Fire Rated Roof Eaves

Unprotected vents can allow embers and hot gases to enter the attic see fact sheet 8 vents.

Fire rated roof eaves. Eaves are the overhanging ledges of a roof and are usually diagonal. This article describes products research on self closing soffit eaves ridge vents designed to reduce or stop the passage of embers into the roof cavity of a building through the building eaves or ridge during exposure of a building to nearby heat and fire from a forest fire brush fire or adjacent building fire. Typical design and construction eaves. Roof eaves overhangs are a fire hazard but they can be protected with an encasement of fire resistant material.

A one inch 2 54 centimeter layer of stucco can easily lend a 1 hour fire rating to a wall source. Once an eave overhang or soffit has ignited fire can spread onto the roof into the attic or onto and through the exterior wall. Where when and how to determine if you need it. Stucco is often recommended as one of the best materials for boxing in hazardous eaves.

For more information on eave construction or other fire code requirements please refer to the county s wildland urban interface summary document pds 664 or contact the county s building department fire services division at 858 565 5920. The fire resistance rating shall be permitted to be reduced to 0 hours on the underside of the rake overhang where gable vent openings are not. Soffits normally have vents as part of the attic ventilation system. Once an eave overhang or soffit has ignited fire can spread onto the roof into the attic or onto and through the exterior wall.

Many of our eaves use a drop in style with wings that can be adjusted to your material and cut out size and are horizontally oriented. Typical construction materials for eaves overhangs and soffits are not fire resistant and are therefore susceptible to ignition by embers and hot gases. Noncombustible or fire resistant materials. Eaves without suffixes or with rt are for rafter and truss installation where spacing is commonly imprecise.