Building Homes in High Risk Wildfire Areas

A Better Way to Build Everything!

Superior Fire Resistance Compared to Traditional Building Materials

Millions Of Homes Are At Risk Of Wildfires

An NPR analysis finds that most wildfire-prone states have no requirements for disclosing fire risk to someone who buys or rents a home. In the two states that do, the disclosures amount to only a few lines of text, buried in the hundreds of pages buyers typically receive when closing on a new home. At the same time, millions of people have moved into wildfire country. Between 1990 and 2015, 32 million homes were built in neighborhoods that border wildlands, an area known as the "wildland-urban interface."

The U.S. Forest Service released new maps this year showing community risk nationwide, but the agency says the maps aren't fine-scaled enough to use for individual properties. Insurance companies have done the most detailed risk analysis, but many homeowners don't find out until their insurance rates go up or their policy is canceled.

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Wildfire Risk To Homes

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Magnesium Cement is a non-combustible Building Material that Does Not Loose Strength When Heated

See a video of the InnovaPanel© magnesium Cement Structural Insulated Panel heated to more than 600 degrees. Magnesium cement board is a no-combustible building materials.

Click to see Magnesium Burn Test Video

Benefits of Building with InnovaPanel© Vs Stick or wood Frame Construction:

InnovaPanel© Hurricane & Fire Resistance Video

InnovaPanel© uses Rescom Non-Combustible Magnesium Boards for all of its Structural Insulated Panel products.

Check Out the Rescom Magnesium Fireproof Board Test Video

Magnesium floor sheathing can be used with steel or wood joist to create fire rated floor systems for housing and light commercial structures.

20 mm (3/4") non-combustible magnesium cement ship lap boards provide maximum fire protection for wood and steel joist floor systems.

20mm Rescom Ship Lap magnesium cement board sheathing installed on Clark Dietrich Ready Joist Floor System.

Elevated InnovaPanel® Home

Framed Floor System

Elevated InnovaPanel® Home

Framed Floor System

InnovaPanel® Elevated Home

SIP Floor System

InnovaPanel® Elevated Home SIP Floor System

Completed InnovaPanel® Home SIP Floor System

^{A SIP Floor System is used for elevated construction when an insulated floor is required. Homes elevated more than 5' above grade should consider an insulated floor system in order to provide maximum energy efficiency of the structure without leaks and air infiltration from under the home}^.

Other Considerations When Building Homes in High Risk Wildfire Areas

Foundations: Embers, firebrands, and hot gases can ignite combustible foundation walls and penetrate crawlspace vents and breached basement windows. Walls, vents, and windows in closed foundations should be constructed in accordance with the guidance in these Fact Sheets. In homes with open foundations, protecting the underside of the floor structure with fire-resistant materials is recommended.
Utilities and Exterior Equipment: Most utilities require penetration of the building’s envelope for ducting and conduit. Utility connections should be installed underground, if possible, and gaps and penetrations in exterior walls and roofs should be sealed with fire-resistant products. Fuel should be stored underground or surrounded by a noncombustible barrier.
Upgrade Window Glazing: Failed glazing allows easy passage of embers, hot gases, and radiant heat into the interior of the building. Laminated and double pane glass is more heat resistant than single pane glass which often breaks from the heat. In general, smaller windows are better than larger ones. Acrylic and or plastic skylights are a poor choice as they quickly melt exposing the roof structure to fire. Shutters can help protect opening from fire if there is time to install them.
Exterior Doors: Combustible doors and frames can be ignited in a wildfire, and openings between the door and frame and glass in the door can be penetrated by flames, hot gases, or embers. The fire rating of the door should be commensurate with the fire rating of the wall. Weather-stripping and noncombustible or fire-resistant trim are recommended.
Roof System: Roof assemblies are the most vulnerable component of the building envelope in a wildfire because of their horizontal orientation and size. Class A Roofing Systems such as a standing seam metal roof, clay tile, slate and cementitous roofing tiles will resist heat and hot embers. Sloped roofs provide better protection than flat roofs. Use only ember and flame resistant vents. Cover the chimney with non-flammable screens to protect against hot embers.
Exterior Walls: Use of non-flammable building materials such as InnovaPanels, masonry and brick and good choices for the exterior wall system. Seal all penetrations with fire resistant caulking and expanding foam.
Finishes: Consider using fire barrier paint for all interior and exterior flammable surfaces such as drywall, trims, siding, fascia and other. Use non-flammable floor coverings such as ceramic tile, marble and other.
Fire Protection System: If adequate water supply and pressure is available, a residential fire sprinkler is a good choice is high risk areas. Residential systems can be installed in most areas for around $1.50 square foot and may provide substantial insurance cost savings. Portable Fire extinguishers should be readily available in the garage, kitchen, storage rooms and outdoor grilling area. Smoke detection sensors (hard wired and battery) should be installed in all rooms of the home in order to provide maximum life saving time to occupants to escape the home in case of fire.
Attic Vents: Most SIP homes do not use trusses and have no attic. If the home has a vented attic, make sure all vents have proper screens to prevent hot embers from entering.
Fences and Gates: Keep combustible fencing and gates a good distance from the house. Chain link or other metal fencing and composite materials are a good choice for fencing close to the house.
Wood Decks: Avoid installing wood decks up against the house. For decks close to the house, use heavy timbers and non-combustible materials to construct the decks such as composite lumber. Isolate the attached structure by surrounding it with noncombustible material such as gravel, brick, or concrete pavers to prevent vegetative growth and reduce fuel in a wildfire
Landscaping: A defensible space is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect a building from a wildfire and can often be created by the property owner. Keep all flammable shrubs, trees and landscaping at least 30 feet from the home. Use mulch and other bedding materials that is not flammable.