Did you know that in 2022 alone, fires destroyed over 370,000 homes in the USA? Fireproof roofing could help you protect your home during these types of unforeseen events. Still, you’ll want to choose the right material for your home using the fire ratings, and that’s not always an intuitive process.
Below, Gotcha Covered Contracting’s roofing experts discuss everything you need to know about fire-resistant roofs. If you’d like to upgrade your roof, just call (724) 581-8147 for a quote and some professional guidance.
Do Fireproof Roofs Really Exist?
No, truly fireproof roofs are still in the pipeline, as today’s most fire-resistant roofing materials may still succumb to damage from extreme heat over time. However, while you may not be able to purchase 100% fireproof roofing materials, highly fire-resistant roofing withstands heat and flames for impressively long periods of time, allowing firefighters to put out the flames before the interior of your home suffers damages.
Properly fire-resistant roofing delays flame penetration. Isn’t the whole idea to give your family critical time to get to safety? Protecting your home’s structural integrity amid a fire is easier if you’ve got a highly-rated roof material creating that much-needed buffer.
Understanding the Fire Rating Standards for Roofs
Typically, fire-resistant roofs fall into different categories based on their ability to resist heat and flames. The standardized class rating scale makes it easier to understand which of these materials resist fire better. Here’s how the scale works:
- Class A fire rating: Class A roofs provide the most robust protection against fire. Such materials resist direct flames for up to four hours before igniting.
- Class B fire rating: Class B roofs can provide decent fire resistance for moderate, indirect flames. They may only resist ignition for up to an hour, though.
- Class C fire rating: Class C-rated roofs only provide light protection against minimal flames for around 20 minutes before igniting.
The Best Class A Fire-Rated Roofs
What are the best class-A materials on offer? This is the closest you can get to “fireproof” roofing.
Metal
Metal roofing ranks as one of the most fire-resistant building materials while offering numerous other advantages. For instance, metal roofs come in various lightweight materials that can last as long as 70 years, making them a great investment. The thin, eco-friendly composition can reflect or absorb sunlight, offering energy efficiency for lower utility bills.
Composite
Composite shingles on roofs contain an eco-friendly blend of recyclable plastics, fiberglass, asphalt, and other materials. This synthetic roofing material not only offers superb fire resistance but can resist practically all weather-related events well. Composite roofs come in different colors and designs to mimic natural building materials like wood shake, slate, or Spanish tile.
Slate
Slate roofs feature stone, making them excessively heavy and challenging to install. The added weight provides natural insulation for added energy efficiency, though. Natural stone material also withstands fire, rain, snow, and heavy winds but can crack if struck by hail.
Clay and Concrete Tile
Clay and concrete roofs provide pros and cons similar to slate against flames. All of these solutions come from naturally non-combustive materials but also tend to weigh more. You may have to deal with fragility, but you can enjoy added style, excellent longevity, and durability against other weather concerns.
Asphalt
Finally, asphalt shingles rank as the most popular roofing products in the United States as they’re affordable and practical. The fiberglass-backed shingles contain the proper coatings and underlayments to achieve the class A rankings. They also resist rain, hail, snow, ice, wind, and more.
Protect Your Home With Fire Resistant Roofing Today
Do you have some concerns about fireproof roofing? Call Gotcha Covered Contracting today at (724) 581-8147 to discuss some options.
