Best Fire-Resistant Building Materials for Zone 0 & Zone 1
When defending your home against wildfires, no area is more critical than the first 5 feet: Zone 0. This zone is where embers land, where flammable materials accumulate, and where ignition often begins. But the good news is that you don’t need to undertake a complete rebuild to make meaningful changes—you just need to choose the right fire-resistant materials.
When defending your home against wildfires, no area is more critical than the first 5 feet: Zone 0. This zone is where embers land, where flammable materials accumulate, and where ignition often begins. But the good news is that you don’t need to undertake a complete rebuild to make meaningful changes—you just need to choose the right fire-resistant materials.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the best fire-resistant materials for key areas of your home’s exterior that are vulnerable to wildfire risks. Zone 0 and Zone 1 are key components of a broader wildfire defense strategy. Together with defensible space and other protective measures, the right materials can significantly increase your home’s chances of surviving a wildfire.
Let’s dive into the best fire-resistant options for your home.
1. Roofing: Go Class A or Better
Your roof is one of the largest and most exposed surfaces of your home. During a wildfire, it’s extremely vulnerable to ember attacks, which can easily ignite roofs made from combustible materials. For maximum protection, your roof should be made of materials that are Class A fire-rated, which provide the highest level of fire resistance.
Best Choices:
Composite Shingles (Class A): These are a cost-effective option that offers excellent fire resistance.
Clay or Concrete Tiles: Both materials are durable and naturally fire-resistant.
Standing Seam Metal Roofing: A fire-resistant and durable choice that provides long-lasting protection.
Avoid:
Wood Shakes: These are highly combustible and should be avoided in fire-prone areas.
Unrated Asphalt Shingles: While cheaper, these shingles lack sufficient fire resistance.
Source: CAL FIRE - Ready for Wildfire
2. Siding: Choose Noncombustible Materials
Siding is your home’s protective “skin,” shielding it from the elements and wildfires. During a wildfire, siding needs to withstand not only radiant heat but also the risk of embers landing and igniting the structure. Fire-resistant siding materials help protect your home by creating a barrier that keeps flames at bay.
Best Choices:
Fiber Cement Board (like HardiePlank): This material is highly fire-resistant, durable, and low-maintenance.
Metal Siding: Provides robust protection against fire and is long-lasting.
Three-Coat Stucco: A great option for homes in wildfire zones. It’s made of noncombustible materials and can resist heat.
Avoid:
Vinyl: This material can melt easily under intense heat, and it can also catch fire.
Untreated Wood: Wood is highly flammable and should be avoided in high-risk areas.
3. Gutters: Steel Over Plastic
Gutters play a key role in managing rainwater, but they can also be a major fire risk. Debris, leaves, and pine needles can collect in gutters, and when exposed to embers or radiant heat, these materials can easily catch fire. To prevent this, steel gutters with metal guards are the best choice.
Best Choices:
Aluminum or Galvanized Steel: These materials are fire-resistant and durable.
Metal Gutter Guards: These prevent the buildup of debris and provide an extra layer of defense against ember ignition.
Avoid:
Plastic or Vinyl Gutters: These are easily ignitable and melt under heat.
4. Soffits & Eaves: Seal Them Tight
Soffits and eaves are often overlooked but are key points of entry for flying embers. Unsealed gaps allow embers to travel straight into your attic or roof cavities. These spaces can catch fire quickly, especially in a wildfire.
Best Choices:
Boxed-In Eaves with Fiber Cement Soffit Board: This material is fire-resistant and helps seal the gaps that allow embers to enter.
Screened Vents with 1/8" Mesh or Intumescent Backing: These vent covers block embers from getting inside while still allowing airflow.
Source: Berkeley FireSafe Council
Avoid:
Unprotected or poorly sealed eaves and soffits.
5. Windows: Stronger Glass, Less Risk
Windows are another vulnerable part of your home during a wildfire. Heat from radiant heat or flying embers can cause windows to crack or shatter, letting embers enter your home. To reduce the risk, you’ll need to choose windows that are resistant to high temperatures and flying debris.
Best Choices:
Dual-Pane Tempered Glass Windows: These are stronger than standard glass and provide greater heat resistance.
Tempered Glass: This type of glass is designed to withstand higher temperatures without breaking, making it ideal for homes in wildfire zones.
Avoid:
Single-Pane Glass Windows: They shatter more easily and offer minimal protection against radiant heat.
Acrylic Windows: These materials can melt under extreme heat.
