, developers, insurers, lenders, or funding programs may encourage or require it for specific projects.
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RunBrook should be involved as early as possible, ideally during planning or design. Early involvement helps identify the right certification pathway, documentation requirements, inspection timing, and potential construction coordination needs.
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Yes. FORTIFIED can apply to certain existing buildings, re-roofing projects, and retrofit projects depending on the building type, condition, and target designation level.
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In some locations, FORTIFIED certification may support insurance or risk-reduction conversations, but available benefits vary by state, insurer, building type, and policy. Project teams should confirm specific insurance implications with their insurance provider.
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Yes. While many of RunBrook’s clients are located in Florida, our team can support select FORTIFIED projects outside Florida depending on project scope, schedule, and location.
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Call us at 1-833-RunBrook
(1-833-786-2766)
or email us directly at info@runbrook.com
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Discuss Your Next Project
If your project requires energy modeling, certification support, HERS ratings, blower door testing, or other building performance services, RunBrook can help keep the process moving from design through final verification.