Climate-Proofing
Wildfire Damage Prevention Products
- Brandguard Vents
- Bunker Builders.com
- Calair Pipe Systems
- Construction Metals, Inc (CMI)
- DuPont Corporation
- Eco-$mart
- FireALERT
- Firebreak Spray Systems
- Firezat Incorporated
- Flame Seal Products
- James Hardie Industries NV
- MonierLifetile
- Phos-Chek
- TImberSIL Products
- Tuff Built Products
- US BUNKERS
- Wildfire Sprinkler Technologies
Brandguard Vents, was founded by Brent Berkompas, a California firefighter who witnessed firsthand the need for special vents to protect homes and businesses from wildfires. With conventional vent designs, fire and embers enter an attic unimpeded and the attic materials begin to burn. The Brandguard Vent impedes the entry by trapping embers and flames before they enter the home, while allowing air to flow through normally. The vents are compliant with the California Ch7a Building Code. Made of dipped galvanized steel, sheet copper, and galvanized 23 gauge wire mesh, they are easy to install and come with a Lifetime Warranty. Brandguard offers the following types of vents: dormer, gable end, under eave/soffit, foundation, block hole, and continuous soffit.
Bunker Builders.com, a division of Hardened Structures Hardened Shelters LLC, has built underground and aboveground bunkers since 1995. Originally built as protection from nuclear attacks, they can also be used during natural disasters such as fire storms, floods, and tornadoes. An underground or aboveground bunker can be pre-stocked with provisions and located next to a residence to allow for quick access. Underground steel storm shelters and aboveground steel safe rooms are priced under $5,000 and can be built in any location: urban, suburban, or rural. Shelters are approved by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The company is located in the U.S.
Calair Pipe Systems, an Australian company, introduced Calair Pipe System’s Fire-Pro External Water Spray System (EWSS) to protect against brush and wildfires. The EWSS is a low profile roof mist (RMI) and comes with eave drencher (EDI) spray nozzles to protect against flying embers on roofs, gutters, windows, and doors. The system can be installed by Calair or installed as a Do It Yourself project. All major components are located within the roof space or in the roof itself and are designed to stay out of sight. In addition to the RMI and EDI, the system comes complete with pipe and pipe fittings, hose assemblies, valves, heat sensors, and pumping equipment. The Australian government recognized Calair Pipe Systems with the Export Achievement Award in 1995. Calair's Quality Management System is certified by Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, a global leader in the assessment of management systems, and Calair complies with ISO 9001:2000.
Construction Metals, Inc (CMI), a subsidiary of Gibraltar Industries, was formed in 1991 in the U.S. CMI manufactures metal flashing, trim, ventilation products and accessories, access doors, wire mesh/galvanized hardware cloth and corner bead, among others. Of particular interest to the area of fire safety is a product called Bird Stop – Eave Closures. The Institute for Business & Home Safety recommends the use of Bird Stops to prevent wildfire embers from reaching fuel sources such as bird nests under the open edges of a roof. CMI offers nine styles of Bird Stops and they come in a variety of colors including black, brown, red, and white. Bird Stops are made from 28 gauge galvanized steel.
DuPont Corporation, (websites: dupont.com or Nomex® On Demand™) recently offered a new patented smart-fiber thermal lining technology that gives firefighters and first responders up to 20 percent more thermal performance. The product, Nomex® On Demand™ (Nomex®) has the ability to detect temperatures of 250° Fahrenheit or higher and then expand to trap more air for better thermal insulation. Prior to expansion Nomex® remains, thin, breathable, and flexible. Nomex® meets National Fire Protection Association standards and has been certified for use by Underwriters Laboratories. Commercially available in the U.S. and Canada, it will be available worldwide at the end of 2009.
Eco-$mart, Incorporated, was founded in 1993 in the U.S. It focuses on sustainable living through distribution of “green” construction materials. Among its many products, the Wind Resistant Concrete System (WRCS) provides patent pending wildfire and hurricane protection through its unlimited solid concrete roof designs and finishes. The WRCS meets the Class A provision for fire proof properties and can withstand a Category 5 and above wind load. A WRCS roof offers a monolithic construction because the roof is poured as a single unit. The roof has an insulation factor of R22.
