Protect Your Business From Wildfire

To reduce the opportunity for wildfire to ignite your business, maintain the 3 zones around your building, collectively called defensible space. Learn how.

Create a vegetation maintenance plan to reduce ignition sources. If using plants around the building, select ones with low combustibility characteristics such as high moisture content, low oil or resin content, deep roots with thick heavy leaves, and minimal production of dead vegetation.

Ensure fire hydrants are located no more than 250 feet from the primary buildings and are connected to a reliable public or private water source.

Select exterior wall cladding made of noncombustible siding materials such as concrete and brick. Ensure the start of siding is a minimum of 6 inches above the ground.

Select windows that are dual-paned with tempered glass. For operational windows, install screens to cover sections that can open. Always close windows when wildfire threatens.

Install ⅛-inch noncombustible mesh screening over all vents.

• Regularly remove debris from roof and gutters, since it can be ignited by wind-blown embers.
• Select gutters and downspouts made of noncombustible materials such as aluminum. The gutter should incorporate an integral metal flashing at the roof edge, or a separate flashing should be used at the roof edge.
• Select roof covers with a Class A fire rating based on testing to ASTM E108 or UL 790.

When it’s time to replace deck boards, choose a noncombustible product or a combustible product that complies with the requirements of the California Building Code, as provided in the Office of the State Fire Marshal Building Materials Listing Program.