When ignited by embers, the burning debris in the gutter will provide a flame contact exposure to the edge of the roof. The protection provided by the roof edge must be sufficient to resist the entry of flames into the attic space or cathedral ceiling. The roof edge must also protect against the ignition of the exposed roof sheathing or the exposed fascia board. The exposure is more severe if metal angle flashing is not used at the roof edge and if the gutter is hung below the roof edge, leaving the roof sheathing exposed.
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The most important thing you can do for the gutter is to keep it clear of debris. This debris can be readily ignited by embers during a wildfire. The material that the gutter is made from is less important. A metal (noncombustible) gutter will stay in place while the debris burns and the resulting flames will impinge on the edge of your roof (not your Class A roof covering, but the edge of it).
The vulnerability of the roof edge will depend on materials used and how well the flashing if used, protects the edge. On the other hand, a vinyl (plastic) gutter will quickly melt, detach, and fall to the ground (Jennings ). The burning debris will fall with it and continue to burn on the ground. Once on the ground, the roof edge is no longer exposed to flames, but combustible siding may be, particularly if the near-home vegetation or ground cover can easily ignite. The problem with gutters is that the debris can accumulate in them. Keep debris out of them, and the problem goes away. Inspection and removal of debris in gutters should be done before fire season and as necessary thereafter. Since debris, just like burning embers, can be blown in from surrounding areas, a good vegetation management ( fuel reduction) plan around your property can reduce, though not eliminate, the accumulation of debris in gutters. A pre-evacuation task that would alleviate the problem of some debris accumulation in a gutter would be to plug the downspouts and fill the gutter with water. The downspouts would be uncovered upon returning home.
Given the potential problems with gutters, why not just do away with them? Properly installed and maintained gutters and downspouts play an important moisture-management role for a building by collecting and moving water to where it will not have a negative (moisture- related) impact on the foundation and crawl space. (A properly installed subsurface drainage system, however, could alleviate the need for gutters.)
A number of gutter cover devices are commercially available. These products are intended to limit the accumulation of debris in the gutter and allow for the free flow of water into and out of them. These devices either cover the gutter with a solid material or screen or fill the gutter with a porous (foam) material. There is variability in the cover devices, including those that 1) incorporate a screen that completely covers the gutter, 2) incorporate a solid, thin metal sheet that covers the gutter but has an opening at the outside edge to allow water to enter, or 3) use a hybrid metal cover/louvered design. The solid, thin metal cover relies on the surface tension of water, releasing from the rounded metal edge of the cover to drop into the gutter. The porous foam devices allow water to enter and flow through the gutter while excluding debris larger than the pores. A procedure to evaluate the performance of these devices has not been developed, so if you are consider- ing one of them, review the available literature that represents a range of designs and look at devices installed on nearby homes. The devices require maintenance&#;with some there is a tendency for debris to accumulate on the roof behind the device, which you should remove. None of the available devices is likely to be completely maintenance-free.
Wildfires are growing in size, speed and frequency. California, for example, experienced its second-largest fire on record last year when the Dixie fire burned nearly 1,000,000 acres.
Wildfire frequency is also surging in regions that haven&#;t historically been at risk. Ivan O&#;Neill, co-founder of Madronus Wildfire Defense and NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, warns that &#;many people think of wildfires as a western U.S. problem, but we&#;re already seeing wildfires become larger and more frequent in the Southeast and upper Midwest, which is just the beginning of what will happen over the next 10 years. Studies conclude that large wildfires will become more frequent and threaten homes in places like Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, New Jersey, Texas and Minnesota. We see fire-resistant roofs being a required feature for new and old homes, and it&#;s important that homeowners begin planning for the new normal now.&#;
Since the roof plays a vital role in protecting a home from fire and embers, it&#;s important for homeowners to know what to look for in a fire-resistant roof and what steps to take to protect their home, including:
What to Look for in a Fire-Resistant Roof
The UL790 (ASTM E 108) tests are considered the national standard for how a roof assembly performs against fire when exposed to fire sources originating from outside the building.
Testing is specified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a not-for-profit organization that tests and certifies building materials.
To meet UL standards and receive a fire Class A, B, or C rating, roof coverings (a.k.a. the roofing material) must provide a degree of protection against flame penetration to the underlying deck and the attic space without producing flying embers or slipping from their installed position. Roofs that are unable to meet this standard are considered unrated.
The best type of roof for fire resistance will have a Class A rating.
