Roof-to-wall attachment: toe nails, clips and wraps on the wind mitigation form

OIR-B1-1699 wind premium credits for existing construction: roof covering not equivalent to the Florida Building Code, no secondary water resistance, no opening protection, terrain B, 2% deductible. Rounded to whole numbers. OIR lists this form as effective October 2006 with updates pending.

What question 6 asks

The form asks: "What is the WEAKEST roof to wall connection?" It tells the inspector not to count the attachment of hip and valley jacks within five feet of the inside or outside corner of the roof when deciding the weakest type. Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide says roof-to-wall attachment should be applied based on the weakest attachment the inspector indicates.

Florida Statutes s. 627.0629(1) says residential property rate filings must include discounts, credits or other rate differentials for construction techniques shown to reduce windstorm loss, and it lists roof-to-wall strength among them.

A. Toe nails

The form's answer A covers a truss or rafter anchored to the top plate of the wall with nails driven at an angle through the truss or rafter into the top plate. Answer A also covers metal connectors or structural fasteners that are not installed as intended and don't meet the minimal conditions for B, C or D. A third option under A is another connection method documented to provide a substantiated wind allowable uplift capacity of 185 lbs. or greater.

The minimal conditions for clips and wraps

To qualify for B, C or D, the form says every verified connection must meet one of three minimal conditions:

• 1. Metal connectors secured to the truss or rafter with at least three nails, attached to the side and/or bottom of the top plate or embedded into the bond beam, with less than a ½" gap from the blocking or truss, blocked no more than 1 ½" from the truss, and free of visible severe corrosion.
• 2. A single strap that wraps over the truss or rafter, secured to the side of the wall and/or bottom of the top plate with at least three nails on each side, and free of visible severe corrosion.
• 3. Purpose-made metal connectors or structural fasteners installed per the manufacturer's specifications to meet the uplift capacities listed for each answer.

The form adds that all retrofit connectors or structural fasteners must meet option 3. Citizens' guide says Rev. 04/26 expanded the minimal conditions so that only one of the three must be met, and added purpose-made connector choices based on uplift capacity thresholds that require documentation of the manufacturer's specifications.

B. Clips

Answer B is for metal connectors that do not wrap over the truss or rafter. It also covers connectors with at least one strap that wraps over the truss but doesn't meet the nail position requirements of C or D, as long as it is secured with at least three nails. Purpose-made connectors or fasteners count as clips with a substantiated wind allowable uplift capacity of 386 lbs. or greater, installed per the manufacturer's specifications, and the form says this requires site-specific documentation. OIR's notice to policyholders (OIR-B1-1655) describes clips as pieces of metal nailed into the side of the rafter or truss and into the side of the top plate or wall stud.

C. Single wraps and D. Double wraps

A single wrap is a single strap that wraps over the truss or rafter and is secured with at least two nails on one side and at least one nail on the opposing side. A purpose-made connector qualifies as a single wrap at a substantiated wind allowable uplift capacity of 535 lbs. or greater, with site-specific documentation.

A double wrap is two separate straps, one on either side of the truss or rafter, each wrapping over it and secured with at least two nails on one side and at least one on the opposing side. The form also lists, under D, a single strap that wraps over the truss and is secured to the side of the wall and/or bottom of the top plate with at least three nails on each side. Purpose-made connectors qualify as double wraps at a substantiated wind allowable uplift capacity of 891 lbs. or greater, with site-specific documentation.

E. Structural, and the "unknown" answers

Answer E, Structural, is anchor bolts structurally connected or a reinforced concrete roof. The other answers are F (Other), G (Unknown or unidentified), H (No attic access) and I (Connection(s) not installed as intended). Citizens' guide enters F, G, H and I in its systems as "Unknown or Unidentified." For E, it says to select "Not Applicable" if the roof cover is a reinforced concrete roof deck.

Attic access

Citizens' page on wind inspections says attic access is required to verify certain mitigation features and asks you to make sure your attic is accessible before the inspector arrives. It says that if the inspector cannot access your attic, you may not be eligible for discounts for roof-to-wall attachment, roof-deck attachment and secondary water-resistance features. If you can't attend, Citizens says your representative should know where to find the attic access.

Photos and documentation

The form says at least one photograph or document must accompany it to validate each attribute marked in questions 2 through 9, and any documentation used to validate an attribute must be attached. Citizens' guide says underwriting may ask for additional photographs or other documentation to validate the features marked.

A FORTIFIED Home Roof, Silver or Gold certificate may be used to validate questions 4 through 6, 8 and 9, according to the form. For roof-to-wall attachment, Citizens' guide says a current FORTIFIED Home Gold certificate is entered as Clips unless the inspection indicates single or double wraps, and that single or double wraps require photographs even when a Gold certificate is available. The same guide describes Fortified Gold as building on Fortified Silver by requiring a continuous load path from roof to foundation.

