Please refer to the FireSmart Canada website at https://www.firesmartcanada.ca for more detailed information.
Do fire-resistant exterior structure materials on my home and FireSmart landscaping on my yard reduce the threat of wildfire to my home?
YES – 85-90% of homes with non-combustible roofing materials and 10 metres of FireSmart clearance from flammable vegetation will survive a wildfire.
What type of roofing materials are considered “non-combustible”?
Roofs that catch fire are the main cause of building losses in the wildland/urban interface.
Many roof assemblies have a Class A, B, or C fire-rating. Class A provides the highest level of protection of wildfire. Fire-rated roofing assemblies include:
- Clay/concrete tile
- Asphalt/Fibreglass composition shingles
- Metal
- Fibrous cement shake
- Recycled rubber
What type of siding materials are considered “fire-resistant”?
After the roof, siding material is the next most vulnerable component to wildfire.
Fire-resistant siding materials include:
- Fibre-cement board
- Stucco
- Metal
- Concrete/rock
Do “fire-resistant” building materials cost more to build my home?
FireSmart Canada is currently conducting a cost/benefit analysis. Preliminary results indicate that cost increases for FireSmart roofing, siding, decking, and fencing materials are:
- New Build – $6 – $9 per square foot.
- Retrofit – $19 – $27 per square foot.
The final FireSmart Canada cost/benefit analysis is scheduled for release in November/2019.
A 2018 study conducted in Montana can be found at https://headwaterseconomics.org/wp-content/uploads/building-costs-codes-report.pdf
What are Wildfire Risk Assessments?
A “Wildfire Risk Assessment” is a pre-development assessment, prepared by the developer and conducted by an experienced wildland/urban interface professional, to evaluate the current wildfire threat potential to a proposed development site and to provide recommendations to reduce the wildfire threat to new development on the site.