What is a fortified roof certification?

A FORTIFIED roof certification is a third-party stamp from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS). It confirms the roof was built to a voluntary hurricane-resilience standard above Florida code. Three levels exist. FORTIFIED Roof covers the sealed deck, ring-shank nails, and wider drip edge. Silver adds opening protection like impact windows or shutters. Gold adds a structural load path tying the roof to the foundation. A certified IBHS-trained evaluator inspects during installation and issues a certificate valid 5 years. Coastal Florida insurers often discount wind premium 5 to 25% on certified homes.