Code Plus ....A Must!
IBHS
IBHS is a member funded organization that’s mission is to reduce the social & economic
effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and
advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices. They
perform testing and consult with insurance groups and the International Code Council
to help improve building codes.
IBHS has developed a program called FORTIFIED for Safer Living® to design and
construct homes to a higher standard than most building codes. The Fortified program
offers a package of “code-plus” upgrades that greatly increase a new home’s
resistance to natural perils, including hurricane, tornado, wildfire, flood, freezing
weather, hail and earthquake, as well as to fire and interior water damage. Specifically,
Fortified requirements strengthen a home’s outer envelope – notably roof and wall
systems, doors, glazed openings, and foundation.
Aran & Franklin Engineering is the exclusive engineer in Texas to provide
specifications, design and inspections for the Fortified… for safer livingprogram. The
Beachtown development in Galveston, TX is requiring every structure in the
development to be built to the Fortified standard. Houses in Beachtown that were built
prior to Hurricane Ike survived the storm with only minor repairs needed as shown in
this report from Houston’s ABC News.
Another area that Aran & Franklin provided the Fortified design & inspection process is
the Audubon Village on the Bolivar Peninsula. Out of 200 houses that were in this area
prior to Ike only 14 remained and 10 of those were houses with Fortified certification.
The houses built in the Audubon Village with the Fortified certification were the first
modular homes built to this standard in the United States.
effects of natural disasters and other property losses by conducting research and
advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices. They
perform testing and consult with insurance groups and the International Code Council
to help improve building codes.
IBHS has developed a program called FORTIFIED for Safer Living® to design and
construct homes to a higher standard than most building codes. The Fortified program
offers a package of “code-plus” upgrades that greatly increase a new home’s
resistance to natural perils, including hurricane, tornado, wildfire, flood, freezing
weather, hail and earthquake, as well as to fire and interior water damage. Specifically,
Fortified requirements strengthen a home’s outer envelope – notably roof and wall
systems, doors, glazed openings, and foundation.
Aran & Franklin Engineering is the exclusive engineer in Texas to provide
specifications, design and inspections for the Fortified… for safer livingprogram. The
Beachtown development in Galveston, TX is requiring every structure in the
development to be built to the Fortified standard. Houses in Beachtown that were built
prior to Hurricane Ike survived the storm with only minor repairs needed as shown in
this report from Houston’s ABC News.
Another area that Aran & Franklin provided the Fortified design & inspection process is
the Audubon Village on the Bolivar Peninsula. Out of 200 houses that were in this area
prior to Ike only 14 remained and 10 of those were houses with Fortified certification.
The houses built in the Audubon Village with the Fortified certification were the first
modular homes built to this standard in the United States.
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