IBHS News Releases

“Fortified Florida” is a new home construction program sponsored by the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a national organization headquartered in Tampa.

The program launched with three new Pinellas County homes last October, and will eventually be rolled out nationwide as an initiative called “Fortified… for safer living”.

First Floridian is the first insurance company to sponsor its own “Fortified” home. It will be built in Longleaf, off State Road 54, about 4 miles west of Gunn Highway. The address is 3151 Town Avenue in New Port Richey.

“Fortified” guidelines feature affordable construction options to safeguard homes and families against high winds, flooding and wildfires - Florida’s three most destructive natural perils.

“Fortified” construction features include:

Non-combustible roof materials that also better withstand high winds
Window, skylights and patio doors protected by shutters or made of impact-resistant glass
Securely anchored exterior structures such as carports and porches
Reinforced entry garage doors
Building site and landscaping techniques that reduce wildfire and flooding vulnerability
“IBHS engineers and other experts developed this program to demonstrate how new homes in Florida can be built safer,” said Nancy Baily, president and CEO of First Floridian. “In addition to educating the consumer, we’re using this as a training tool to help our employees protect their own families.”

“Image Custom Homes is excited to be part of a program that helps improve the safety of our customers,” according to President Doug Naumann. “It’s important to show the public how they can strengthen their homes.”

“Fortified Florida” construction features offer options for protection that go beyond what is required by local building codes. The new Florida building code addresses some of the same areas as the “Fortified” standards, such as window protection. But while the new code varies by geographic area, “Fortified” standards are uniform throughout the state. Another distinction is that the “Fortified” standards will continue to require stronger roofing material and construction to protect against high winds.

The Pasco Building Association is also a partner in the latest “Fortified” home. Executive Director Nita Beckwith said, “The PBA is always looking for techniques that make homes safer. The public needs to know that these options are available and can be included in new Pasco County homes.”

Depending on the quality of the material the buyer chooses, the cost to add “Fortified” features could be as low as 4.5 percent of the total cost of a new home. The 3 bedroom/2 bath Pasco home will be priced at about $150,000.

The “Fortified Florida” designation must be granted by a qualified service. IBHS engineers will arrange this service for the first 100 homes built to the new standards in Florida, including the new Pasco County home.

“The Pasco County home is an important step in the evolution of the ‘Fortified Florida’ program,” said IBHS President and CEO Harvey Ryland. “We look forward to announcing more new homes in Florida, and an expansion of the ‘Fortified’ program into additional states.”

IBHS is a not-for-profit initiative of the insurance industry to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses and human suffering caused by natural disasters.