To all those that have been affected by the fires my heart goes out to you.
Looking to the future especially for those considering rebuilding, just some tips and recommendations. This is also an open letter to municipalities that draft the current building codes in the high fire hazard zones. These zones have their own code in the Los Angeles county fire code, FYI. The zones are called “VHFHSZ”, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
The first line of defense is for landscaping and ground cover around the home. There are specific allowable plant lists in each zone. There are three. Essentially the inner zone is the most restrictive and extends for a certain distance from the home’s exterior walls outward. The next has its list of allowable plants / landscaping, and so on. I would make these zones wider and more restrictive.
The next “weak link” in many homes is roof vents and roofing materials. Although allowable roof materials are currently of a non combustible type, there remains a weak area when it comes to roof attic ventilation. And although there are roof vent products that prevent embers from infiltrating the roof, I would recommend a design that does not have the need for any roof attic ventilation. One can accomplish by simply understanding that if the attic is allowed to be part of the conditioned space below, then no ventilation is required. And no, I’m not suggesting the design be a cathedral style space. Rather, simply run your insulation between the roof rafters, not the the ceiling joists. The attic is now conditioned space not requiring ventilation, and thus no attic vents.
Then there is exterior finish materials.
Although the code allows wood exterior materials, it must be of a minimum thickness and be fire treated.
This buys a little time before ignition.
To me, if it were my home, I would forego any and all wood exteriors all together. Stucco, concrete, concrete masonry units, steel, stone, brick, etc., is a more fire resistant material.
Lastly, fire suppression. While new homes and major remodels are already required to have an interior sprinkler system, I would recommend something in addition to this: an exterior fire suppression system. This would be regularly spaced fire sprinklers providing a minimum velocity, volume and duration of water around the entire perimeter of the home. It would be tied to an onsite water supply, via pump, and regularly maintained and inspected.
It’s been noted elsewhere that there was a home in the palisades amoungst an entire destroyed street, that survived almost completely intact, save for a few windows. Many of the features I describe here, were present in this outlier.
An additional note: windows. Although this will likely remain a weak point, and there are no “fireproof” windows, there are however, fire rated windows available.
It’s not just that they’re tempered glass. It’s that the entire product has been laboratory tested to withstand intense heat for a defined time period.
If you’re going to rebuild and defend against a likely future, these are all good steps.
