Prioritizing Fire-Resistant Features is a Sound Investment
Western homebuilders are integrating fire-resistant materials and features to safeguard communities in high-risk regions
Living in the Western U.S. comes with many perks, from scenic ocean and mountain views to idyllic climates and outdoor destinations aplenty. But as homebuilders in the region know all too well, we also must account for the perennial threat of wildfires.
The tragic Eaton and Palisades wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year ravaged more than 11,000 homes, a stark reminder of just how quickly a spark can turn to disaster when coupled with winds and dry conditions. The hardships residents face in fire regions, including personal safety and property loss, is something that remains top of mind for us when constructing new homes.
Although we cannot control the weather, homebuilders can and must account for building science principles and our knowledge of wildfire risk in the communities in which we build. While we all meet the standards required of us based on the fire rating of a particular city or county, I would argue it behooves us to commit to continuous research about how to optimize the fire safety and sustainability of the homes we build.
At Trumark Homes, we have adopted multiple fire-resistant features to protect both homes and homebuyers. These include brick and stone, typically used as decorative enhancements; stucco, a common material that can withstand high temperatures and fiber cement siding, which looks like wood but is made of fire-resistant fiber cement. Additional features include aluminum or steel garage doors in all homes, concrete tile roofs across all communities and roof vents designed to be fire-resilient. All entry doors are fire-rated to the industry standard of 20 minutes.
Having observed countless Southern California fire seasons throughout our careers and witnessing the evolution of how fires impact residents and communities, our team has further committed to ways of making our homes and the safety of our homebuyers the highest priority. For example, projects located in high fire zones are built with enclosed eaves and roof eave soffits with sprinklers. This protects a home’s exterior in a moment of risk and allows residents to prioritize the safety of their families, loved ones and pets should an evacuation be necessary.
We are also implementing superior wall assembly methods to achieve higher fire ratings than required by building code in certain communities. By utilizing a combination of methods and materials, such as two layers of drywall on the interior and two layers on the exterior, we are building two-hour fire-rated walls and further enhancing the fire-resistance of the homes. It is also advisable to design ample fire breaks around the perimeter of a home. We have created 5 feet tall fire breaks around all our new homes in high fire zone communities, making it easy and convenient for homebuyers to implement non-combustible materials and ground coverings within the hardscape.
These extra measures were recently validated when a fire threat approached one of our new home communities under construction, nearly up to the property line. Fortunately the brave men and women battling it by land and air stopped the fast-moving vegetation fire in its tracks before a single structure was threatened in the area. When our construction team returned to the site the next morning, they were greeted by a grateful fire crew who complimented the 100 feet fire break that was established as part of the original plan of this community. They noted that this fire prevention strategy not only protected the homes under construction, but also existing homes around it. Not to mention, saving them time and energy to focus on other areas that needed their immediate attention.
Even though it can be challenging to budget ample time and money for the “what ifs” of homebuilding, I believe prioritizing safety and specifically fire-resistant features is the soundest investment we are making. There is great innovation in this area of construction, with new materials, products and systems being designed and introduced at an increasing rate. We must not be stagnant and assume that what we are doing today will be enough in the years to come. Homebuilders have the power to engineer peace of mind into the homes they build and in doing so, grant individuals and families the ability of choosing the place they want to call home.
Written by Monty Peacock. Monty is the Vice President of Operations, Trumark Homes Southern California Division. He may be reached here.
This article appears in our September / October Issue of Green Home Builder.
