Are you well fortified?

Fortified Roofs in Oklahoma

The fortified designation refers to a new building standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. It is an advanced construction practice and materials to withstand severe weather conditions, expanding upon standard building codes. This involves reinforced edges, a sealed roof deck, enhanced attachment systems, and potentially impact-resistant shingles for hail-prone regions.

Advantages of a fortified designated roof

Homes and roofs built to fortified standards have 60% less claim frequency, and the severity of the claim is reduced by 40%. The fortified designation means less risk, less of your property destroyed, a longer-lasting roof, reduced insurance premiums, and greater safety.

A to Z Inspections performs commercial and residential inspections and is a Fortified Evaluator approved with the OKReady program statewide. The fee is $325 each time needed on site plus 70 cents per mile if your house is more than 20 miles from Midtown OKC.

Details on a fortified designated roof

Effective April 1, 2025, insurance companies in Oklahoma are required to begin offering discounts for homes with fortified design designated certificates. Insurance companies have 30 days to get the Fortify Program in place.
Get fortified designations for your entire home or just for the roof. The fortified design designation for your roof can be applied to your house whether it is newly constructed, over 100 years old, or somewhere in between.
A sealed roof deck is achieved through the installation of a continuous secondary water barrier, such as a peel-and-stick underlayment, to prevent water ingress in case of damage to the roof covering. The minimum sheathing thickness is 3/8 inch and 7/16 inch. Specific ring-shank nails are employed to secure the roof deck to the rafters in an enhanced pattern.
Asphalt shingles must be high-wind rated and installed according to the manufacturer’s high-wind installation guidelines. Shingles must be fastened using specific fasteners, such as ring-shank nails, as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. In hail-prone areas, it is recommended to use Impact-Resistant Shingles, Hail Supplement, and Fortified Shingles with Good or Excellent IBHS Hail Impact Ratings.
Wider drip edges and fully adhered starter strips are required to prevent wind from lifting the roof’s edges. #30 felt underlayment must comply with ASTM D226 Type II or ASTM D4869 Type IV standards.

Information for the high wind and hail area of Oklahoma

For more information about how to make your home stronger, safer, and more resistant to high winds, visit disaster safety.org/fortify. Fortified will be offering a course for roofers in Oklahoma City in 2025.

As a homeowner, ask your insurance agent, your roofer, or your general contractor about the fortified designation for your home. For more information, go to www.oid.ok.gov/okready

This program is a voluntary initiative that exceeds standard construction and re-roofing codes. To receive a grant, you must obtain an IBHS FORTIFIED Home—Roof™—High Wind designation with the Hail Supplement. Learn more about FORTIFIED™ by visiting fortifiedhome.org.

Jack Werner, PhD, has a construction degree from OSU and was Oklahoma’s first designated Master Inspector. He teaches inspections as well as courses for the Oklahoma Home State Builders. The National Association of Home Builders named him a Master Instructor in 2017.