Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research and communications organization. Supported solely by property insurers and reinsurers, its core mission is to conduct objective, scientific research to identify and promote effective actions that strengthen homes, businesses, and communities against natural disasters and other causes of loss. The organization's primary research facility, the IBHS Research Center, is a state-of-the-art laboratory located in Richburg, South Carolina.

IBHS translates its building safety research into real-world solutions for property owners, aiming to create more resilient communities. Key offerings include the FORTIFIED Home™ program, which provides engineering and building standards for single-family and multifamily residences to enhance their resistance to severe weather events. In 2022, IBHS also launched the Wildfire Prepared Home program, a specific mitigation designation for wildfire risks. The organization's research engineers utilize their unique Research Center to study the impacts of wind, wind-driven rain, hail, and wildfire by subjecting full-scale structures to realistic weather conditions.

Recently, IBHS celebrated a significant milestone with 100,000 FORTIFIED designations, reflecting a growing adoption of resilient building practices. In March 2026, in collaboration with the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), IBHS published a framework outlining science-based standards for wildfire mitigation, emphasizing the critical five-foot zone around structures. This initiative underscores the economic benefits of hazard mitigation, with research indicating a substantial return on investment. IBHS continues to advocate for and develop affordable resilience solutions, including guidance for manufactured and modular homes, and collaborates with various stakeholders to foster more resilient housing nationwide.