Showing results 1 - 100 of 128
Image
A Corsi-Rosenthal Box is a highly effective DIY air cleaner made of easy to obtain materials such as HVAC filters, a box fan, cardboard, and tape
Image
A cross-section of a vinyl-framed window showing metal reinforcement which helps support the window and prevent collapse if exposed to heat from a fire.
Image
A deck or other attached structure located at the top of a slope with vegetation underneath is at high risk of ignition during a wildfire
Image
A dry hydrant is a pipe a homeowner can have installed in a natural water source on their rural property to provide easy access to the water by firefighting crews.
Image
A green strip is a type of fuel break planted with less flammable vegetation; e.g., crested wheatgrass.
Image
Image
A patio and wall constructed of noncombustible concrete, stone, or brick helps to deflect heat and protect the deck and house from approaching wildfires.
Image
A roughed-in fire sprinkler head (left) and fire sprinkler riser (right), both using CPVC piping.
Image
A shaded fuel break is created on forested lands when trees are thinned, tree canopies are raised by removing lower branches, and the understory vegetation is managed to reduce the fire threat.
Image
A wall assembly approved for use in the wildland-urban interface has 5/8-inch type X gypsum installed exterior of the wood sheathing and an exterior covering or siding that has a 1-hour fire-resistance rating
Image
Above-ground welded-steel cistern with hydrant for fire engine hose hookup installed on private land for residential fire suppression.
Image
Adjustable weatherstripping can be installed around the interior side of the door frame to help keep out wind-blown rain and embers and hot gasses from wildfires (FEMA 577).
Image
Annual Wildfires and Acres Burned, including Wildland Fires on Federal and Nonfederal lands (1991-2020)
Image
Building section connecting an unvented roof assembly constructed with fire-resistant and fire-retardant materials to a wall assembly with similar materials.
Image
Building section connecting wall assembly constructed with fire-resistant and fire-retardant materials to a foundation assembly with similar materials.
Image
Building section showing a vapor diffusion ridge port constructed with fire-resistant and fire-retardant materials.
Image
Image
Components and cross section of an underground fiberglass storage tank used for residential fire suppression.
Image
Components of a residential underground concrete fire suppression cistern include a manhole, suction connection, vent, and fill pipes
Image
Continuous rigid insulation coupled with thin (1/4-inch) spacer strips that provide drainage behind the wall cladding without increasing the fire risk of the assembly.
Image
Image
CPVC fire sprinkler piping is insulated using the tent method, as described in NFPA 13D.
Image
Create defensible space against wildfires by limiting fire fuels in the immediate, intermediate, and extended zones around the home
Image
Create defensible space around the home to protect it from wildfires.
Image
Defensible space and ignition resistant building materials saved this home from a wildland fire that destroyed the neighboring home in the foreground
Image
Drainage and back ventilation of wood cladding is provided by ¾ inch furring (1x4).
Image
Image
Drainage behind stone cladding is provided by “grooved” rigid insulation coupled with a filter fabric.
Image
Drainage behind wood shingle cladding is provided by a 3/8-inch-thick drainage mat.
Image
Every natural gas appliance has a shutoff valve in the gas line to the appliance that can be manually shut off if a leak happens at a specific appliance or in preparation for an impending natural disaster.
Image
Example of setback from wildland vegetation Image title: Homes sited on hills in wildfire prone areas should be set back at least 50 feet from downslope wildland vegetation.
Image
Excess Flow Valves and Earthquake-Actuated Gas Shutoff Valves are two different types of valves that automatically stop the flow of gas into the house: excess flow valves stop gas flow if there is a break in the line, earthquake valves stop gas flow if th
Image
Extreme weather, such as wind, fire, flood, or extreme heat (included in the Severe Weather category above) causes most large electric disturbance events in the U.S (defined as affecting at least 50,000 customers) (data from 2000-2016)
Image
Fire barriers for ventilated wall cavities use thermally activated expansive materials to close off the ventilation space between the wall cladding and the sheathing during a fire while allowing air flow through the metal mesh during normal conditions
Image
Fire barriers for ventilated walls use heat activated intumescent expansive materials to close off the ventilation space between the wall cladding and the sheathing during a fire while allowing air flow through the metal mesh during normal conditions
Image
Fire resistance plans for a community include creating defensible space for each home and for the whole community, constructing with fire-resistant materials, and providing turn-around space for emergency response vehicles.
Image
Fire suppression sprinklers can be set to activate only in the room where a fire is sensed.
Image
Flame Spread Classification and Ratings for Common Building Materials (adapted from Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall 2021)
Image
Image
Four types of residential fire sprinkler heads: pendent, concealed, sidewall, and concealed sidewall.
Image
Fully enclosing the area under the deck increases its resistance to wildfire by minimizing the space where embers can lodge.
Image
Heavy metal flashing protects the deck timbers and separates them from the wall at the wall-deck connection which is vulnerable to both ember entrapment and water damage.
Image
Heavy timber deck construction uses slow burning thick timbers to reduce the flammability of the deck.
Image
Heavy timber deck construction uses slow burning thick timbers to reduce the flammability of the deck.
Image
Homeowners in remote areas may choose to install their own cisterns to provide water for fire suppression in case of wildfires.
Image
Homes located in the Wildland Urban Interface should be designed and constructed with fire resistance in mind.
Image
Homes sited on hills in wildfire prone areas should be set back at least 50 feet from downslope wildland vegetation.
Image
Image
Image
In this IBHS Research Center test of two homes exposed to flying embers and high winds, the home with wood siding and a wood door went up in flames, the home with fiber cement siding and a metal door suffered little damage.
