Focusing on fire-resistance

By Jenny Yu.  

RICOWI’s Spring 2026 event will deliver critical insights into fire testing, industry standards and mitigation strategies. 

In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth spoke with Jordan Loudon, executive director of RICOWI Inc. (Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues), and Al Janni, chairperson of the organization, about the upcoming RICOWI Spring 2026 Conference taking place March 11-12, 2026, at the SAFE Convention Center in Sacramento, California.  

This year, the conference will spotlight wildfire resistance. “This year is the first where we're really homing in on fire related topics as a result of the major things that are happening within the industry,” Jordan explained, noting the formation of RICOWI’s Wildfire Resistant Roofing Committee last year. Interest in joining RICOWI has surged, with a dozen roofing professionals joining the effort. “When the first wind investigation and hail investigation happened, people saw that RICOWI was doing this work and wanted to be a part of it. Same thing with fire.” 

The educational lineup features research-driven insights from leading organizations. Al highlighted a presentation from IBHS examining wildfire behavior and mitigation strategies. “Murray Morrison from IBHS is going to talk about the wildfires: how they attack through embers, the radiant heat and a direct flame contact that it has on buildings, the mitigation actions that lower the wildfire risk of buildings,” Al said. Al noted that IBHS will also address neighborhood-scale mitigation efforts in the wake of the catastrophic events in Los Angeles. 

Additional sessions include updates from the International Code Council on 2024 Wildland Urban Interface provisions and from UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute. “There are some great things that we have coming down the pike with our speakers,” Al expressed. 

In addition to the fire-focused presentations, attendees can participate in the RICOWI Foundation Fundraiser at Dao Distillery, an artisanal spirit tasting experience. “It’s going to be really fun,” Jordan shared. “Each attendee gets to walk away with a $60 bottle from the distillery, and the cuisine is going to match the spirits.” 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about what to expect at the RICOWI Spring 2026 Conference!