glossary – Surviving Wildfire

Noncombustible

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

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: 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

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