Protect Your Home with Webfoot’s Fire-Resistant Decking

A Careful Choice in Decking Can Save Your Home

Have you considered how a fire could impact your home? If it were to start on your deck, how would it spread? At least 4% of house fires will begin on a deck - the most significant cause of house fires is unattended cooking or fire pits. Building a deck is about more than aesthetics if you live in a fire zone. You must choose fire-resistant decking to help protect your home and family in a wildfire. Most properties in Central Oregon are at risk for wildfires.

Adequate fire safety should be a priority for every homeowner.

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a home destroyed by fire — Avoid extensive fire damage by making an educated choice about your decking material.

Being conscious of the fire resistance of your decking can help a fire that starts outside to end outside. Your decking may be the protective barrier that keeps your home safe from fire damage.

It is essential to understand that no wood or composite decking is fireproof. However, there are fire-rated decking options with specific certifications that make them a better choice for homes in fire zones.

All You Need to Know About Fire-Resistant Decking

Fire-resistant decking is made to a specific quality and resistivity to fire. Depending on the decking material, this can include being non-combustible or treated with a fire retardant.

There are many different types of fire-resistant decking, including:

Concrete Decking
Fire-retardant treated Wood Decking
Pressure Treated Wood Decking
Composite Decking

With any material, fire-resistant decking can better protect your property by preventing the spread of fire.

Selecting Decking by Fire Class Rating

All fire-resistant decking is not made equal. Fire Class Ratings measure the fire resistance of building materials.

Fire Class Ratings classify materials based on their ability to "support and propagate fire." With every rating, there is an assigned Flame Spread Index range. The Flame Spread Index tells you the rate at which the fire would travel during a ten-minute tunnel test. So, a lower rate of flame spread makes for a higher fire rating. (Source)

The Fire Class Ratings, with Class A being the best, are:

Class A; Flame Spread Index: 0-25
Class B; Flame Spread Index: 26-75
Class C; Flame Spread Index: 76-200

Simply, a Fire Class Rating tells you how quickly your decking will burn. The highest rating, Class A, is reserved for decking that takes the longest to succumb to a fire.

Webfoot's Decking Products By Fire Class Rating

Fortress Steel Framing: Class A

Fortress Evolution Steel Framing is a sturdy metal deck framing system. Fortress Steel Framing has a Class A rating. (Source)

TimberTech: Class A

TimberTech features capped polymer and capped composite decking. TimberTech combines sustainable manufacturing processes with innovative materials science for Class A fire-resistant decking. (Source)

Trex Decking: Up to Class B

Trex is a popular, high-performance composite decking product. Trex's Transcend and Select decking lines retain a Class B fire rating, while their Enhance decking lines retain a Class C fire rating. (Source)

Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood: Class A

Wood treated with the right fire-resistant chemicals can garner a Class A flame spread rating (the best rating) and be a good option for fire-resistant decking. However, fire-retardant chemicals may leech away in time, which can lower the fire-resistant efficacy of your wood deck.

Dense Hardwoods: Class B

Dense hardwoods like Ipe, Cumaru, and Batu can achieve a Class A or B fire rating with no chemical treatment at all, thanks to the natural properties of the wood. However, these woods are expensive, often contribute to deforestation, and are difficult to maintain to keep them looking their best. And over time, they'll naturally fade and dry out without regular maintenance. Maintenance can involve cleaning, sanding, and treating with a UV protective oil or brightener, some of which can be flammable.

Aerated Concrete: Class A

While not a traditional decking material, aerated concrete may be the best for fire-rated decking. Aerated concrete is made of concrete and aluminum, making it super light, easy to work with, and non-combustible. The major drawback is that It's the most expensive option on our list. And if you're looking for fire-rated decking that gives you the beauty of natural wood, aerated concrete simply doesn't cut.