FIRE RESISTANT HOMES
Use Concrete and Steel Fire Resistant Materials When Building & Grade A Roofing Shingles and Rooftop Sprinklers & Defensive Landscaping To Protect Your Family And Prevent Wildfires From Burning Down Your Home
Building A Fire Resistant Home Should Save Money On Fire Insurance Costs !
Building a Wildfire-Resistant Home: Codes and Costs
Report November 26, 2018 For Full Report click https://headwaterseconomics.org/wildfire/homes-risk/building-costs-codes/
Introduction
This study finds negligible cost differences between a typical home and a home constructed using wildfire-resistant materials and design features. Decades of research and post-fire assessments have provided clear evidence that building materials and design, coupled with landscaping on the property, are the most important factors influencing home survivability during a wildfire.
Today, one-third of all U.S. homes are in the wildland-urban interface, the area where flammable vegetation and homes meet or intermingle. And with more than 35,000 structures lost to wildfire in the last decade, more communities should consider adopting building codes that require new home construction to meet wildfire-resistant standards.
While codes and standards have been developed for building in wildfire-prone lands, the perceived cost of implementing such regulations is a commonly cited barrier to consideration and adoption by some communities. However, little research has previously examined how much it would actually cost the homeowner or builder to comply with such regulations.
Wildfire disasters will be more common if unmitigated home development continues in the wildland-urban interface.
A new home built to wildfire-resistant codes can be constructed for roughly the same cost as a typical home.
Costs vary for retrofitting an existing home to be wildfire-resistant, with some components such as the roof and walls having significant expense. Some of these costs can be divided and prioritized into smaller projects.
Technology and standards exist today that will make communities safer. Cities, counties, and other jurisdictions can implement wildfire-resistant building codes to reduce their vulnerability to wildfire. Costs below are for 2500 sq ft home in Montana
WET HOMES DO NOT BURN !! Manual Exterior Sprinkler Systems Can Be Installed In A Day For DIY Kits Under $400 Up To $1000 + Depending On Home Size Or $10 A Sq Ft For Top Of The Line Automated System With Fire Sensor Technology That Sends Alerts Via App To Your Cell Phone
Rooftop Sprinklers are the best solution to protect homes and lives during wildfires. Fire resistant roofing / siding materials, defensive landscaping even fire resistant paint can can be added to existing homes.
Please join our effort to make exterior sprinklers / home hardening / defensible landscaping mandatory in wildfire risk area in California and hopefully in all other States. Click Contact Us to leave message & your email address for updates or if you need a referral for a licensed & certified contractor for any of these fire preventive solutions for your home. Thank You !
Insurance companies have been raising rates for home fire insurance by as much as 1000% or more in California wildfire risk areas since the Santa Rosa and Paradise fires. Depending on how far away homes are from nearest fire station is 1 factor that determines price and or declining to insure homes they deem to be to risky. Just weeks before recent LA wildfires many fire insurance policies were canceled leaving many homeowners with no insurance to cover their homes which seems unethical and perhaps illegal if not enough time was given for homeowners to find a new insurance policy.
To address the increasing risk of wildfires, the California Fair Plan has recently introduced a proactive initiative aimed at helping homeowners strengthen their properties to mitigate potential fire hazards. Introduced on August 23, 2023, these exclusive discounts are designed to apply across the full spectrum of Dwelling Fire Policies seamlessly.
Whether you’re getting a new insurance policy, renewing your current one, or making changes to it, you can be sure that these discounts are designed to meet your home hardening requirements. Below are the details of the California Fair Plan Insurance Discounts, specifically crafted to strengthen homes against the threat of wildfires.
Understanding California Fair Plan Insurance
This plan is an insurance program designed to provide coverage to homeowners who face challenges obtaining insurance due to high-risk factors such as wildfire exposure. The Fair Plan is accessible to urban and rural California residents and businesses who cannot secure insurance from conventional insurance providers. While it offers essential coverage, homeowners can take additional steps to mitigate risk and qualify for discounts.
