FORTIFIED Home certificate vs. Florida's wind mitigation form

Checked Nov 7, 2026

Not insurance advice. General information only. Your insurer or agent decides what it needs.

Short answer: a FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate does not replace Florida's Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802) or the authorized inspector who has to sign it. The Rev. 04/26 form says a FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate may be used to validate the attributes marked in questions 4 through 6 and questions 8 through 9, if the inspector checks the certificate type and attaches a photocopy. IBHS's mapping tool and Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide then say which designation level supports which of those answers. Questions 1 (building code), 2 (region), 3 (roof slope) and 7 (roof geometry) are not on that list. Citizens says the certificate may substitute for some required photos and must be submitted with the completed form to receive mitigation credits.

What FORTIFIED Roof, Silver and Gold are

FORTIFIED Home is a program of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard says achieving a designation means the home meets all requirements of a level of the program, the required components were installed by an authorized contractor, an authorized third party submitted the documentation, IBHS reviewed it, and IBHS issued a certificate of compliance for the property. The FORTIFIED Home website says you need a contractor and an independent evaluator who verifies that FORTIFIED standards are applied; a certified FORTIFIED Evaluator documents the key elements, and IBHS reviews that documentation and issues the designation.

The standard describes three designation levels that build on each other: FORTIFIED Roof is the first level; FORTIFIED Silver requires the Roof requirements first; FORTIFIED Gold requires both Roof and Silver first. For the hurricane version of each level, the standard's goals are:

• FORTIFIED Roof: minimize roof damage, attic water intrusion and associated damage by providing prescriptive roof sheathing and attachment, a sealed roof deck, a code-compliant roof covering, and approved roof and gable-end vents or covers.
• FORTIFIED Silver: meet all Roof requirements and minimize damage from failure of windows and doors, garage doors, gable ends, chimney tie-downs, soffits, and attached structures such as porches and carports.
• FORTIFIED Gold: meet all Roof and Silver requirements and minimize structural failure by providing a continuous load path from roof to walls and ultimately to the foundation, adequately pressure-rated windows and doors, and minimum wall-sheathing requirements.

Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide describes the same three certificates in shorter terms: Fortified Roof as construction standards that ensure the roof stays attached and resists water entry during high-wind events; Fortified Silver as including all Fortified Roof requirements and adding protection for exterior openings and connected structures; and Fortified Gold as building on Fortified Silver by requiring a continuous load path from roof to foundation. IBHS's FORTIFIED Roof page says a FORTIFIED Roof includes a sealed roof deck, ring-shank nails in an enhanced pattern for the roof deck, stronger roof edges, and a roof covering that meets specified tests (for asphalt shingles, ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H). The 2025 standard says FORTIFIED designations are valid for five years, and that a home may be re-designated for additional five-year terms after a re-designation inspection.

What the OIR-B1-1802 says a certificate can validate

The Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), is the wind mitigation report an authorized inspector completes. OIR updated it effective April 1, 2026; see what changed on the Rev. 04/26 form. At the top of the form, after the owner-information block, it says any documentation used to validate a construction or mitigation attribute must accompany the form, and that at least one photograph or document providing proof must accompany the form to validate each attribute marked in questions 2 through 9. The next sentence says a FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate may be used to validate the attributes marked in questions 4 through 6 and questions 8 through 9 (check the type of certificate and attach a photocopy). The form also says the insurer may ask additional questions regarding the mitigated features verified on it.

Citizens told agents on March 19, 2026, that FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver and Gold certificates "will be eligible for specific mitigation features on the new form," and that all fields on the form must be completed by the inspector. Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide, written for the Rev. 04/26 form, says a Fortified Home certificate may be used to validate mitigation features, can substitute for some required photos, and must be submitted with the OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) to receive mitigation credits. The inspector must indicate which Fortified Home certificate is being submitted. For what the nine questions ask, see the form, question by question.