Homes built in 2002 or later

Citizens' guide says that for structures built in 2002 or later, many mitigation features are included in the base rate for the year built, and the matching fields in its systems are marked "Not Applicable" when those code-minimum features are present. For roof-to-wall attachment, it enters homes built on or after Jan 1, 2002 as "Not Applicable" unless the inspection indicates single wraps or better. It also says the Rev. 04/26 form may not be required when a home was built to the Florida Building Code on or after Jan 1, 2002 and has no additional wind mitigation features.

What the connection can be worth

The table at the top uses OIR-B1-1699, which OIR describes as displaying the range of wind premium credits for existing construction on single family residences. In those rows, a hip roof with toe nails already shows 49% with 8d deck nailing, and clips raise it to 68%. Single and double wraps show the same or nearly the same credit as clips in those rows. OIR-B1-1655 says mitigation discounts apply only to the hurricane-wind portion of your premium, and OIR's resources page says it continues to evaluate OIR-B1-1699 for updates, so ask your insurer for its current figures. See how much a wind mitigation inspection saves.

Adding clips or straps to an existing home

Florida Statutes s. 553.844(2)(b)3. directs the Florida Building Commission to adopt prescriptive techniques for improving roof-to-wall connections on site-built, single-family homes built before the Florida Building Code. It says roof-to-wall connections shall not be required unless evaluation and installation of connections at gable ends or all corners can be completed for 15 percent of the cost of roof replacement. Under s. 553.844(3)(b), that requirement applies to a roof replacement on a building in the wind-borne debris region with an insured value, or if uninsured a just valuation, of $300,000 or more. See new roof: Florida reroof rules.

Florida Statutes s. 215.5586(2)(e) says that when recommended by an initial hurricane mitigation inspection, My Safe Florida Home grants may be used for roof improvements that include reinforcing roof-to-wall connections. Section 215.5586(2)(f) says improvements must be identified by the final hurricane mitigation inspection to receive grant funds, and s. 215.5586(2)(d) says the work must have all required local permits and inspections and be done by properly licensed contractors. See My Safe Florida Home vs. a private inspection.

Before your inspection

• Clear the attic access: Citizens says attic access is required to verify roof-to-wall attachment.
• Gather paperwork: the form says all retrofit connectors must meet option 3 and that purpose-made connectors require site-specific documentation; Citizens lists receipts with product specifications, work orders, invoices and roofing permits as acceptable documentation.
• Give documents first: Citizens asks you to give the inspector copies of any mitigation documents before the inspection begins.
• Compare prices: our Palm Beach County prices page lists wind mitigation prices published by inspectors, and the city pages list inspectors by area.

FAQ

Do hurricane clips lower home insurance in Florida?

They can lower the hurricane-wind part of the premium. Florida Statutes s. 627.0629(1) requires rate filings to include discounts for construction techniques that include roof-to-wall strength, and OIR-B1-1655 says mitigation discounts apply only to the hurricane-wind portion of the policy. In OIR's OIR-B1-1699 table, a non-hip roof with 8d deck nails at 6"/12", no secondary water resistance and no opening protection shows 9% with toe nails and 58% with clips.

What is the difference between clips and single wraps?

On the OIR-B1-1802, clips are metal connectors that do not wrap over the truss or rafter. A single wrap is a single strap that wraps over the truss or rafter and is secured with at least two nails on one side and at least one on the opposing side.

What happens if the inspector can't get into my attic?

The form has an answer H for no attic access, and Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide enters it as Unknown or Unidentified. Citizens says that without attic access you may not be eligible for roof-to-wall, roof-deck attachment and secondary water-resistance discounts.

Does one missing strap change the answer?

Question 6 asks for the weakest roof-to-wall connection, not counting hip and valley jacks within five feet of a roof corner. Citizens' guide applies the credit based on the weakest attachment the inspector indicates.

Does a newer home get a roof-to-wall credit?

Citizens' Wind Loss Mitigation Guide enters homes built on or after Jan 1, 2002 as Not Applicable for roof-to-wall attachment unless the inspection indicates single wraps or better. It says many mitigation features for 2002 and later homes are included in the base rate for the year built.

Sources

• Florida OIR, Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26), question 6 and photo requirements: floir.gov (PDF) (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Citizens Wind Loss Mitigation Guide (Rev. 04/26), sections 1, 6 and the documentation and Fortified Home requirements: PDF (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Citizens Property Insurance, Your Wind Inspection (attic access, documents): citizensfla.com (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Windstorm Mitigation Discounts; Single Family Residences, OIR-B1-1699: floir.gov (XLS) (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Notice of Premium Discounts for Hurricane Loss Mitigation, OIR-B1-1655 (Rev. 02/10): floir.gov (PDF) (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Florida OIR, Wind Mitigation Resources (form list and dates): floir.gov (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 627.0629 (2026), residential property insurance; rate filings: leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 553.844 (2026), windstorm loss mitigation; requirements for roofs and opening protection: leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 27, 2026)
• Florida Statutes s. 215.5586 (2026), My Safe Florida Home Program, subsection (2): leg.state.fl.us (checked Oct 27, 2026)