6. Doors: Solid Core and Fire-Rated
Your front, side, and garage doors need to be fire-resistant to prevent fire from entering your home. Fire-rated doors provide protection against heat and flames, and should be considered in your wildfire defense plan.
Best Choices:
Steel Doors: Steel is one of the best fire-resistant materials and helps prevent the spread of flames.
Fire-Rated Solid Wood or Fiberglass: These materials are designed to withstand heat and prevent fires from entering through doors.
7. Decking: Wildfire-Rated or Noncombustible
Decks are a common point of vulnerability during wildfires. Embers often settle under decks and can quickly ignite wooden surfaces. To protect your home, consider fire-rated decking materials.
Best Choices:
Fire-Rated Composite Decking: These materials provide a non-combustible, durable surface for outdoor spaces.
Metal Grating or Concrete Slab Construction: These options offer a more permanent, fire-resistant deck.
Avoid:
Wooden Decking: It’s highly combustible and can catch fire from underneath, allowing embers to ignite the deck and spread to your home.
8. Perimeter Ground Cover: Preventing Ember Ignition
Zone 0 isn’t just about the materials on your home; it also includes the ground around it. Creating a non-combustible perimeter helps prevent embers from landing near your home.
Best Choices:
Gravel: Gravel provides an excellent non-combustible ground cover that helps prevent fires from spreading.
Decomposed Granite: This material is both attractive and fire-resistant.
Concrete or Stone Pavers: These materials can create a solid, fireproof foundation around your home.
Avoid:
Bark Mulch: While often used in landscaping, bark mulch is highly flammable and should be avoided in high-risk areas.
Dry Grass: Grass can easily catch fire and should be kept well-maintained.
Bonus: Full-Structure Fire Shielding
Even with the best materials in place, there are scenarios—like a neighbor’s home catching fire—where radiant heat and ember storms may overwhelm your defenses. That’s where full-structure fire shielding comes in.
Our solution is:
Waterless (no plumbing or sprinkler system needed)
Self-sufficient (no supervision required)
Rated to 3,000°F, with deployment designed to protect against ember storms and radiant heat
Final Thought:
Fire-resistant building materials can’t stop every fire—but they give your home a fighting chance. Combined with defensible space and smart upgrades, these materials are one of the most important tools we have in the fight against wildfires.
The Zone Zero Fire Shield team hopes you find this information helpful.
Related Blogs in Our Series:
Creating a Fire-Safe Perimeter
What is the EMBER Program? Berkeley's New Wildfire Safety Regulations Explained
Learn about Berkeley’s new EMBER program and its wildfire safety regulations. Understand the key requirements for homeowners and how to protect your home with defensible space, home hardening, and ember mitigation.
What is the EMBER Program? Berkeley's New Wildfire Safety Regulations Explained
As wildfires continue to increase in both frequency and intensity, the City of Berkeley has introduced new and stringent regulations to protect homes and neighborhoods from the growing threat. This new initiative, known as the EMBER program (Effective Mitigations for Berkeley Ember Resilience), aims to mitigate the risks associated with wildfires by ensuring that properties in high-risk areas are prepared and resilient.
If you’re a homeowner in the Berkeley Hills or other areas identified as high-risk for wildfires, you may have heard about the new regulations requiring the removal of combustible materials from your property. These rules are designed to help protect your home from embers, the leading cause of wildfire ignitions. But what exactly does the EMBER program entail, and how can you comply with its guidelines to ensure your home is safe? Let’s break it down.
What is the EMBER Program?
The EMBER program is Berkeley’s new wildfire mitigation initiative that focuses on creating defensible space around homes to prevent them from catching fire during a wildfire, particularly from flying embers. The new regulations, which will take effect on January 1, 2026, require homeowners to clear combustible materials within five feet of their homes, decks, and other structures.
The goal of the EMBER program is to slow the spread of fire and to protect homes, particularly those in areas most vulnerable to embers that travel far ahead of the flames. This is especially important in Berkeley's high-risk neighborhoods like the Berkeley Hills, which are surrounded by dense vegetation and steep terrain that increase wildfire risks.
For more information on the EMBER program, check out the official City of Berkeley EMBER Program page for details on regulations and enforcement.
