From water to energy, when it comes to codes and standards, you often can look to California for not only the most stringent requirements but also those regulations that are likely to trickle out to the rest of the country. And fire is no exception.
With its high propensity for severe wildfires, California has some of the strictest regulations on the products, systems, and assemblies that can be used for buildings. Specifically, homes and buildings within the state’s “Wildland-Urban Interface Zone” must comply with Chapter 7A of the California Building Code:
“The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum standards for the protection of life and property by increasing the ability of a building located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone within State Responsibility Areas or any Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Area to resist the intrusion of flames or burning embers projected by a vegetation fire and contributes to a systematic reduction in conflagration losses.”
To aid with product specification of WUI-compliant materials, the state created a Building Materials Listing program. Aligned to provide members of the building, architectural and engineering, and fire safety communities with a reliable source for ignition-resistant building materials, the BML program was originally designed to mandate that all fire alarm systems and devices be approved by the SFM prior to marketing and sale within the state of California. Each product approval is based on an evaluation of test results, which include an analysis of product performance and reliability features.
All thicknesses, widths, and profiles of the TruExterior Siding & Trim product line are certified by the California Building Commission for inclusion on the WUI Products Listing. The product line is part of a relatively small group of cladding materials approved for WUI-designated buildings. This means that architects and contractors can confidently specify the product for use throughout all areas of California, regardless of WUI restrictions.
All thicknesses, widths, and profiles of TruExterior Siding & Trim, including Shiplap, are WUI-compliant.
Ready to try TruExterior? Request a sample here.
Cover photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/n28307/