Class A
Class A roofing materials have proven themselves effective against the most severe fire testing. They provide the best protection against flame penetration as stand-alone roofing products with excellent resistance to surface flame spread without the need for chemical treatments or additional underlying roofing materials.
Class B
Class B roofing materials have proven themselves effective against moderate fire exposure. Some roofing materials may be infused with fire-retardant chemicals to meet Class B requirements.
Class C
Class C roofing materials have proven themselves effective against light fire exposure only. Class C materials include reconstituted wood products and untreated wood shakes.
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Unrated
Unrated roofing materials are unable to meet any of the above classifications and would not be recommended for homes in fire-prone areas.
How Common Roofing Materials Perform Against Fire
When it comes to fire, not all roofing materials are created equal. In addition to looking for a Class A-rated roofing material, consider the pros and cons of common roofing materials when searching for the best roof for fire.
Asphalt Shingles
Many asphalt shingle products come with a Class A fire rating. However, as a petroleum-based product, asphalt is extremely flammable. To achieve a Class A fire rating, asphalt shingles are coated with granules that give them surface-level fire resistance. If flames come in contact with the underlying asphalt, it&#;s more likely to catch on fire than a non-combustible roofing material, such as metal.
Most insurance companies prefer metal roofs to asphalt shingle roofs due to their longevity and durability. Scott Johnson of Marindependent Insurance Services explains that &#;many insurers will not accept homes that have asphalt shingle roofs older than 20 years, however, they will often insure homes with much older metal roofs due to their longevity, durability and superior resistance to fire. As an insurance agent, I certainly feel more confident shopping for a client's policy when they have a metal roof in place.&#;
Clay Tiles
While clay tiles are fireproof, the curved shape of tile can create voids between the roofing material and the underlying roof deck. Bird nests, debris, twigs or dry leaves can accumulate in the voids beneath tiles, creating the perfect kindling for flying embers.
Wood Shake or Wood Shingles
Most wood shake or wood shingle roofs need to be treated with fire retardant and are not recommended for fire-prone regions. Similar to clay tile roofs, wood shake and shingle roofs can accumulate debris in the gaps and voids of cupped shingles and warped wood shake roofs. Devon Bullard, owner of Bullard Exteriors, mentions that &#;builders in fire-prone regions are using more metal roofing products rather than traditional wood products for this reason.&#;
Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is considered one of the best roofs for fire. DECRA Metal Roofing products, for example, are made from non-combustible stone-coated steel and achieve the highest Class A material rating for fire. Additionally, the protective interlocking panel system of DECRA stone-coated metal roofs greatly reduces the risk of the roof deck and framing igniting from flying embers.
&#;Non-combustible materials are absolutely a point of consideration when it comes to the evaluation of whether or not an insurance company will consider insuring a risk they are underwriting. With each fire season, it becomes increasingly more difficult to procure favorable coverage and deductibles for these risks,&#; states Christen Losey-Gregg, CPRIA and member of the Private Risk Management Association, an organization of insurance advisors that focuses on high-net-worth homeowners insurance needs.
Fire Prevention Tips to Protect Your Home
It&#;s important to note that Class A, B and C fire test ratings are for external fire resistance&#;they have no direct bearing on how a roof will withstand a fire that occurs inside of a building.
While a Class A-rated roof is critical for withstanding fire, there are other property conditions that homeowners should consider to protect their home.
Clean your roof regularly.
Regularly clear any leaves, bird nests or debris from your roof and gutters. Hardy Selo of Property Guru adds that &#;homeowners in fire-prone regions can benefit from securing vent openings with protective screens and closures to prevent burning debris or embers from entering the home.&#;
Clean your chimney at least once per year.
Debris from frequently-used fireplaces, known as creosote, can accumulate in the chimney. Creosote is extremely flammable, so it&#;s important to have your chimney cleaned annually if you use your fireplace often.
Check the electrical wiring in your attic.
Electrical wiring is one of the top 3 causes of attic fires. If your home is older or you&#;re noticing flickering light bulbs or electrical switches that suddenly stop working, you may have faulty wiring that can create sparks in the attic that quickly turn to flames. If you suspect an issue with the electrical wiring in your attic, contact an electrician immediately.
Protect Your Home from Fire with DECRA Metal Roofing
Since , DECRA Metal Roofing products have withstood the elements in some of the harshest climates around the world. Our stone-coated metal roofs have the highest Class A fire rating and come standard with a comprehensive Lifetime Limited Warranty.
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Editor&#;s note: This post was originally published in and has been updated with current information.
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