Learning Center · Dallas–Fort Worth
Class 4 shingles and IBHS ratings: what each test can tell a Dallas homeowner
Use the test name, exact product and rating date to interpret impact-resistance claims without confusing a lab result with a damage guarantee.
By Dallas Texas Roofing Services · Homeowner planning resources
Quick answer: A Class 4 claim and an IBHS rating describe different evaluation systems. Match each claim to the exact shingle and its supporting record. Neither label guarantees a damage-free roof, insurance coverage or a premium discount.
Published
Ask which test supports the claim
When a salesperson says Class 4, ask for the test standard and exact product record. IBHS’s technical description of UL 2218 explains that it is a steel-ball drop test; its Class 4 projectile is two inches in diameter. That does not mean a roof is guaranteed to survive every two-inch hailstone. Natural hail and installation conditions vary.
IBHS’s separate hail evaluation uses laboratory-manufactured hailstones and examines performance measures such as dents, tears and granule loss. These methods answer different evaluation questions. The linked 2014 UL report explains the older test method; use the current IBHS ratings page for current product comparisons, not that historical report’s product results.
Match the result to the product being delivered
Record manufacturer, product line and any identifying version or labeling shown in the supporting documents. Save the relevant rating entry with the date you checked it. Product lines can have similar names, and a statement about a manufacturer is not automatically a statement about every shingle it sells.
Put the specified product in the signed scope and compare it with delivery labels before installation. If a substitute is proposed, ask for its own supporting documents and resolve the change in writing. Do not assume an apparently similar shingle inherits the original product rating.
Keep three decisions separate
First decide whether the technical evidence supports the product claim. Next compare the complete installed assembly and its warranty. Finally ask the insurer whether that exact installation qualifies for any policy-specific treatment and what paperwork it requires. These are separate checks with different decision-makers.
For Dallas homeowners evaluating hail-related marketing, the useful result is a traceable document set, not a promise of hailproof construction. Keep rating evidence, warranty terms and insurance correspondence together so that a later reader can see which question each document answers.
| Claim or record | What to verify | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Class 4 label | Named standard and exact product record | A universal storm-damage guarantee |
| IBHS rating | Product, rating year and measured categories | An insurer-specific discount |
| Installed assembly | Covering, accessories and installation requirements | Automatic warranty coverage for any loss |
| Insurance response | Written eligibility and required proof | A contractor’s authority to determine coverage |
- Ask for the standard behind every numeric impact claim.
- Save the exact current product rating entry.
- Confirm insurance requirements directly with the insurer.
Frequently asked questions
Is an IBHS score the same as Class 4?
No. Read the named test method and the specific result; the labels should not be treated as interchangeable.
Can any impact-rated roof be called hailproof?
No. A test result does not guarantee that an installed roof will avoid damage in every hail event.