According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), over 58,000 fires burned around nine million acres of U.S. land in . Within those nine million acres, 18,137 homes and 229 commercial structures were destroyed, with the highest number of lost properties occurring in California.
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Due to the large number of wildfires and lost structures, an increasing emphasis has been put on creating fire-safe home and building design. Fire-resistant roofing is one material that homes in wildfire-damage-prone states, such as California and Nevada, are required to have. But, there are several different fire resistant roofing materials to choose from. Here is a guide to the various fire-resistant roofing materials that are available and what&#;s genuinely best for creating wildfire-resistant homes.
States like California, Nevada, New Mexico, and even Colorado are prone to wildfires due to the dry weather that sometimes occurs, especially during the summer months. Because of this, the United States Forest Service created the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code. According to the Forest Service, the WUI is the area where residential homes and wildlands meet and is designed to help reduce the risk of wildfire spread from forest to human-filled areas.
One of the measures the WUI takes to prevent the spread of wildfires is by evaluating and specifying the use of certain kinds of building products for residential and commercial properties. Fireproof roofing materials are one such product&#;they can significantly impede the spread of wildfires and protect urban environments from more severe devastation. WUI-approved fireproof roofs are resistant to the entry of fire embers and fire radiation, and are also resistant to ignition in the case of a wildfire.
Asphalt shingles are a standard roofing option seen on homes everywhere, but they are also one of the many fire-resistant roofing materials available on the market. Unlike wood shingles, asphalt shingles can last two hours in a fire before catching, making them a fairly fire-resistant material that is also extremely affordable.
However, asphalt shingles are not without their flaws, and they are not the best option in states like California, where homes are prone to severe wildfire damage.
While not as common throughout the country, concrete and clay tiles are another fire-resistant option that some builders and homeowners turn to in certain parts of the country. Aside from fire protection, options like clay tiles can also provide homes with a unique Spanish or Mediterranean look. However, both concrete and clay tiles come at a cost. They can be a little more expensive to install and maintain, can require periodic replacing, and add extra weight on the top of a home. As a result, the home may require additional structural support to support the roof, otherwise it could cause the whole home to collapse in on itself.
Another fire -resistant roofing option that is on the heavier side is slate tiles. Like concrete and clay roofing tiles, slate tiles may require added structural support so as not to collapse the home. They offer the same high level of fire resistance as other roofing options of the list, with the added benefit of natural beauty. Beyond that, slate roofing tiles are virtually indestructible in many different ways as well, making them one of the more durable roofing options available.
For a lighter option in fireproof roofing materials, there is metal roofing. Metal roofs come in a variety of different alloys, including zinc, copper, steel, stainless steel, and a range of other metal materials. These offer a lightweight, non-corrosive roofing option that is great for creating wildfire-resistant homes across the country.
Another benefit to metal roofing is the wide range of available styles. Metal roofs can be sheets or shingles, come in a variety of colors, and can even be fashioned to look like wood or stone for a truly unique look.
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Finally, there are synthetic roofing shingles, which use eco-friendly materials like polyurethane. Synthetic shingles are a cost-effective option that provides strength, durability, and most importantly, fire resistance. Like metal roofing, synthetic roofing comes in a wide range of style and color options, making it an incredibly versatile roofing option that will work on any home.
Synthetic shingles, like those offered by CeDUR, provide the perfect combination of aesthetics, safety, and durability. These lightweight, polyurethane roofing shakes offer a Stand Alone Class A Fire Rating, approved for even the strictest California county building codes.
CeDUR&#;s shingles are one of the only fire-resistant roofing materials that do not need a special fire-resistant underlayment. They are also the only fire-rated roofing material that can self-extinguish flame spread, earning it WUI approval. Beyond that, CeDUR's shingles have a beautiful, cedar-molded appearance. This allows homeowners to have the look of real wood shakes, without the worry of them catching on fire or becoming damaged from strong winds or impacts.
Preventing wildfire damage is a critical task, especially with wildfires becoming more common across the county, and particularly along the West Coast. States, counties, and even organizations like the United States Forest Service have begun setting clear rules and guidelines on how to best prevent the spread of wildfires. These guidelines aim to minimize the devastation wildfires can cause in urban, human-dense areas.