Image
Install birdstop at the eave in tile roofs to minimize the accumulation of debris, a fire hazard, at the roof edge.
Image
Likely amount of time and radiant heat exposure at which different types of window glass would break at 30 feet from the edge of a wildfire.
Image
Image
Metal hat channel provides a drainage gap of 1 inch between fiber-cement siding and mineral wool continuous insulation.
Image
Minimum horizontal clearance between trees and plants on various slopes for wildfire resistance
Image
Image
Radiant heat energy from fires decreases with distance from the flames but is intense enough at close range to cause ignition.
Image
Radiant heat from wildfires can crack windows by heating the exterior surface (#1) causing it to expand and crack when exposed to wildfire.
Image
Recommended tree spacing for wildfire resistance within the three defensible space zones (Source: Preparing Homes for Wildfire
Image
Reduce the wildfire risks to decks by using closely spaced, heavy lumber decking and metal railings.
Image
Right - An unvented attic with no soffit vents, borate-treated fascia board, metal drip edge, and concrete block construction on this south Florida home help make it resistant to hurricanes, pests, and wind-born wildfire embers.
Image
Right - Leaf guards allow rainwater into the gutter but keep combustible debris out, increasing the home's resistance to wildfires.
Image
Right - Pieces of metal flashing are installed under each tile course along the valley centerline to prevent debris accumulation between and below concrete roof tiles.
Image
Right - The corrosion-resistant metal siding on this tiny house is fire resistant.
Image
Image
Right – A non-combustible 1/8-inch mesh screen is installed on vent openings to reduce the risk of ember intrusion.
Image
Right – A non-combustible 1/8-inch mesh screen is installed on vent openings to reduce the risk of fire from intrusion of wind-borne embers.
Image
Image
Right – Deck flashing protects the deck-to-wall connection from water and burning embers.
Image
Image
Right – In wildfire prone areas, using a flat soffit with venting on the fascia instead of an angled soffit with down-facing venting reduces the risk of catching rising embers.
Image
Right – Metal flashing is installed between the deck boards and house wall with the top of the flashing extending up behind the siding and the bottom of the flashing extending out and down over the ledger board
Image
Right – This fire-rated wall assembly uses exterior gypsum board and an exterior siding of fiber-cement or metal to increase fire resistance.
Image
Right – To make decks more fire-resistant, enclose the bottom of the deck with a non-flammable skirt, and surround the deck with a non-flammable surface like pavers.
Image
Right – To make decks more resistant to fires, for floor joists and beams, use heavy fire-retardant-treated timbers, concrete, or steel framing; for decking and stair treads, use treated wood, brick, or concrete pavers; and for railings, use treated wood,
Image
Right – Trimming tree branches a minimum of 10 feet from the house or any attached structures reduces the risk of home ignition.
Image
Right – Trimming tree canopies a minimum of 10 feet from the house reduces the risk of home ignition.
Image
Small spacer strips consisting of ¼-inch plastic strips provide a drainage gap behind wall cladding with a gap that is too small to pose a fire risk from embers entering the gap.
Image
Stone cladding system with a drainage mat provides a small, vented gap (≤ ¾ inch), over a water-resistant barrier house wrap that has a perm rating of 10 to 20 perms so it can serve as a vapor throttle.
Image
Stucco wall assembly with a drainage mat providing a small vented gap (experience has shown that ≤ 3/8 inch is effective), and a water-resistant barrier house wrap serving as a vapor throttle.
Image
Super-heated air and gases from wildfires will dry and heat the fuel, both vegetation and structures, in the path of the oncoming, uphill-moving fire.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Tempered glass windows usually have an etched marking on the glass in the corner of the window that includes the supplier's name, place of fabrication, date manufactured, thickness, and certifications or safety standards the glass meets.
Image
The combustible rigid foam insulation is protected by a non-combustible layer of mineral wool insulation; a 7/8 inch “hat-channel” provides the ventilation and drainage gap.
Image
The combustible siding product on the left side in this demonstration burns readily when exposed to a burning wood sample, while the noncombustible siding on the right does not ignite
Image
The furring strips that provide a drainage gap behind the lap siding are wrapped with ≤ 1/8-inch screen at the top and bottom of the wall to keep out bugs and burning embers.
Image
The minimum required plumbing connections and trim for fire sprinkler connection to municipal water with a standalone wet sprinkler system.
Image
The Minimum Water Delivery Rates for Various Water Supply Amounts for Residential Fire Suppression Cisterns, as given in Table 4.6.1 in NFPA 1142
Image
Image
The preferred method for fire sprinkler connection to municipal water with a standalone, wet sprinkler system.
Image
These wildfire-resistant decks have a solid decking surface, metal railings, and the underside timber supports are covered with flame-resistant fiber cement board; also the decking is set back from the vegetated slope.
Image
This above-ground private fire suppression cistern has a hydrant threaded for easy attachment to local fire department hoses.
Image
This dry hydrant was installed by a homeowner living in a rural location to provide firefighters with easy access to this natural water source located on their property.
Image
This home has defensible space around it, with a vegetation-free zone that helped the house survive a surrounding wildfire.
Image
This home on a mountain top in San Ramon, California, has four 10,000-gallon stormwater/greywater cisterns (two are visible at top left) for fire suppression as well as five 10,000-gallon rainwater storage tanks for indoor potable water.
Image
This home survived the Laguna Beach fire of October 1993, which claimed more than 400 neighboring homes, thanks to a fire-resistant tile roof, stucco exterior, stucco-covered boxed eaves and under-decks, double-pane windows and selective landscaping
Image
This metal shutter has top and bottom tracks that are permanently anchored to the wall (FEMA 577).
Image
