Cal Fire Ready Set Go Brochure Final Files-V4-PRINT - Flipbook - Page 6
HARDENING
YOUR HOME
Now is the time to retrofit your home—before a wildfire strikes.
California Building Code Chapter 7A requires specific construction
materials and methods for the building of new homes in wildfire-prone
areas. These same materials and methods are also the minimum standards
recommended when retrofitting a home. Retrofitting prepares your home
for the exposure it will experience during a wildfire. Here’s what you can
do to harden your home:
ROOF
Your roof is the most vulnerable part of your home. Homes with wood
shake or shingle roofs are at high risk of being destroyed in a wildfire.
• Replace wood shake or shingle roofs with a Class A fire-rated
roof, using materials such as composition, metal, or tile.
• Inspect your roof and maintain it by removing debris and
plugging gaps.
VENTS
Vents on homes create openings for flying embers.
• Avoid storing combustible items near attic or crawl space vents.
• Inspect vents to ensure they are in good condition with no tears
or large openings.
• Cover all vent openings with 1/16 inch to 1/8 inch
corrosion-resistant metal mesh screen.
• Consider replacing screened vents with ember and flame-resistant
vents.
EAVES AND SOFFITS
Eaves and soffits are a point of entry for flying embers from fires up to
a mile away or flames from nearby vegetation or other material burning.
• Plug or caulk gaps greater than 1/8 inch in size with durable caulk.
• Enclose eaves with ignition-resistant or noncombustible materials
if possible.
WINDOWS
Heat from a wildfire can cause windows to break before the home
ignites, allowing embers to enter and start fires inside. Single-paned
and large windows are particularly at risk.
• Install dual or multi-paned windows with at least one pane being
tempered glass.
• Consider limiting the size and number of windows that face large areas
of vegetation.
• Install metal mesh screens on openable windows to increase ember
resistance and reduce radiant heat exposure.
4
| READY