Investing in fireproof or fire resistant roofing materials is one way to help reduce the risk of spreading wildfires and wildfire damage, and it makes a significant difference. Fire-resistant roofing, like CeDUR&#;s highly durable synthetic roofing shakes, is one important step in creating perfect wildfire-resistant homes.
The roof may be considered the most vulnerable part of any building&#;especially during a fire. Materials like shakes and shingles are at highest risk of catching fire and can contribute to the destruction of structures and those around them.
After a record and growing numbers of fires throughout the US, many homeowners, like those in California, have been faced with building restrictions to only include and use materials that are considered fireproof.
Many non-fire-resistant roofing products&#;like wood shakes, synthetics, or shingles&#; require expensive treatments that can have a short lifespan to meet fire codes. And once having caught fire, this roofing peels off and is lifted downwind, continuing to fuel further devastation.
Class A fire-rated roofing assemblies that include non-combustible terra-cotta roof tiles are the best way to fight the fire from the top down, according to Dan Harris, vice president of sales and marketing at architectural terra-cotta manufacturer Ludowici.
Individuals should check local building codes as well as homeowner&#;s associations for guidance on fire retardant roofing. A building must meet specific code compliance, so it&#;s important to check with the city and county to determine what ordinances are in place that need to be followed. The Tile Roof Institute provides additional information.
&#;States, counties and townships all have different building codes and ordinances on the books,&#; Harris says. &#;Many cities in California are restricting, prohibiting, or banning the use of wood shakes.&#;
In California wooden shingles are prohibited from being installed on a 3:12 slope or roof that has a 14.04-inch angle. &#;While a 12/12 roof has a steep pitch, 3:12 is flatter, so if a wood ember lands on top, it won&#;t fall off,&#; Harris explains. &#;With steeper slopes a dangerous hot ember will fall or blow off on its own, reducing the risk of fire spreading.&#;
While clay, slate, and wood are all natural materials, clay and slate are fire-resistant and noncombustible. Wood shakes require additional costly fire retardant treatments that will slow the spread of fire, but eventually, the wood will combust.
Ludowici&#;s terra-cotta tiles are fired at 2,100 degrees for 24 hours and are vitrified, or glass-like, Harris says. As a result the material will not burn. &#;The objective is creating a roofing assembly that resists burning and hot embers and can hold these off as long as possible,&#; Harris says. &#;With Ludowici&#;s noncombustible clay as a part of a Class A fire-rated roof assembly, the roof structure is better protected and gives those inside a burning building more time to evacuate.&#;
There are multiple classes of fire ratings, and each roofing system is graded based on the types of UL tests are run. Class A, the highest level, would have a lower flame spread and therefore a better performance rating than a Class C material. While Class A roofing materials can withstand 1,400 degrees for 10 minutes with an allowable flame spread of 6 feet maximum, a Class C material can only withstand 1,300 degrees for no more than four minutes with a 13-foot allowable flame spread.
A third party tested Ludowici&#;s terra-cotta tiles and roofing assembly and found them to meet the Class A fire rating. These testing facilities ensure that the test roof assemblies are built according to the company&#;s installation manual.
&#;For our testing the team built the roof assemblies per specification using proper decking, underlayment and attachment methods,&#; Harris says. &#;These completed assemblies were forklifted into the burn area, burning brands placed on the tile, and a large fan simulated high winds to stoke the flames. This test ran for the allotted time before the test engineer extinguished the flame; after the test the assembly was inspected. The tile did not burn.&#;
In addition to fire resistance Ludowici also performs wind and hail testing with various tiles, attachments, fasteners, and adhesives to ensure these can withstand hurricane force winds.
With terra-cotta tiles time will not impact the material&#;s fire resistance abilities. &#;Over time wood degrades from sun, rain and snow, causing mildew, mold, moss, lichens, and rot over time,&#; Harris says. &#;There are treatments to prolong and protect it for 20 to 40 years.&#;
By contrast Ludowici&#;s terra-cotta tiles are made from a material that lasts more than 100 years with no treatments, and the company provides a 75-year material and color-fast warranty.
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