![]() ![]() With the other two programs, plans must be approved prior to construction, in addition to inspections during construction. For FORTIFIED Home, inspection and verification by an approved inspector is required. Video: IBHS Research Center: Commercial Wind Test – Wall FailureĪt the heart of these programs is verification that the required features are present in the structure. The FORTIFIED for Safer Business® program is similar to FORTIFIED for Safer Living®, but is applicable to light commercial and multifamily structures. Additional guidelines are meant to help decrease non-catastrophic losses including internal fire, water damage, burglary, and electrical surges. These hazards could include hurricanes, high winds, tornadoes, hail, earthquakes, or severe winter weather. These guidelines are designed to provide resistance to the catastrophic-type hazards that exist at the specific locale of the structure. This program specifies code-plus guidelines for both the structure and the landscaping. Video: IBHS Research Center: Wind Test Highlights 2010įORTIFIED for Safer Living® is a more involved program for new construction only. A Gold designation requires a complete load path from roof to foundation, that chimneys be anchored to the structure, and that critical elements of the building envelope are designed to resist all design pressures. Each level builds on the previous level, and they are designated as Bronze, Silver, and Gold level.įor example, with the FORTIFIED Home hurricane requirements, Bronze focuses on making the roof covering wind- and water-resistant, Silver involves preventing failure of openings, strengthening gable ends, and improving anchorage of porches or carports. The FORTIFIED Home program consists of a set of levels, or tiers of reinforcement, that can be applied to either a new or existing home. The series consists of three basic programs: FORTIFIED Home, FORTIFIED for Safer Living® (new construction), and FORTIFIED for Safer Business®. One of the more well-known code-plus programs is the “FORTIFIED” series from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). There are several “code-plus” programs throughout the country that spell out prescriptive requirements for constructing buildings that are more resistant to local hazards than the code-minimum structure. But what if the owner wants a building that will perform better than the absolute minimum allowed by the code? We all know that the purpose of a building code is to provide minimum requirements for the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants of buildings built under that code.
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