Wind Mitigation Inspection Checklist: The 7 Categories on Form OIR-B1-1802
A wind mitigation inspection exists to find premium credits. The inspector documents seven specific construction features on the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, and each one either verifies to a credited category or it does not — there is no partial credit and no room for narrative. Florida's form was revised effective April 1, 2026, so any checklist written against the older revision is now out of date.
Who orders this
Florida homeowners seeking wind premium discounts, and buyers pricing insurance before closing. Similar mitigation-credit inspections exist in other coastal states under different forms. Credits are frequently large enough that the inspection pays for itself in the first policy term.
1. Building Code Compliance
Establishes whether the home was built to a code edition that already carries wind-resistance assumptions. This is a documentation exercise more than a visual one.
- Year of original construction from permit records or the property appraiser
- Date the building permit was applied for — this, not the completion date, governs the code edition
- For Florida homes: whether the permit predates or postdates March 1, 2002 (Florida Building Code)
- For homes in the HVHZ (Miami-Dade and Broward): whether the permit predates or postdates September 1, 1994
- Manufactured or mobile home wind-zone designation and tie-down documentation where applicable
- Documentation source cited on the form so the underwriter can verify it independently
2. Roof Covering
Each covering type is evaluated against whether it was permitted and installed to a qualifying product-approval standard.
- Covering type for every roof section — a mixed roof is graded on its weakest section
- Permit date for the most recent re-roof
- Product approval number, Miami-Dade NOA, or Florida Product Approval where visible
- Whether the covering meets the FBC standard in effect at permit date
- Underlayment type where observable at edges or in the attic
- Photographic evidence of the covering on every distinct roof section
3. Roof Deck Attachment
Measured in the attic. The inspector is determining fastener type, size, and spacing into the trusses — this is where a flashlight, tape measure, and patience earn the credit.
- Sheathing material and nominal thickness (½" plywood, ⅝" plywood, OSB, or 1x board decking)
- Fastener type — staples, 6d nails, 8d nails, or screws
- Fastener spacing along the framing member, measured not estimated
- Truss or rafter spacing on center
- Whether spacing is consistent across the deck or varies by section
- Clear attic photographs showing fastener penetration and the tape measure in frame
4. Roof-to-Wall Attachment
The single highest-value category on the form. The 2026 revision added performance-based options here, so verify you are working from the current form.
- Connector type at each truss or rafter — toe nail, clip, single wrap, or double wrap
- Number of fasteners in each connector and whether they penetrate the wall framing
- Minimum condition observed across the structure — the weakest connection sets the rating
- Whether the connector wraps over the top of the truss and down both sides
- Concrete-embedded or structural connections where framing is not accessible
- Performance-based attachment documentation under the Rev. 04/26 options where used
- Photographs of the weakest observed connection, not the best one
5. Roof Geometry
Hip roofs shed wind load better than gable roofs and earn a credit, but the geometry has to be measured against a strict threshold.
- Total roof perimeter measured
- Total length of all non-hip features (gable ends, dormers, overhangs on gable walls)
- Whether non-hip features are 10% or less of total perimeter — the hip qualifying threshold
- Attached structures included or excluded per form instructions
- Sketch or aerial imagery supporting the measurement
6. Secondary Water Resistance (SWR)
A verified underlayment barrier that keeps water out after the covering blows off. It must be documented, not assumed.
- Self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen membrane applied directly to the deck
- Foam adhesive at deck joints as an alternative qualifying method
- Permit or roofing contract language documenting SWR installation
- Confirmation that felt underlayment alone is not being claimed as SWR
7. Opening Protection
All-or-nothing: every glazed opening must be protected to the same standard, and one unprotected window disqualifies the entire credit.
- Inventory of every glazed opening — windows, glass doors, skylights, and garage door glazing
- Protection type at each opening — impact glass, shutters, panels, or none
- Impact rating level: large missile vs. small missile
- Product approval, NOA, or permanent label documenting the rating for each protection type
- Non-glazed entry and garage doors and whether they carry an impact rating
- Any single unprotected opening, documented explicitly — it controls the entire category
Most common findings — and why they matter
These come up often enough that it is worth knowing the consequence, not just the observation.
Working from the pre-April-2026 form revision
Carriers reject submissions on superseded forms. The Rev. 04/26 form has been mandatory for Florida wind mitigation inspections since April 1, 2026.
One unprotected window
Opening protection is all-or-nothing. A single unshuttered bathroom window erases the whole credit, so the inventory has to be complete.
Estimating deck fastener spacing instead of measuring it
The credit tiers are separated by inches. An eyeballed number that gets challenged on re-inspection costs the homeowner the credit and the inspector their reputation with that agent.
Photographing the best roof-to-wall connection
The form is rated on the weakest observed connection. Documenting only the good one is the most common reason a re-inspection downgrades a report.
Claiming felt underlayment as secondary water resistance
Standard felt does not qualify. SWR requires a self-adhering membrane or an approved foam-adhesive method, with documentation.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a wind mitigation inspection save?
It varies with the home and carrier, but the wind portion of a Florida premium is often the majority of the bill, and verified credits routinely cut it substantially. Roof-to-wall attachment and opening protection carry the largest individual credits.
How long is a wind mitigation report valid?
Five years in Florida, provided no material change has been made to the structure. A re-roof or new shutters warrant a fresh inspection before the five years is up, because they can move the home into a better category.
What changed in the April 2026 form revision?
The Rev. 04/26 update — approved by the Florida Cabinet in September 2025 and effective April 1, 2026 — introduced performance-based options for roof-to-wall attachment and updated the form to reflect current engineering data, drawing on a 2024 Applied Research Associates wind-loss mitigation study.
Do I need attic access for a wind mitigation inspection?
For full credit, yes. Deck attachment and roof-to-wall attachment are both verified from inside the attic. Without access, those categories default to the lowest rating, which usually costs more than the inspection itself.
Can the same visit cover both wind mitigation and a 4-point?
Yes, and it commonly does. They are separate forms with separate scopes, but bundling them on one trip is standard practice and typically discounted.
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Related checklists
This checklist is provided free for professional and personal use. It is a general reference, not a standard of practice — inspection requirements vary by state, jurisdiction, and client agreement, and licensing rules for specialty inspections differ. Verify current requirements with your state board and the relevant standard of practice before relying on it in the field.