IBHS News Releases

Called “Fortified Florida,” the pilot program features new home construction options that offer added protection against the state’s three most destructive natural perils--high winds, flooding and wildfires.

“Fortified Florida” will premiere in the Tampa Bay area before being introduced elsewhere in the state and across the country as part of an initiative called “Fortified…for safer living.”

The non-profit Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a national organization that recently relocated its headquarters to Tampa, sponsors the initiative. The IBHS is supported by the property-casualty insurance industry.

The local pilot program was developed in partnership between IBHS and the Contractors & Builders Association (CBA) of Pinellas County. The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC), FEMA and the State of Florida also assisted in development of the program through Project Impact—a public education program targeted toward disaster loss reduction.
A number of building material suppliers also contributed products to the program, including Amarr Doors, APA-The Engineered Wood Association, DuPont, PGT Industries, Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc. and Tamko Roofing Products.

Three new homes, open now as part of the CBA of Pinellas County’s 2000 Suncoast Gallery of New Homes, October 21 through November 5, have been designed and built to meet the new “Fortified” standards, which include a combination of construction features, including:

Non-combustible roof materials that are also better able to withstand high winds

Windows, skylights and patio doors protected by shutters or using impact-resistant glass

Securely anchored exterior structures, such as carports and porches

Reinforced entry and garage doors

Building site and landscaping techniques that reduce wildfire and flooding vulnerability

These construction features generally offer options for protection that go beyond what is now required by local building codes. The new statewide Florida building code, slated to go into effect next year, addresses some of the same areas as the “Fortified” standards, such as window protection. But while the new code varies by geographic area, the “Fortified” standards are uniform throughout the state. And there are still important distinctions between the two. For example, the “Fortified” standards will continue to require stronger roofing material and construction to protect against high winds.

The “Fortified Florida” designation must be granted by a qualified service. IBHS engineers, who designated the three new homes in Pinellas County, will arrange this service for the first 100 homes built to the new standards in Florida. IBHS plans to qualify an outside organization to provide this service afterwards.

Depending on the quality of the material the buyer chooses, the cost to add “Fortified” features could be as low as about 4.5 percent of the total cost of a new home. For example, a $160,000 home built to “Fortified” standards today would include about $7,300 in extra expense for the upgrade.

Local independent builders constructed the three new “Fortified” homes. The Lehigh Group’s project is at 2204 Cypress Hollow Lane in Safety Harbor; Mark Maconi Homes of Tampa Bay built a “Fortified” home in Wentworth Golf Estates, at 3045 Kensington Trace in Tarpon Springs; and J.M.

Hoyt Homes & Development Company constructed the “Fortified” home at 16130 49th Street North in Clearwater.

Ken Amylon, senior vice president with AMICA Mutual Insurance Company and chairman of IBHS, said that the group’s plans call for the “Fortified…for safer living” program to expand within Florida and also into a new state early next year. He said that IBHS member Florida Select Insurance Company would sponsor the construction of a “Fortified” home in Hillsborough County. The Kemper Insurance Companies, also an IBHS member, will do the same in Jacksonville, where the firm recently moved its personal insurance operation. IBHS also expects to announce a set of criteria for retrofitting existing Florida homes to the “Fortified” standards next year.

Harvey Ryland, president and CEO of IBHS, said, “New home buyers should know they can now choose the ‘Fortified’ construction options that can help safeguard their families from hurricanes, wildfires and floods.” He added that public awareness would help create a market demand for these construction features.

Rodney Fischer, executive director of the Contactors & Builders Association of Pinellas County, said, “Just as gated communities and state-of-the-art security systems afford home buyers with peace of mind, ‘Fortified…for safer living’ upgrades are yet another option that can be incorporated into the construction process for those home buyers concerned about high winds and storm damage.”

More information about the “Fortified Florida” program is available at www.fortifiedhome.net or by calling 877-534-4672.