FireALERT, a Division of Ambient Control Systems, a U.S. company located in California, has developed FireALERT-DC (DC) and FireALERT-DCS (DCS). The DC has a unique scanning infra-red sensor that provides a 360º field of view and GPS capabilities that provides an early warning system for wildfires. It is so sensitive that it will detect a four foot by four foot fire signature at ¼ of a mile. Larger wildfires can be detected at considerably greater distances. Once activated, a signal is sent to a low-orbiting satellite that transmits a signal to the homeowner or a fire station. The DCS product has the same features of the DC. If previously set up by the homeowner, the DCS activates a system that automatically applies protective foam, gel, or other fire retardant agent over the home and its close surroundings. The products are patented, maintenance free, and have a life span of 20 years. Other products in the FireALERT system include SonicALERT, RepeaterALERT, and ReceiverALERT. Products are sold in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.
Firebreak Spray Systems - Firebreak now extends to the public the same Phos-Chek® long term fire retardant used by the U.S. Forest Service for over 50 years, but without the red dye. It can be purchased in 1 gallon concentrate contrainers and in 5 gallons of premixed product. Firebreak also offers a 17 gallon custom portable sprayer for homeowners. Firebreak now presents the option of scheduling an appointment with a qualified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist to come to your home prior to the wildfire season and spray the retardant for you. Firebreak takes a proactive approach to fighting wildfires. They offer such services as 1). Emergency Consultation, for removal of flammables near structures; 2). Asset Exposure Monitoring, for monitoring of asset locations and for giving advice on potential threats and mitigation options; 3). Emergency Phos-Chek® Purchase /Delivery, by distributing Phos-Chek® in bulk orders to community ranches or estates; and 4). Evacuation Assistance, where Firebreak employs stand-by teams in certain locations to assist property owners on evacuation processes.
Firezat Incorporated, located in the U.S., now provides the same aluminized structure Fire Shields (wraps) to private businesses and homeowners that it has sold to professionals for years. The wrap can be used to protect homes, cabins, and historic landmarks from wildfires. No water, pumps, or generators are needed. For best results, the wrap should cover the entire house, including attic vents, eaves, and windows, and the wrap can be left up for days or weeks. The wrap works in several ways. It reflects up to 95% of a fire's radiant heat; provides a resistant, slick surface that allows burning embers to slide off a roof and extinguish; allows a sprinkler hose to be set up under the wrap to maintain a moisture barrier between the wrap and the house; and by anchoring the wrap, it will prevent a fire from receiving the oxygen it needs to burn. Reusable, the wrap has a service life for homeowners of 10 to 15 years. Many structures can be covered by two to three people in less than an hour, with slightly more time required for securing and anchoring the wrap.
Flame Seal Products, Inc., based in the U.S., has been involved in the fire prevention technology field for 20 years. Its’ products are water based, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. One of its products FX-WF™ Wildfire Retardant Coating is a non-permanent protection barrier for buildings. FX-WF™ can be used on painted and raw wood, steel, aluminum, plastic, and foam materials, among others. It has been tested by the following labs: Intertek Testing labs (formerly Omega), Sterigenics, and UL tests – the Steiner Tunnel Test. Results showed Class A with a Flame Spread = 5 and Smoke Generation = 20. When applied with an airless paint sprayer, the coating swells to nearly 100 times in thickness as the heat of a fire approaches. The coating then creates a barrier between the fire and the building. Products are sold in the U.S., Canada, and internationally.
James Hardie Industries NV, headquartered in the Netherlands, is a leader in the manufacture of fiber-cement technology for home construction and remodeling. The original company was established over 100 years ago and developed the fiber-cement technology in the 1980s. Its products include siding, trim soffits, weather barriers, and backerboard. The products are non-combustible and are formulated from sand, Portland cement, and wood fiber. Its siding resists flame spread, is non-toxic, and is designed to last up to 50 years. Products are sold in the U.S., Canada, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Asia, and internationally.
