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Fire Wise Construction Checklist
When constructing, renovating, or adding to
a firewise home, consider the following:
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Choose a Firewise location. |
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Design and build a firewise structure. |
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Employ firewise landscaping and maintenance. |
To select a firewise location, observe the
following:
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Slope of terrain; be sure to build on the most level
portion of the land, since fire spreads rapidly, even on minor slopes. |
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Set you single-story structure at least 30 feet back
from any ridge or cliff; increase distance if your home will be higher
than one story. |
In designing and building your firewise structure,
remember that the primary goals are fuel and exposure reduction.
To this end:
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Use construction materials that are fire-resistant or
non-combustible whenever possible. |
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For roof construction, consider using materials such
as Class-A asphalt shingles, slate or clay tile, metal, cement and concrete
products, or terra-cotta tiles. |
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Constructing a fire-resistant sub-roof can add protection,
as well. |
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On exterior wall cladding, fire resistive materials such
as stucco or masonry are much better than vinyl which can soften and melt. |
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Consider both size and materials for windows; smaller
panes hold up better in their frames than larger ones; double pan glass
and tempered glass are more effective than single pane glass; plastic skylights
can melt. |
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Cover windows and skylights with non-flammable screening
shutters. |
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To prevent sparks from entering your home through bents,
cover exterior attic and underfloor vents with wire mesh no larger than
1/8 of an inch; make sure undereave and soffit vents are closer to the
roof line than the wall; and box in eaves, but provide adequate ventilation
to prevent condensation. |
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Include a drive way that is wide enough - 12 feet wide
with a vertical clearance of 15 feet and a slope that is less than 12 percent
- to provide easy access for fire engines. The driveway and access
roads should be well-maintained, clearly marked, and include ample turnaround
space near the house. Also consider access to water supply, if possible. |
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Provide a least two ground level doors for safety exits
and at least two means of escape - either a door or window in each room,
so that everyone has a way out. |
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Keep gutters, eaves, and roof clear of leaves and other
debris. |
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Make an occasional inspection of you home, looking or
deterioration such as breaks and spaces between roof tiles, warping wood,
or cracks and crevices in the structure. |
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Also, inspect your property, clearing dead wood and dense
vegetation from at least 30 feet from you house, and moving firewood away
from the house or attachments, like fences or decks. |
Any structures attached to the house, such
as decks, porches, fences, and outbuildings should be considered part of
the house, These structures can act as fuses or fuel bridges, particularly
if constructed from flammable materials. Therefore, consider the
following:
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If you wish to attach an all-wood fence to your home,
use masonry or metal as protective barrier between the fence and house. |
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Use non-flammable metal when constructing a trellis and
cover with high-moisture, non-flammable vegetation. |
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Prevent combustible materials and debris from accumulating
beneath patio deck or elevated porches; screen under or box in areas below
ground line with wire mesh no larger than 1/8 of an inch. |
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Make sure an elevated wooden deck is not located at the
top of a hill where it will be in direct line of a fire moving up slope;
consider a terrace instead. |
Access additional information on the Fire wise home page:
www.firewise.org
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john |
