Noncombustible Siding Helps Harden Home Against Wildfire
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In regions at extreme risk of wildfire, Hardie siding can be part of a fire mitigation plan.
Fire weather days are here. Days that combine hot, dry and windy conditions are increasingly common, with climate divisions in the western U.S. experiencing an average of 31 fire weather days per year compared to 8 days annually in the eastern U.S., according to research by Climate Central. Wildfire seasons are getting longer and more intense across most of the country in the spring, and across the Southwest in the summer.
Approximately 45 million homes in the U.S. are located in what’s known as the Wildland-Urban Interface or WUI, regions which are at much higher risk of wildfires, according to Cotality, a property data analytics firm. WUI areas are typically suburban locations that mark the transition between urban locations and open land with natural vegetation.
In Austin, nearly 65,000 residences are identified as at high or extreme risk of wildfires, according to Cotality.
Mitigating fire risk was an important element of the design and product choices for the VISION House Austin, a partnership between Green Builder Media, Alan Barley and Peter Pfeiffer, principals of Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture in Austin, built by Justin Moore, owner of White Elephant General Contractors.
Fire Resistant Design
Dry vegetation, extensive periods of high heat and windy spring weather in Texas Hill Country contribute to the dangerous level of wildfire risk in Austin. To mitigate that risk, the architects cleared stray brush around the building site for the VISION House Austin. They sited the house with an easier connection to the main road so that first responders could get to the property quickly, then worked with landscapers to incorporate fire resistant landscaping techniques around the house.
Protection from the Elements Including Fire
When it came to choosing construction materials, the VISION House Austin team opted for a lightweight metal roof with a heat barrier underneath and cementitious siding for the exterior to improve fire resistance.
Researchers at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety analyzed the impact of exterior wall coverings and cladding to reduce the spread of wildfires from embers and flames. According to their research:
While a 6-inch vertical clearance protects a wall from embers, more action is needed to provide protection from flames. Their geometry makes walls suitable recipients of radiation and flame contact in WUI fires. The spread of flame through walls can be slow, but surface flame spread on combustible siding occurs quickly. This exposes windows and eaves to direct flame contact and can begin the cascade of damage for a home. Noncombustible cladding eliminates the chance of such flame exposures.
Wood siding burns easily, and vinyl siding can melt quickly. Unlike those common cladding materials, Hardie® siding is made of raw materials that make the siding noncombustible.*
“Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond improving our manufacturing processes and extends to products that are developed to last longer, require less maintenance, and provide resiliency in a changing climate,” says Aaron Erter, CEO Of James Hardie, at the 2025 International Builders Show.
Erter continued: “The great thing about Hardie® fiber cement products is they are engineered for climate resilience, and they're designed specifically with the homeowners’ climate zone in mind.”
The architects and builder of the Vision House Austin chose Hardie® Artisan® siding and Hardie® soffit, which are both noncombustible.* In addition, they chose non-vented smooth panels to close up the soffits, which reduces danger from embers during a fire.
While fire mitigation was an essential component of that decision, Hardie Artisan siding was also chosen because it offers extra thick boards for an upgraded look with deep shadow lines. The product also offers durability and comes with a 30-year warranty. The siding resists damage from moisture and pests such as woodpeckers or termites and is designed and manufactured specifically for regional climate conditions.
*Hardie siding complies with ASTM E136 as a noncombustible cladding. Fiber cement fire resistance does not extend to applied paints or coatings, which may be damaged or char when exposed to flames. Using noncombustible siding, combined with other fire mitigation measures, may help harden homes against external fires. In addition, Hardie® products have a class A fire rating when tested in accordance with ASTM E84.
Noncombustible Siding Helps Harden Home Against Wildfire
In regions at extreme risk of wildfire, Hardie siding can be part of a fire mitigation plan.
Fire weather days are here. Days that combine hot, dry and windy conditions are increasingly common, with climate divisions in the western U.S. experiencing an average of 31 fire weather days per year compared to 8 days annually in the eastern U.S., according to research by Climate Central. Wildfire seasons are getting longer and more intense across most of the country in the spring, and across the Southwest in the summer.
Approximately 45 million homes in the U.S. are located in what’s known as the Wildland-Urban Interface or WUI, regions which are at much higher risk of wildfires, according to Cotality, a property data analytics firm. WUI areas are typically suburban locations that mark the transition between urban locations and open land with natural vegetation.
In Austin, nearly 65,000 residences are identified as at high or extreme risk of wildfires, according to Cotality.
Mitigating fire risk was an important element of the design and product choices for the VISION House Austin, a partnership between Green Builder Media, Alan Barley and Peter Pfeiffer, principals of Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture in Austin, built by Justin Moore, owner of White Elephant General Contractors.
Fire Resistant Design
Dry vegetation, extensive periods of high heat and windy spring weather in Texas Hill Country contribute to the dangerous level of wildfire risk in Austin. To mitigate that risk, the architects cleared stray brush around the building site for the VISION House Austin. They sited the house with an easier connection to the main road so that first responders could get to the property quickly, then worked with landscapers to incorporate fire resistant landscaping techniques around the house.
Protection from the Elements Including Fire
When it came to choosing construction materials, the VISION House Austin team opted for a lightweight metal roof with a heat barrier underneath and cementitious siding for the exterior to improve fire resistance.
Researchers at the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety analyzed the impact of exterior wall coverings and cladding to reduce the spread of wildfires from embers and flames. According to their research:
While a 6-inch vertical clearance protects a wall from embers, more action is needed to provide protection from flames. Their geometry makes walls suitable recipients of radiation and flame contact in WUI fires. The spread of flame through walls can be slow, but surface flame spread on combustible siding occurs quickly. This exposes windows and eaves to direct flame contact and can begin the cascade of damage for a home. Noncombustible cladding eliminates the chance of such flame exposures.
Wood siding burns easily, and vinyl siding can melt quickly. Unlike those common cladding materials, Hardie® siding is made of raw materials that make the siding noncombustible.*
“Our commitment to sustainability goes beyond improving our manufacturing processes and extends to products that are developed to last longer, require less maintenance, and provide resiliency in a changing climate,” says Aaron Erter, CEO Of James Hardie, at the 2025 International Builders Show.
Erter continued: “The great thing about Hardie® fiber cement products is they are engineered for climate resilience, and they're designed specifically with the homeowners’ climate zone in mind.”
The architects and builder of the Vision House Austin chose Hardie® Artisan® siding and Hardie® soffit, which are both noncombustible.* In addition, they chose non-vented smooth panels to close up the soffits, which reduces danger from embers during a fire.
While fire mitigation was an essential component of that decision, Hardie Artisan siding was also chosen because it offers extra thick boards for an upgraded look with deep shadow lines. The product also offers durability and comes with a 30-year warranty. The siding resists damage from moisture and pests such as woodpeckers or termites and is designed and manufactured specifically for regional climate conditions.
*Hardie siding complies with ASTM E136 as a noncombustible cladding. Fiber cement fire resistance does not extend to applied paints or coatings, which may be damaged or char when exposed to flames. Using noncombustible siding, combined with other fire mitigation measures, may help harden homes against external fires. In addition, Hardie® products have a class A fire rating when tested in accordance with ASTM E84.
By Michele Lerner, Associate Editor
Michele Lerner is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, and author who writes about real estate, personal finance, and business.Also Read