Which designation supports which answers

The form's header lists the question numbers a Roof, Silver or Gold certificate may be used to validate. It does not say that every certificate level supports every one of those questions. IBHS publishes a mapping table titled "FORTIFIED Home Certificate - Mapping to OIR B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) Answers" that tells an inspector how to complete those questions based on the designation level. Citizens' guide then says how it enters a current certificate in its systems:

IBHS columns follow its hurricane-level mapping table. Citizens columns apply when its guide says a current Fortified Home certificate of that type is available.

For opening protection, IBHS's mapping tool says to use question 2 (region) when choosing the answers, and it marks Roof as not applicable. For Silver and Gold it says: for structures in Region 1 (which the mapping tool labels ">140 mph") and Region 2 (130 mph to 139 mph), use answer A for all glazed openings and non-glazed entry doors, and use answer D for non-glazed garage doors unless they are labeled or documented as impact protection that meets answer A. For Region 3 (which the mapping tool labels "<130 mph"), when plywood or OSB panels are in use, use answer C for glazed openings and non-glazed entry doors protected with plywood or OSB, otherwise use answer A; use answer A for glazed garage doors; and use answer D for non-glazed garage doors unless they are labeled or documented as meeting answer A. The form itself labels those regions HVHZ, Region 1 (≥ 140 mph), Region 2 (130 mph – 139 mph) and Region 3 (< 130 mph). See region and roof slope and opening protection.

Questions a certificate does not validate

The form's FORTIFIED sentence names questions 4 through 6 and 8 through 9. It does not name:

• Question 1, building code: which version of the Florida Building Code, or for homes in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone (Miami-Dade or Broward counties) the South Florida Building Code, was in force at the time of original permit application. See the building code question.
• Question 2, region: location based on design wind speed. The form still requires a photograph or document for each attribute marked in questions 2 through 9, and IBHS's mapping tool treats region as an input for the opening-protection answers rather than as something the certificate fills in. See region and roof slope.
• Question 3, roof slope: whether the slope (or, for a single-family home with multiple slopes, the slope that is at least two thirds of the main roof area) is greater than or equal to 6:12 or less than 6:12.
• Question 7, roof geometry: hip, other or flat. IBHS's mapping table does not assign a FORTIFIED designation to question 7. See hip roof vs. gable roof.

Even on the questions a certificate may validate, Citizens says underwriting may ask for additional photographs or other documentation. For roof-to-wall attachment, Citizens enters a current Fortified Home Gold certificate as Clips unless the inspection indicates single wraps or double wraps, and it says single or double wraps require photographs even if a Gold certificate is available. See roof-to-wall attachment, roof deck attachment and secondary water resistance.

How Citizens enters a current certificate

Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide gives these entries when a current certificate is available:

• Roof covering (question 4): a current Fortified Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate is entered as FBC Equivalent. See roof covering on the form.
• Roof deck attachment (question 5): a current Roof, Silver or Gold certificate is entered as Level C.
• Roof-to-wall attachment (question 6): a current Fortified Home Gold certificate is entered as Clips, unless the inspection indicates single wraps or double wraps.
• Sealed roof deck / secondary water resistance (question 8): a current Roof, Silver or Gold certificate is entered as SWR. The same guide says the secondary water barrier is generally not visible on completed roofs, so the inspection should include photos, permits, a Fortified Home certificate or other supporting documentation before sealed roof deck is selected.
• Opening protection (question 9): a current Fortified Home Silver or Gold certificate is entered as Hurricane Protection/Class A, in or out of the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone. If the inspector indicates wood structural panels (C.1, C.2 or C.3) and a current Silver or Gold certificate is available, Citizens' table enters None.

Citizens' March 19, 2026 bulletin also told agents to confirm that the inspection is complete and that all required photographs are attached before submission.

The certificate does not replace the form or the inspector

Citizens' guide says the certificate must be submitted with the OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) to receive mitigation credits. Its March 19, 2026 bulletin says all fields on the form must be completed by the inspector. OIR's wind-mitigation resources page says an authorized inspector completes the OIR-B1-1802 during a wind mitigation inspection, and it encourages consumers to verify that the inspector is authorized under section 627.711(2)(a), Florida Statutes.

