FORTIFIED™ in Maine: The Homeowner FAQ (Fortify Maine + IBHS FORTIFIED Home)

FORTIFIED is a voluntary, beyond-code construction and re-roofing program designed to reduce storm damage by strengthening the parts of a home that most commonly fail in high winds and wind-driven rain (and, where applicable, hail). It's based on research and testing by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

Learn more from the official program site: FORTIFIED Home (Program Overview) and IBHS guidance: IBHS FORTIFIED Construction Standards.

Not exactly. Building code is the legal minimum. FORTIFIED is a step beyond code and focuses on installation methods and system performance—so it's not simply "buy a premium shingle." A FORTIFIED Roof designation, for example, is heavily tied to how the roof deck is attached/sealed and how edges and the roof covering are installed.

Official standards and guidance: IBHS Standards (Beyond Code).

FORTIFIED work is documented and verified by a trained, independent third-party (a FORTIFIED Evaluator). The documentation is reviewed and, when requirements are met, the program issues the designation/certificate.

Program training + certification references: FORTIFIED Training and provider/certification pathway details: How FORTIFIED Certification Works.

FORTIFIED has three main designation levels that build on each other:

• FORTIFIED Roof™ – focuses on strengthening the roof system to resist wind uplift and reduce water intrusion.
• FORTIFIED Silver™ – includes Roof requirements plus added protections for other vulnerable areas (varies by hazard/home type).
• FORTIFIED Gold™ – includes Roof + Silver and adds a stronger "continuous load path" connecting roof-to-walls-to-foundation.

Official reference for Gold and the continuous load path concept: FORTIFIED Gold (Official) and IBHS explanation: IBHS: Continuous Load Path.

You can adopt many FORTIFIED practices without pursuing formal designation, but the biggest financial benefits typically require the official certificate—especially for insurance credits/discounts and structured grant programs that require third-party documentation.

Program documentation context + standards: FORTIFIED Home (Official).

Many Maine homeowners still see value because frequent nor'easters, strong wind events, and wind-driven rain can cause roof failures and interior water damage even outside of hurricanes. Maine also launched a resilience initiative focused on upgrading roofs to FORTIFIED standards to reduce damage over time.

Official Fortify Maine program references: Maine PFR: Fortify Maine Home Resiliency Program and the program overview PDF: Fortify Maine Overview (PDF).