Fire-Resistant Residential Rebuild

In response to growing wildfire risk, Oregon’s Building Codes Division has adopted new fire-hardening building code standards for extreme or high-risk regions. Fire hardening is the process of making a building more fire-resistant, by selecting materials and design choices that slow the progression of fire and resist ignition. Strategies include multi-layered or tempered windows, soffits with ignition-resistant materials, and noncombustible siding and trim.

This new three-bedroom home features a range of fire-hardening measures, including the following:

• Metal and pre-burned shou sugi ban siding and roofing to prevent ignition.
• No gutters, reducing the accumulation of fire-prone debris.
• Flat and steep-pitched roofs directing runoff to oversized French drains.
• A 15-foot rock buffer around the home to keep flammable vegetation at bay.
• Mass Plywood Panels (MPP) offer a slower char rate and more consistent fire performance than concrete, steel, and even many alternative mass timber products.
• Non-flammable insulation for enhanced protection.
• No vented eaves for sparks to penetrate attic voids. Air cycling is via an air exchanger and a dehumidifier, which can be turned off during a fire event.  
• Hose bibs on flat roof sections for easy sprinkler installation.
• Property perimeter sprinkler systems and near-house sprinkler systems.  
• 20,000-gallon fire pond with a local fire department hookup.
  
  For more information, visit the MPP manufacturer Freres' case study or watch a video explaining the design process.