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The FORTIFIED program uses specific terms with specific meanings. “FORTIFIED,” “FORTIFIED Roof,” “FORTIFIED Silver,” “FORTIFIED Gold,” “IBHS,” “FORTIFIED Home Evaluator,” “Strengthen Kentucky Homes,” and “SKH” are not interchangeable. Confusing them leads to miscommunication with your evaluator, your contractor, your insurance carrier, or the SKH program. This page clarifies each term.
| Term | Meaning | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| IBHS | Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety — the nonprofit research organization that runs the FORTIFIED Home program | Everyone |
| FORTIFIED Home | The overall IBHS program with three designation levels (Roof, Silver, Gold) | IBHS, evaluators, insurers |
| FORTIFIED Roof | The first designation level — sealed roof deck, ring-shank nails, upgraded roof covering, verified attachments | Homeowners, contractors |
| FORTIFIED Silver | The second level — adds window/door impact protection, braced gable ends, reinforced garage doors | Homeowners, contractors |
| FORTIFIED Gold | The third level — adds a continuous load path from roof to foundation | Homeowners, contractors |
| FORTIFIED Home Evaluator | A credentialed independent professional trained and approved by IBHS to verify FORTIFIED Home standards | IBHS Provider Locator |
| FORTIFIED designation | The certificate IBHS issues after the evaluator submits a qualifying package | IBHS, insurance carriers |
| SKH | Strengthen Kentucky Homes — the Kentucky state grant program for FORTIFIED Roof designation work | Kentucky Dept. of Insurance |
| SKH-approved evaluator | An FORTIFIED Home Evaluator additionally approved by Kentucky and listed on the SKH directory | Kentucky SKH directory |
A nonprofit research organization supported by the U.S. property-casualty insurance industry. IBHS created and operates the FORTIFIED Home program. IBHS is the credentialing body for FORTIFIED Home Evaluators and the issuing body for FORTIFIED designation certificates. IBHS does not perform evaluations itself — it trains and approves independent evaluators who then perform and submit the work. fortifiedhome.org is the official program website.
The overall IBHS construction and re-roofing program with three designation levels (Roof, Silver, Gold). “FORTIFIED” is a defined credentialing program, not a generic adjective. When someone says “FORTIFIED roof,” they mean the roof meets the FORTIFIED Roof standard — not that the roof is generally “made stronger.”
The first designation level. To earn FORTIFIED Roof, the home must have:
FORTIFIED Roof is the level typically eligible for SKH grant funding. Most Kentucky SKH grant applicants pursue FORTIFIED Roof designation.
The second designation level. Adds to FORTIFIED Roof:
FORTIFIED Silver yields a higher insurance premium discount than FORTIFIED Roof in Kentucky (typically up to 45% vs up to 30%).
The third designation level. Adds to FORTIFIED Silver:
FORTIFIED Gold yields the highest insurance premium discount in Kentucky (up to 55%). The continuous load path often requires structural retrofitting.
An independent professional trained and approved by IBHS to verify FORTIFIED Home construction standards. HECS’s John Sabbak is an IBHS-trained FORTIFIED Home Evaluator. The evaluator:
The evaluator is independent of the roofing contractor. The same company cannot both install the roof and certify the FORTIFIED designation.
The official certificate IBHS issues after the evaluator submits a qualifying package. The designation is what your insurance carrier recognizes for premium discounts. Designation levels: Roof, Silver, Gold. The designation stays with the home as long as the roof covering is maintained; re-roofs require a new evaluation.
The Kentucky state grant program administered by the Kentucky Department of Insurance. SKH helps Kentucky homeowners pay for FORTIFIED Roof designation work that strengthens a home against severe weather. The grant amount depends on the designation level and current program rules (currently up to $10,000). SKH is a Kentucky-only program — no SKH-equivalent exists in Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, or Missouri as of 2026-09-07.
An FORTIFIED Home Evaluator who is additionally approved by the Kentucky Department of Insurance and listed on the SKH Certified Evaluator directory at skh.ky.gov. SKH grant applicants must choose an evaluator from this list. HECS (Home Energy & Comfort Solutions Inc., John Sabbak, La Grange, KY, (502) 643-7160) is on this list.