James Hardie® fiber cement products are known for their many advantages, such as long lifespans, exceptional durability and low maintenance requirements. Today, we discuss another key feature James Hardie siding excels in: fire resistance.
Important Terms
Materials like siding must pass the standards set forth by building codes and laboratory tests. It helps to know certain terms that will be used from time to time as you compare siding products and their fire resistance ratings:
- Combustible materials are those that readily burn and ignite. Many types of building materials can be classified in this category, including natural wood and certain types of polymer.
- Noncombustible materials do not burn and ignite specified test conditions. These conditions are meant to simulate real-world conditions like direct exposure to flame and contact with embers coming from a neighboring fire.
- A material is said to be ignition-resistant when it doesn’t ignite when exposed to open flame between 10 and 30 minutes.
- The term “fire-resistant” is used to describe a structure that can contain a fire. It’s important to make the distinction between this and “ignition-resistant” as the former applies to structures while the latter applies to materials like siding.
James Hardie® Products
James Hardie products are made with fiber cement, a combination of fine silica sand, wood fibers and cement, which has similar characteristics as brick and stone. When installed, James Hardie siding can improve an exterior wall’s fire resistance. It’s important to note that no material can stay unaffected by heat, particularly the levels emitted by a house fire. However, ignition-resistant materials can help slow down the spread of fire.
This is how an ignition-resistant material like HardiePlank® can help improve a house’s fire resistance: it won’t ignite immediately or add fuel to the fire. During a house fire, it can buy time for the occupants to get to safety and allow firemen to extinguish the flames quickly. James Hardie products are proven for their ignition resistance that many fire insurance providers offer discounts to homeowners who have these products installed.
Twin Cities Siding and Roofing is your leading provider of siding installation services. Give us a call at (651) 967-0873. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the communities in the Twin Cities area.