Section 627.711(2)(a) says an insurer shall accept as valid a uniform mitigation verification form signed by an authorized mitigation inspector: a home inspector licensed under s. 468.8314 who has completed at least 3 hours of Construction Industry Licensing Board-approved hurricane mitigation training and a proficiency exam; a building code inspector certified under s. 468.607; a general, building or residential contractor licensed under s. 489.111; a professional engineer licensed under s. 471.015; a professional architect licensed under s. 481.213; or anyone else the insurer recognizes as qualified. Florida DFS says that since July 1, 2008, all admitted insurers have been required to accept a valid form completed and signed by those licensees. See who can sign the OIR-B1-1802.

A FORTIFIED designation is a separate IBHS process. The standard and the FORTIFIED Home website describe a contractor, an independent FORTIFIED Evaluator, IBHS review, and an IBHS certificate of compliance. Those sources do not say that process replaces the OIR-B1-1802 or the authorized mitigation inspector who signs it.

How this differs from a regular wind mitigation inspection

On a regular wind mitigation inspection, an authorized inspector completes the OIR-B1-1802 and, per the form, attaches at least one photograph or document for each attribute marked in questions 2 through 9. DFS says the Rev. 04/26 form must be used for all inspections as of April 1, 2026, and that the new form specifies the documentation that must be used to verify entries. A FORTIFIED certificate does not skip that inspection. It is additional documentation the form says may validate questions 4 through 6 and 8 through 9, and that Citizens says may substitute for some required photos. The inspector still completes the form, checks the certificate type and attaches a photocopy. OIR, DFS and the form footer say the completed form is valid for up to five years if no material changes have been made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found on the form. IBHS separately says FORTIFIED designations are valid for five years. Citizens' entries depend on a current certificate. See how long inspection reports stay valid and how much a wind mitigation inspection saves.

How this differs from My Safe Florida Home

My Safe Florida Home is a different program. Section 215.5586, Florida Statutes, establishes it within the Department of Financial Services to provide licensed inspectors to perform hurricane mitigation inspections of eligible homes and grants to fund hurricane mitigation projects on those homes, subject to legislative appropriations. The program's website describes free wind mitigation inspections and grant assistance, and says the inspection report gives you the opportunity to share it with your insurance carrier for discounts on the hurricane portion of your premium. The program's Homeowner's Guide lists Form OIR-B1-1802 as an attachment to the Initial Inspection Report and to the Final Inspection Report; the final report's copy is signed by both the inspector and the applicant.

Section 215.5586 says that when recommended by an initial inspection, grants may be used for opening-protection improvements (exterior doors, garage doors, windows and skylights) and roof improvements (reinforcing roof-to-wall connections, improving the strength of roof-deck attachments, and installing secondary water resistance for the roof and replacing the roof covering). The statute and the official My Safe Florida Home pages cited below do not treat a FORTIFIED Home certificate as a substitute for the program inspection, and they do not describe a FORTIFIED designation as a grant product. A FORTIFIED designation is issued by IBHS after construction is documented to its standard; a My Safe Florida Home inspection is a state-program inspection that produces the OIR-B1-1802 and, for eligible homeowners, a path to a grant. See My Safe Florida Home vs. a private wind mitigation.

Before you book

• Bring a photocopy of your current FORTIFIED certificate: the form tells the inspector to check Roof, Silver or Gold and attach a photocopy. Citizens says the inspector must indicate which certificate is being submitted, and that the certificate must be submitted with the form.
• Confirm the inspector is authorized: OIR encourages consumers to verify that the inspector is authorized under s. 627.711(2)(a). See who can sign the OIR-B1-1802 and how to look up a license on DBPR.
• Ask which form they will use: DFS says the OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) must be used for all inspections as of April 1, 2026.
• Compare prices: 10 of the 16 companies we list publish a wind mitigation price. Listed prices run from $100 to $200, some of them starting prices, with a median of $150 counting each company once. See the Palm Beach County prices page or find an inspector on the city pages.

