California State Fire Marshal Wui Approved Siding

Hazardous materials fire prevention and training.

California state fire marshal wui approved siding.

Sfm standard 12 7a 1 exterior wall siding and sheathing. California fire standards and exterior wood products. Starting january 2008 the new 2007 california building code cbc becomes effective. Lumber products used as siding decking or soffits in exteriors must pass state mandated fire tests.

A listing of most of the decking products that comply with the california requirements is maintained in a free online database called the building material listing bml formerly known as the wui product handbook and is maintained on the office of the state fire marshal osfm web site. For a current list of deck products that comply to chapter 7a provisions go the california state fire marshal s wildfire and hazards web page and click on new products handbook. These new codes include provisions for ignition resistant construction standards in the wildland urban interface. For products to be used in the wildland urban interface wui there are some regulations that required building products to comply with specific standards.

Wwpa has prepared a tech note to assist those making and selling lumber products in california that may be used in exterior applications such as siding. Lp smartside siding helps meet cal fire wui codes when paired with either gypsum board or lp flameblock fire rated. The majority of the new requirements take effect in 2008. The third way to comply is to pass the office of the state fire marshal standard sfm 12 7a 1 for exterior wall siding and sheathing.

In an effort to provide the home owners industries designers local fire and building officials a readily list of compliance wui products the state fire marshal is publishing this wui products handbook. The california building commission adopted the wildland urban interface wui codes in late 2005. This is the method used for other combustible siding products for example untreated wood lap and panelized siding vinyl or other plastic or wood plastic composite product. California building code chapter 7a requires building construction used in the exterior of buildings within wildland urban interface wui fire areas to be fire resistive construction.

The updated fire hazard severity zones will be used by building officials to. To date the california office of the state fire marshal has approved and listed multiple applications of lp s products for use in wui areas proving that wood based building materials can be part of a wui compliant solution.