- Noncombustible
- A material that isn’t capable of igniting and burning. Metal siding and traditional three-coat stucco are examples of materials that are rated as noncombustible. Given the widespread use of composite materials — that is, a material that is made from a combination of a few different materials, such as a fiber-cement product — it isn’t always clear whether a material is noncombustible. ASTM E-136 is a standard test procedure that is used to determine if a material qualifies as
Material and Design Considerations for Building in Wildfire Prone Areas
Title and Description
Material and Design Considerations for Building in Wildfire Prone Areas
Home survival in wildfire prone areas depends on a combination of adequate vegetation management in the area surrounding your home (i.e., your “defensible space”) and choices regarding building materials and design decisions for the home or building. Steve Quarles has been actively involved in wildfire research and education regarding the performance of materials and building design issues. These issues will be the focus of this one hour …
Fire Ratings for Construction Materials
Article Written by:
Stephen L. Quarles, Senior Scientist, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Richburg, SC
Introduction
If you live in the wildland urban interface (WUI) you have probably heard or read about terms which describe materials that are recommended for use on your home to improve its chances of surviving a wildfire. These materials are described using terms like noncombustible, non-flammable, ignition resistant, Class A rated and fire-resistant – terms that describe the relative combustibility of materials. Sometimes …
eWIN Articles on Before Fire Building Materials & Home Design
Photo source: Slworking2, “This house burned to the ground, while the one next door survived with just a few scorch marks.” October 28, 2007 via Flickr, Creative Commons Attribution.
Home survival in wildfire prone areas depends on a combination of choices regarding building materials and design decisions for the home or building combined with adequate vegetation management in the area surrounding your home (i.e., your “defensible space”). The resources listed below provide more information regarding the performance of materials and …
Fire Ratings for Roofing Material
Article Written by:
Stephen L. Quarles, Senior Scientist, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Richburg, SC
Fire ratings for roofs are classified as either Class A, Class B, Class C or are unrated if a roof covering cannot meet the requirements for any of these classifications. Class A is the highest rating, offering the highest resistance to fire, and unrated is the worst. Examples of a Class A roof covering include concrete or clay roof tiles, fiberglass asphalt composition …
Window Failure During Wildfires
Article Written by:
Stephen L. Quarles, Senior Scientist, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Richburg, SC
During a wildfire, windows can be exposed to both radiant heat and direct flame contact exposures. Because wind-blown embers (firebrands) can travel up to a mile or more in front of the wildfire, when a wildfire threatens, windows will be exposed to embers. Therefore, the most vulnerable window when a wildfire threatens is one that is left open. Particularly with unscreened windows, embers …
Impact of Oil-Based Penetrating Stains on the Fire Performance of Deck Boards
Article Written by:
Stephen L. Quarles, Senior Scientist, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Richburg, SC
Oil-based penetrating stains are often recommended as one of a number of maintenance procedures to extend the useful life of a wood deck. Stains can reduce the amount of water taken up by the wood when wetted, the associated changes in dimension, and the amount of erosion that can result from exposure to sun, rain and wind. Stains can also contain a fungicide …
Exterior Rated Fire Retardant Treated Wood
Article Written by:
Stephen L. Quarles, Senior Scientist, Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, Richburg, SC
Using fire-retardant, treated solid wood products that are rated for exterior use is an option for obtaining a wood product that will perform better under wildfire exposures. Products that can be treated with an exterior fire retardant include plywood and lumber siding, dimensional lumber (for use as decking or blocking, for example), and shakes and shingles. These products are available from building suppliers. …
Ignition-resistant
- Many people probably think “ignition-resistant” is better than “combustible,” but not as good as “noncombustible.” That would be an accurate assessment. The California Building Code defines ignition-resistant in a specific way – based on meeting a minimum flame spread rating after the material has been subjected to a specified weathering procedure. A material labeled ignition-resistant has passed this test. This ignition-resistant definition is based on the International Building Code requirement for exterior fire-retardant lumber and plywood. An example of an