FAQ

Can a FORTIFIED certificate replace the OIR-B1-1802?

No. Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide says a Fortified Home certificate must be submitted with the OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26) to receive mitigation credits. Citizens' March 19, 2026 bulletin says all fields on the form must be completed by the inspector.

Which OIR-B1-1802 questions can a FORTIFIED certificate validate?

The form says a FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate may be used to validate the attributes marked in questions 4 through 6 and questions 8 through 9, if the inspector checks the certificate type and attaches a photocopy. IBHS's mapping tool assigns roof covering, roof deck attachment and sealed roof deck to all three levels, roof-to-wall attachment to Gold only, and opening protection to Silver and Gold only.

Does a FORTIFIED Roof certificate cover opening protection or roof-to-wall attachment?

IBHS's mapping tool marks FORTIFIED Roof as not applicable for question 6 (roof-to-wall attachment) and question 9 (opening protection). It maps roof-to-wall attachment to Gold, and opening protection to Silver and Gold. Citizens enters a current Gold certificate as Clips for roof-to-wall attachment unless the inspection indicates single or double wraps, and a current Silver or Gold certificate as Hurricane Protection/Class A for opening protection.

Do I still need photographs if I have a FORTIFIED certificate?

The form requires at least one photograph or document for each attribute marked in questions 2 through 9, and it allows a FORTIFIED certificate to validate questions 4 through 6 and 8 through 9. Citizens says a certificate can substitute for some required photos. It also says underwriting may ask for additional photographs, and that single or double wraps require photographs even if a Gold certificate is available. Questions 2, 3 and 7 are not in the form's FORTIFIED list.

Who still has to sign the form if I have a FORTIFIED certificate?

An authorized mitigation inspector listed in Florida Statutes s. 627.711(2)(a). OIR says an authorized inspector completes the form and encourages consumers to verify that authorization. DFS says admitted insurers must accept a valid form completed and signed by those licensees.

Is a FORTIFIED designation the same as a My Safe Florida Home inspection?

No. A FORTIFIED designation is issued by IBHS after an authorized contractor's work is documented by an authorized third party and reviewed by IBHS. My Safe Florida Home is a Department of Financial Services program under s. 215.5586 that provides hurricane mitigation inspections of eligible homes and, subject to appropriations, grants for recommended improvements. The program's Homeowner's Guide lists Form OIR-B1-1802 as an attachment to the inspection report.

Sources

• Florida OIR, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), documentation note and questions 1 through 9: floir.gov (PDF) (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Wind Mitigation Resources: floir.gov (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• Florida DFS, Mitigation Notices, Inspections and Forms: myfloridacfo.com (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• Citizens Property Insurance, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form Changes (03.19.26): citizensfla.com (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• Citizens Wind Loss Mitigation Guide (Rev. 04/26), Fortified Home certification and sections 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9: citizensfla.com (PDF) (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• IBHS FORTIFIED, FORTIFIED Home Certificate mapping to OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26): fortifiedhome.org (PDF) (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• IBHS FORTIFIED, FORTIFIED Home homepage: fortifiedhome.org (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• IBHS FORTIFIED, FORTIFIED Roof: fortifiedhome.org/roof (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• IBHS, 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard, program overview and designation levels: fortifiedhome.org (PDF) (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 627.711 (2026), notice of premium discounts; uniform mitigation verification inspection form: leg.state.fl.us (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 215.5586 (2026), My Safe Florida Home Program: leg.state.fl.us (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• My Safe Florida Home: mysafeflhome.com (checked Nov 7, 2026)
• My Safe Florida Home, Homeowner's Guide (PDF, updated 7/21/25), Initial Inspection Reports and Final Inspection Reports: mysafeflhome.com (checked Nov 7, 2026)