Strengthening roofs against WUI fire risks

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Class A roofing materials and tested underlayments can help protect structures in wildfire-prone communities. 

As wildfire risks continue to affect communities across the country, MFM Building Products points to the growing number of structures located in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas. More than 60,000 U.S. communities and approximately 44 million homes are in these areas, where human development meets undeveloped wildlands and forest, brush and grass fires can quickly spread toward structures. 

As populations grow and development expands, WUI areas increase by approximately 2 million acres each year, according to the U.S. Forest Service. For property owners and roofing professionals working in these regions, selecting fire-rated building materials can be an important part of protecting a structure. 

WUI fires often begin on a roof when burning debris and hot embers land on the building. Installing a Class A fire-rated roof covering provides a first line of defense. Qualifying materials can include asphalt shingles, metal roofing panels and clay or concrete tiles that carry a Class A designation. 

Protection also depends on the complete roof assembly. Ultra HT Wind and Water Seal® underlayment from MFM Building Products, when installed with a Class A roof covering, provides additional protection against fire spreading into the structure. 

Ultra HT® carries WUI Listing 8180-2433:0001 and has been independently tested to ASTM E108 for use with architectural or standard three-tab asphalt shingles. For metal roofing applications, it carries UL 790 listing TGFU R11672. Complete assembly requirements are available in the product’s installation instructions. 

The 45-mil, self-adhering roofing underlayment is designed for use with most roofing systems. It features a cool white, cross-laminated polyethylene film surface with a traction coating laminated to a high-temperature styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) adhesive rated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Ultra HT is available in a 36-inch-by-67-foot roll and includes a 10-year warranty. 

Learn more about protecting structures from WUI fire damage with Class A roofing materials and Ultra HT Wind and Water Seal® underlayment!