Key Components of the EMBER Program:
Combustible Material Removal:
Homeowners must remove all flammable materials within five feet of their homes, including dry leaves, branches, wood mulch, and other materials that could catch fire. This also includes removing wood fences, firewood piles, and stored items like propane tanks, plastic bins, and wooden decks.Vegetation Management:
Overgrown vegetation, including trees and shrubs, must be trimmed back. This helps reduce the fuel load that can spread a fire toward your home. This requirement also includes maintaining space between trees and removing ladder fuels, which are plants or branches that could allow fire to climb from the ground to the canopy.Maintenance of Gutters and Roofs:
Homeowners are required to clear gutters, roofs, and decks of leaves, pine needles, and other combustible debris. This is essential for preventing embers from igniting debris on your roof, which is one of the most common ways homes catch fire during a wildfire.Fire-Resistant Landscaping:
Using non-combustible materials like gravel, pavers, and stone around your home is encouraged. This creates a barrier to prevent fire from spreading to your home. It's also important to use fire-resistant plants and avoid placing them too close to your house.Enforcement:
Homeowners who do not comply with these requirements may face fines of up to $500 per day for each violation. The city will provide inspections and give homeowners a two-week correction period to address any issues. If the issue persists, fines will be levied.
Why Does the EMBER Program Matter?
You may be wondering, "Why is all this necessary?" The truth is, wildfires don’t just burn from the flames themselves. In fact, embers—small, burning pieces of debris carried by the wind—are responsible for over 90% of home ignitions during wildfires. In the case of a fire approaching Berkeley, embers can travel miles ahead of the flames, landing on homes and igniting them before the fire itself reaches.
By creating defensible space, the EMBER program gives homeowners the tools to mitigate ember attacks and reduce the risk of fire spreading to their homes. It also creates a safer environment for firefighters, allowing them to work more effectively in high-risk areas without the added threat of embers igniting homes.
How to Prepare Your Home: Next Steps
Start by Clearing Vegetation:
Begin by removing any dry leaves, branches, and shrubs within five feet of your home. If you have wooden fences or other combustible structures, now is the time to replace them with non-combustible alternatives like steel or masonry.Install Fire-Resistant Materials:
Consider investing in Class A fire-rated roofing, ember-resistant vents, and tempered glass windows to harden your home against potential wildfires. For more information on home hardening, check out our upcoming blog Home Hardening: How to Prepare Your Home for Wildfire in Berkeley.Get Involved:
The City of Berkeley offers resources to assist homeowners with clearing vegetation and preparing their homes for wildfire season. Programs like the Fuel Fire Chipper Program provide free services to help you clear vegetation, and organizations like Firewise USA encourage community involvement in wildfire preparedness. For more information, visit FireSafe Berkeley, or contact the Berkeley Fire Department's Wildland Division at wildfire@berkeleyca.gov.
How Zone Zero Can Help
While the EMBER program tackles vegetation and combustible material removal, you can take additional steps to protect your home with Zone Zero. Zone Zero Fire Shield provides an extra layer of protection with fire-resistant blankets designed to protect homes from embers, heat, and flames during wildfire events.
For more information on Zone Zero Fire Shield and how it can help protect your home in Berkeley, contact us.
Partnering with Berkeley FireSafe Council for Wildfire Prevention
The Berkeley FireSafe Council plays a crucial role in helping homeowners in Berkeley prepare for the increasing risk of wildfires. As a key partner in the city's wildfire prevention efforts, the council provides valuable resources, including educational materials, workshops, and hands-on programs to assist homeowners with fire prevention and defensible space strategies.
By working together with the FireSafe Council, residents can access the latest guidelines, receive expert advice on fire-resistant landscaping, and even participate in community-wide initiatives aimed at reducing fire risk. The Fuel Fire Chipper Program, offered by the FireSafe Council, allows Berkeley residents to get rid of excess vegetation, a critical step in making your property more fire-safe.
For more resources, including helpful tips and community engagement opportunities, visit the FireSafe Berkeley website or reach out directly for guidance on improving your home's wildfire resilience.
Conclusion: A Community Effort
The EMBER program is a vital step in preparing Berkeley for the increasing threat of wildfires. By working together as a community and taking the necessary precautions, we can ensure that our homes remain safe, even in the face of a wildfire. Don’t wait for disaster to strike—start making the necessary changes today to protect your home and your loved ones.
Other Related Blogs in Our Series:
What is Zone Zero in Wildfire Defence: Learn about the importance of Zone Zero, the ember-resistant zone, in protecting your home from wildfires.
How to Harden Your Home for Wildfire Protection: Discover how strengthening your home’s structure can make it more resistant to wildfires.
The Role of Fire-Resistant Landscaping in Wildfire Defense: Explore how landscaping choices can influence the effectiveness of your home’s wildfire defense strategy.
Understanding Ember Attacks and How to Protect Your Home: A detailed look at how embers cause the majority of wildfire damage and how to defend your home against them.