Wildfire season stresses everyone. There is always the risk that the winds bring the fire to your home. While no roofing material is completely fireproof, you can choose roofing materials that are significantly less combustible and less likely to catch fire if the wildlife is next door. There are also materials that won’t feed fires if they do happen to collapse into your home while it is on fire.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing a new roof after a fire, or if you just want to be sure that your next roof is better fire-protection, then you may want to compare the fire resistance of a few different roofing materials. In this guide, we’ll do just that, comparing the fire performance and the other pros and cons of different roofing materials.
What Does Fire-Resistance Mean?
Before we get into comparisons between different materials, you need to know what fire-resistance means. There is no roofing material that is impervious to fire. It may not catch fire, but it may melt and distort under the heat from a fire (especially a wildfire.) Fire next to the roof or below the roof will still likely cause damage to the roof.
That said, materials with high fire-resistance are a big improvement over older materials. Wood shakes, and low-qualityasphalt shingles could catch fire from a wildfire or from a building fire. If the structural integrity of the roof fails during a fire, the materials can fall in and fuel the fire or start one inside of the building.
How is Fire-Resistance Measured?
So, how do you know how fire-resistant a roofing material is? There are three standard ratings used in the roofing industry: Class A, Class B, and Class C. You should certainly avoid materials that are unrated and not achieved the bare minimum for any of these ratings.
Class A is the best fire-resistance rating. Materials that achieve this rating can resist severe fire exposure. ATSM testing protocol has these materials undergo three different tests. First is the intermittent flame test. Testers blow hot, intense flames onto the roof for two minutes. The test is repeated 15 times to see if the roof will fail. Second, testers apply the flame for 10 minutes to see if the material will catch fire and, if it does, how far it will spread. Then, a burning brand is placed on the roof, and a wind machine generates a strong wind. It is left for ninety minutes to see if the roof catches fire or fails. A Class A roof needs to pass all of these tests.
There are Class B and Class C roofing materials available, but there is no reason to buy them. There are many reasonably priced options that meet Class A rating, so you don’t need to settle for less. That said, it’s still prudent to compare the materials that meet Class A fire-resistant standards to see which offer the very best protection and which meets your other priorities for a roof.
1. Metal Roofing
Metal roofing is an excellent fire-resistant roofing option. Metal will not combust under fire, and though it may eventually melt, few fires can get hot enough to do so. Metal roofs do have wooden decking (as all roofs do), so this part is vulnerable to internal fires and may be vulnerable to external fires in the even the metal melts or warps. That said, not all metal roofing systems ae designed to the same quality. It is important to make sure that the specific metal roofing system you choose passes the Class A tests.
Metal roofing is an expensive option in the short-term but less expensive in the long run. These roofing systems can last for 40 to 70 years. They have many color and style options, although not as many of asphalt shingles do. If you can handle the up-front investment, they can be a great option.
2. Asphalt Shingles
Almost all asphalt shingles available on the market have achieved a Class-A fire-resistance rating. Therefore, you can choose almost any of them and get a great level of fire protection. We prefer CertainTeed shingles, and all of their options have UL Class A fire-resistance rating, including:
While shingles are not quite as good as metal roofing at resisting fire, you will likely be very impressed by their performance. They are very unlikely to catch fire or to fuel a fire if they fall in. Like metal, they can melt and warp under extreme heat.
They also offer some benefits over metal and other roof types that you may appreciate. They are more affordable upfront, simpler to install and come with a much wider range of styles and colors. In fact, CertainTeed has shingle types that are meant to replicate the look of wood shakes. If you’d like wood shakes but are concerned about their poor fire performance, these are a great option. You can also get asphalt shingles that look like slate tiles.
3. Concrete or Clay Tiles
Clay tiles were used for centuries in warm climates and large cities where the spread of fire was a concern even centuries ago. In the modern-day, you can find concrete tiles that mimic the look of clay tiles, but which are more durable. Concrete is obviously highly resistant to flame, but just as with metal roofing, it is important to make sure that the specific tile products you’ve chosen are Class A fire rated.
Clay tiles are not typically as durable as the other roofing materials we’re covering. They can be a challenge to install, and it is therefore, sometimes hard to find a roofer who can work with the material. They are more cost-effective than metal roofing, but they will need to be replaced earlier.
4. Slate Tiles
Slate tiles are another possible fire-resistant roofing material. Slate is rock, and therefore very resistant to flame, and even unlikely to melt and warp when exposed to high heat. However, slate has many disadvantages as a roofing material. It is heavy, expensive, and challenging to install. Although, those homeowners who have a historical home or who want an elegant look may love slate tile.