The answer to the question is, “No.” No roof is completely fireproof. If a flaming meteor or a nuclear bomb blows up somewhere near your house, your roof is probably going to burn. However, roofs can be made to be fire-resistant, and they’re becoming more so all the time. Here’s the science behind fire-resistant roofs.

The Fire Rating

Roof materials are rated according to how well they resist fires. The standard tests are the UL 790 or ASTM E 108 test, which are pretty much the same thing. The tests are split into parts. One part evaluates how quickly flames spread across the material that makes up the roof covering. This test is called the spread-of-flame test. Then, the material undergoes the intermittent flame test. This is when a flame is applied to the material, allowed to cool down, then reignited, over and over. A third test sees how the material responds when embers are placed on it.

Specifically, the testers see whether the embers can ignite the roof material or even burn down to the roof deck. This is called the burning brand test, with the “brand” being the embers. The last test is the flying brand test. This test is used to determine whether and how the roofing material ejects burning trash in a stiff wind. There’s also a rain test to see if materials, such as cedar shakes, are still up to resisting fires even after they’ve weathered. Of course, roofing experts warn that cedar shakes and other types of wood shouldn’t be your first choice if you live in a place with a wildfire season.

The roof material is rated after it’s endured these tests. The ratings are:

• Class A. Roofs with this rating bear up under severe fire exposure.
• Class B. Roof materials with this rating can withstand middling exposure.
• Class C. This rating means a roof can only stand light exposure to fire.

A Class A rating is actually not required in some places, but roofing contractors use material with this rating anyway. This ensures that they comply with the building codes in the area.

Best Fire Resistant Roofing Materials

Apart from wood, most materials you’d use for your roof are fairly fire-resistant. Metal roofs are excellent Class A materials, especially against flying brands. Concrete tile and types of clay are also good choices, though you might need to reinforce your roof to support these heavy materials. Slate is as close to fireproof as a roofing material can get, but it also needs a specialist to install it. You can opt for asphalt shingles with a Class A rating as well.

While a roof may not be able to withstand every single type of fire that can affect planet Earth, you can install a roof that puts up a good resistance. Ask your roofer for more info. If you live in Long Island, NY or a surrounding area and need roof replacement services, make your first call to King Quality.