A Case for FORTIFIED Construction

In the face of increasing natural disasters and extreme weather events, the importance of FORTIFIED construction cannot be overstated. This blog post will explore the value that FORTIFIED construction brings to our homes, communities, and the environment.

What is FORTIFIED Construction?

FORTIFIED construction refers to building practices designed to strengthen structures and make them more resistant to severe weather and natural disasters. These practices go beyond standard building codes, incorporating advanced techniques and materials to enhance a building’s durability and resilience. This program was initially created by the insurance industry to combat the relative expense of repair and replacement costs from storms. FORTIFIED certifications are available through FORTIFIED home. There are three levels of FORTIFIED Construction:

• FORTIFIED Roof: for when severe weather strikes, it should keep the roof on and the rain out.
• FORTIFIED Silver: includes the protection of FORTIFIED Roof and adds additional protection to vulnerable and often overlooked components, including gable ends, doors and windows.
• FORTIFIED Gold: choose for ultimate protection. It includes all the protection of FORTIFIED Roof and Silver and requires that each building’s entire structure is tied together forming a continuous load path.

Each subsequent level provides additional protection, but also additional costs. The process of certification includes an initial design review, construction observations, and final certification at project completion.

The Benefits of FORTIFIED Construction

Enhanced Safety and Protection

The primary benefit of FORTIFIED construction is the enhanced safety and protection it offers. FORTIFIED homes are designed to withstand severe weather conditions such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. This means less damage, fewer repairs, and most importantly, a safer environment for the occupants.

Financial Savings and Incentives

While the initial cost of FORTIFIED construction may be higher than traditional methods, the long-term financial benefits are significant. FORTIFIED homes often require fewer repairs following a disaster, resulting in lower insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Over time, these savings can offset the initial investment. This can result in allowing tenants to get back into their homes more quickly, so less rent loss. It also provides an argument for a higher valuation than typical construction.

Many housing agencies are now encouraging or requiring FORTIFIED construction in storm prone regions. This includes everything from scoring more points in competitive funding rounds to simply requiring it to get any funding at all. Some states are now providing grants and other incentives to encourage home owners and property owners to build smarter. This incentives alone or layered with additional funding from resources like those found in the Inflation Reduction Act can be a powerful tool to accomplish this type of construction.

Environmental Sustainability

FORTIFIED construction contributes to environmental sustainability. By reducing the need for repairs and reconstruction, we decrease the demand for raw materials and energy-intensive processes. This not only conserves resources but also reduces the carbon footprint of our buildings. With weather continuing to become more severe and construction costs continuing to rise, there is tremendous value in FORTIFIED construction. It makes total sense to create a product that is “sustainable” environmentally and fiscally.

Conclusion

We at DNA Workshop have had a tremendous amount of experience dealing with construction in storm prone areas and we are big advocates of the FORTIFIED program. This has been a brief explanation of what is included. We believe this is the future of construction and are happy to be at the forefront of building to and renovating to this standard.

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