Fire Rating For Roof Materials

Burning pieces of debris and if flames can spread across its surface.

Fire rating for roof materials.

Roofing fire ratings 101 roofing materials go through strenuous testing to determine a fire rating. The different roofing materials that are available for installation on your home are all evaluated for their fire resistant capabilities. Class c roofing provides only light fire protection. Our roof systems are rated by code for external fire resistance under deck exposure and time temperature resistance.

We must emphasize however that individual roof components are not rated at all. A one inch 2 54 centimeter layer of stucco can easily lend a 1 hour fire rating to a wall source. But by including a particular underlying material it can meet the requirements for a class a roof. An exterior fire retardant treated shake roof has a stand alone class b rating.

Stucco is often recommended as one of the best materials for boxing in hazardous eaves. It is recommended in areas throughout the united states where forest fires are common. Here are the three rating categories you need to know. Class a roofing materials.

Common underlying materials include a type 72 roll roofing material also known as 72 pound felt or 72 pound capsheet material and a panelized gypsum product called densdeck. Roof eaves overhangs are a fire hazard but they can be protected with an encasement of fire resistant material. The brands consist of an ignited wood lattice placed directly on top of the test specimen. This includes checking if the material is combustible whether it will splinter and generate flying firebrands i e.

Withstand a burning brand measuring 1 5 x 1 5 and weighing 1 4 gram. Both are burn through tests and the ultimate roof systems rating is the lowest of the three tests. The highest rating meaning the most fire resistant is classified as class a and is able to withstand severe fire exposure. National or model building codes state canadian provincial building codes or fire codes require that roofs must carry at least a class c fire rating or better.

The rating scale is relatively simple and is rated from a to c. The benefit of purchasing a class a roof is it can withstand severe exposure to fire and has the highest rating compared to class b and class c. Pressure treated shakes and shingles are the most common roofing materials to fall under the class b rating. The class a brand weighs 2 000 grams class b 500 grams and class c 9 1 4 grams.

If the roof deck is combustible such as wood plywood or osb two additional tests must be conducted. Stop fire and stay stylish. This rating indicates that the roofing materials limited to withstanding only light exposure to fire if the fire source is outside the building. Roofing systems are rated by realistic fire tests.

Some roofing materials such as untreated wood are unrated as they cannot meet even the minimum ratings for fire safety.