Wildfire Prepared Home™ Designation Legal Notice

 

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Wildfire Prepared Home designation does not make your property fire- or wildfire-proof. While participation in the Wildfire Prepared Home program can identify and help reduce the risk of damage to your home in the event of a wildfire, IBHS cannot eliminate it. IBHS does not provide any type of warranty or guarantee related to the Wildfire Prepared Home designation. IBHS shall not be held responsible or liable for damage to any property, systems, components, or contents in a Wildfire Prepared Home designated home. In the event of a wildfire, the owners of a Wildfire Prepared Home designated home should follow all relevant guidance or orders from state and local officials and emergency responders, including evacuation orders. The Wildfire Prepared Home designation does not take the place of property insurance or provide any financial assistance in the event of damage to your home. 

You are solely responsible for determining whether to pursue Wildfire Prepared Home designation and should obtain any additional information necessary to make an informed decision. A Wildfire Prepared Home designation is based on a requisite set of mitigation activities to reduce wildfire risk, as set out in the Wildfire Prepared Home technical standard. IBHS recommends that property owners conduct a Wildfire Prepared Home™ Free Online Home Assessment to determine if their property has any disqualifying characteristics before applying for a Wildfire Prepared Home designation. Initial feedback provided through the Wildfire Prepared Home™ Free Online Home Assessment tool does not guarantee a Wildfire Prepared Home designation.  

The Wildfire Prepared Home program, and any information, reports or designation provided as part of the program, does not address and is not intended to address, building code and/or regulation compliance, non-wildfire-related fire safety issues, mold, mildew, indoor air quality, asbestos, radon gas, lead paint, urea formaldehyde, soils contamination and any other indoor or outdoor substances. The property owner is urged to contact a competent specialist if information, identification or testing of the above is desired. 

The determination to grant a Wildfire Prepared Home designation is based on information submitted by the property owner and obtained through physical and photographic inspection of the property owner’s house and surrounding property. IBHS retains the discretion to determine whether a property owner meets the requirements of the Wildfire Prepared Home technical standard. Refusal to allow a Wildfire Prepared Home inspector on the property to conduct a physical and photographic inspection will result in a denial of a property owner’s application for a designation.  

A Wildfire Prepared Home designation requires continued action by the property owner during the term of the designation, including ongoing maintenance and an annual landscape review. Failure to provide requested information, or failure to maintain mitigation actions required by the Wildfire Prepared Home technical standard, may result in suspension or termination of a property’s designation status.   

IBHS shall not be held responsible or liable for any repairs or replacements to property, systems, components, or contents made in association with the Wildfire Prepared Home designation. IBHS assumes no responsibility or liability for any advice or services rendered by any individual or firm associated with the Wildfire Prepared Home designation. IBHS makes no representations or warranties on the effect of a Wildfire Prepared Home designation on the availability or pricing of your property insurance. 

If the Applicant is dissatisfied with any aspect of the Wildfire Prepared Home program, the sole and exclusive remedy is to discontinue activities relating to this program. No refunds of any fees paid will be provided by IBHS to applicants who fail to obtain any designation under the Wildfire Prepared Home program.