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Construction Design and Materials
Make Your House FireWise
Your house may be vulnerable to a wildfire because of its design, construction and location. When preparing to build, buy, or remodel a house, know what to look for in a FireWise house. A few modifications to your construction plans can reduce the chance of your house catching fire, or resist further damage if it does catch fire. Don't let your house become more fuel for a wildfire.
If you are building a new house, evaluate your building site.
- Choose a site away from heavily vegetated areas.
Probably not a wise location for a home.
- Build on the most level portion of the property.
- Avoid ridge tops, canyons and areas between high points on a ridge. These
are extremely hazardous locations for houses and firefighters because they
become natural chimneys, increasing the intensity of the fire.
This location would be a natural
chimney during a wildfire.
- Set your structure a minimum of 30 feet back from the ridges or cliffs;
increase the distance if the home will be higher than one story.
Building Materials
Using fire-resistive or non-combustible construction materials, combined with design techniques to prevent or retard the penetration of fire beyond your home's exterior. Whenever possible, use materials such as brick, rock or stucco - they resist fire much better than wood. If you decide on a wood exterior, it is especially important to follow the Firewise practices outlined in this web page.
Your Roof
 Your
roof has the largest surface area of your structure and is the most vulnerable
part of your house. It can easily catch fire from the wind-blown sparks of a wildfire.
Use Uniform Building Code class A or B roofing materials, such as asphalt shingles,
slate or clay tile, or metal. Roof eaves extending beyond exterior walls are also
susceptible to flame exposure. Limit them in length and box or enclose them with
fire-resistive materials.
Siding / walls
Use construction materials that are fire-resistive or non-combustible whenever
possible. Use a minimum of a Class III flame spread rated siding material. Stone,
brick and stucco are best. Walls should be constructed of materials fire-resistive
from the ground to the roof overhang.
Foundation
A building's foundation comes in contact with a spreading wildfire before other areas of the structure. Enclose foundations with concrete block, cement walls, or using other fire-resistive building materials.
Windows
Windows are often overlooked as fire hazards, but can be a serious risk. The heat from a wildfire may be enough to ignite the furnishings inside your house through the windows.
- Minimize the size and number of windows on the downhill side of the house or the side that would be most exposed to a wildfire.
- Consider both size and materials for windows and sliding glass doors. Multi-pane glass provides insulation and more protection from radiant heat than single pane glass. It also reduces breakage potential from wind-blown debris.
Other Areas/Ideas
- Cover exterior attic, soffit and underfloor vents with wire mesh (no larger
than 1/8 of an inch) to prevent sparks from entering your home through vents.
- Install eave and soffit vents closer to the roofline than the walls.
- Design decks so that they are not located at the top of a hill directly
in line of a fire moving up slope.
- Enclose the undersides of balconies and decks on slopes with fire-resistive
materials. If not enclosed, these areas can trap flames and burning embers
that can ignite your home.
- Use weed barrier fabric under decks and balconies to keep them free of
vegetation.
- Cover chimney and stovepipe openings with a non-flammable screen with a
mesh no larger than 1/2 inch.
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