Discount Details of California Fair Plan Insurance
CA Fair Plan’s new set of discounts includes a 10% reduction for protecting the structure and a 5% reduction for protecting the immediate surroundings of the dwelling. Homeowners eligible for both discounts can enjoy a combined discount of approximately 14.5%.
To be eligible for these valuable discounts, homeowners are required to ensure that their residences comply with specified home hardening criteria. Properties meeting the qualifying criteria will undergo an inspection to verify eligibility, and discounts may be rescinded if the property does not meet the stipulated requirements.
Discount 1: Protecting the Structure (10% Savings)
This discount depends on reinforcing the essential structure of the property. Eligibility for this discount requires:
Class A Fire-Rated Roof
Materials for a Class A Fire-Rated Roof encompass a range of options, such as fiberglass composition for asphalt shingles, stone, concrete, clay tile, or metal. This diverse selection ensures homeowners have choices that not only suit their aesthetic preferences but also adhere to stringent fire safety standards. Implementing these materials enhances fire resistance, significantly strengthening your property’s protective measures.
Ember and Fire Resistant Vents
When it comes to safeguarding your home against ember intrusion, installing vents is a crucial step. The fire resistant vents act as a formidable barrier, preventing embers from infiltrating your home through vulnerable points like the attic or crawl spaces. Take an additional security measure by utilizing approved wire mesh coverings on vents, effectively enhancing your defense against ember penetration. By integrating these features, you fortify your property with an added layer of protection, ensuring a more resilient and fire-resistant dwelling.
Window and Ventilation Protections
Installing ember-resistant vents and protective measures for windows is another crucial aspect of home hardening. Double-paned windows, tempered glass, and fire-resistant shutters can prevent radiant heat and embers from entering your home. Additionally, multi-paned windows are used for increased protection against heat and embers. Recognizing these enhancements, homeowners can take advantage of discounts by fortifying their properties.
Enclosed Eaves
Beyond the inherent security benefits, adopting enclosed eaves becomes a financially savvy decision. Homeowners prioritizing this mandatory measure can unlock a 10% savings on their overall fire ember protection. This not only makes your home more resilient to the unpredictable nature of wildfires but also ensures that economic advantages accompany your investment in safety.
Discount 2: Protecting the Immediate Surroundings (5% Savings)
This discount emphasizes the importance of securing the immediate surroundings of the property. Eligibility for this discount requires:
Defensible Space
Clear a five-foot zone around the dwelling, including fencing, to prevent ember reach. By doing so, you create a safer environment and signal your commitment to risk reduction, potentially earning valuable discounts from California Fair Plan Insurance.
Clearance of Vegetation
Ensuring a fire-safe environment around your home is crucial for wildfire prevention. One key measure involves mandatory clearance of vegetation and debris beneath decks. This practice minimizes the risk of embers igniting accumulated materials, providing an essential line of defense against potential wildfires.
Maintenance of an Ember-Resistant Zone
Creating an ember-resistant zone within a five-foot radius of your home is a fundamental step in enhancing its fire resilience. Regular maintenance of this zone involves eliminating flammable materials, such as dry leaves and branches, and adopting ember-resistant landscaping practices. This proactive strategy greatly reduces the chances of embers penetrating your property in the event of a wildfire.
30-Foot Radius of the Dwelling
In order to enhance the resilience of your residence against the potential hazard of wildfires, it is essential to uphold a well-defined perimeter around the dwelling. This necessitates verifying the absence of structures such as outbuildings within a 30-foot radius. By incorporating this precautionary measure, the likelihood of fire propagation is minimized, thereby establishing a secure buffer zone between potential ignition sources and the primary structure.
Conformance to Defensible Space Standards
Adherence to defensible space standards, as outlined in the California Public Resources Code 4291, is essential for comprehensive wildfire preparedness. This involves a holistic approach encompassing tree trimming, brush clearance, and yard debris removal. By following these guidelines, homeowners contribute to creating a defensible space that not only protects their property but also aids firefighting efforts in the event of a wildfire.