MonierLifetile, located in the U.S. and Canada, is a leader in the building community. It developed concrete roof tiles that were fire tested and rated Class A by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E108 and Uniform Building Code (UBS) Standard 15-2. The tiles come with a Transferrable Limited Lifetime Warranty. The company asserts that the tiles are economical because once properly installed they reduce cooling costs, are aesthetic making the roof appealing for resale, and are a permanent roof solution rather than a temporary solution that requires a roof be replaced every few years.
Phos-Chek® – The Phos-Chek long-term retardants and Class A foams have been available in the United States since 1962. Since that time Phos-Chek has been in use throughout the world. In North America, Pros-Chek has worked with the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) for municipal, wildland, and industrial fire management. Their products, Phos-Chek WD 881 and WD 991C Class A foam have shown unparalleled superior performance. The Forest Services, after testing, found these products to be safe for personnel who use it and safe for the environment. The reddish color of the retardants that are sprayed from airplanes serve as a visual aid for pilots and firefighters. Phos-Chek protects fuels such as unpainted wood, paper, grass, and trees. It also contains corrosion inhibitors minimizing damage to steel, aluminum, and brass. In March and April of 2010, homeowners were able to buy Phos-Chek long-term retardant at Sam’s Club warehouse stores in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Outside of the United States, Phos-Chek is sold in Canada, Australia, and Europe.
TImberSIL Products, a U.S. Corporation, combines the best of glass and the best of wood to produce a timber product that can be used in all stages of building construction from decking to structural timbers and shingles. TimberSIL™ products are an excellent barrier to fire and rated a Class A fire retardant. In testing with burning coals it did not burn even when the fire was above 2600° Fahrenheit. The glass wood fusion product is approximately twice as hard as the wood alone, environmentally safe, and comes with a 40 year guarantee.
Tuff Built Products, a Canadian company, manufactures Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) that it distributes to firefighters and civilians. Tuff Built Products recommends three systems for residential use. The Defense Fire (DF) System is ideal for those who live in remote areas with long response times. With a hose reel, a flat hose, a trailer, foam, and a water supply, the DF System is ready to go. Tuff Built Products also sell the Frameless (FL) Home Fire Defense System, a lightweight easy to use system with one or two lines that are factory set to deliver one of the following: foams that are wet, dry, superwet, or gels. The third system is the RoboCAF, an automatic, programmable, self contained system. RoboCAF needs no outside electricity or water and the system can be activated remotely. Once danger has passed RoboCAF can be activated to wash the foam away.
US BUNKERS was incorporated in the U.S. in 1998. It developed the multipurpose platform (MPP) bunker, a portable, monolithic, steel reinforced, fiber concrete structure that offers 75 square feet of space. Not only can it be used for protection from fires, but also for protection from hurricanes, tornados, and military uses. US Bunkers also provides units for pets and other animals. The lifespan of the MPP is measured in centuries instead of years and they are practically maintenance free. The interior is fiberglass and it offers many of the comforts of home, including a powerful ventilation system, cable TV, portable toilet, DVD player, 110 volt, 12 volt battery bank, and exterior cameras.
Wildfire Sprinkler Technologies, a U.S. company, developed the Wildfire Sprinkler™ Distribution System (WSPS™) to address problems with prior sprinkler systems from the 1960s taking into account hydraulic flow properties, ease of installation, and maintenance. The pump engine for the WSPS™ runs on propane fuel, handling both volume and pressure. The sprinkler heads are located outside the structure and spaced 50 feet apart. The system can delivers 50 or more gallons of water per minute for up to 24 hours. It uses water from available water resources and delivers wildfire protection to homes, cabins, and businesses. Wildfire Shield™ is a fully automated system to protect homes, cabins, and businesses by distributing a fire prevention solution at the right time after detection of heat from a fire. No outside water source is needed. Wildfire Shield LT™ is designed for use in subdivisions that are at risk from wildfires. It uses municipal or well water to operate. It can also be used to pro-actively hydrate vegetation in times of drought. The company is a FEMA approved contractor.
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