A roof is a significant investment for every homeowner. This means that most people expect the roofing system to protect their home throughout all seasons, especially during this hot summer season. Speaking about heat, all roofing products installed nowadays come with one of four fire rating classifications. These ratings were made to help both consumers and roofing contractors distinguish how well a roof does against fire and other elements.
Unrated Roofs
When a roof doesn’t have a fire safety rating, this means that it couldn’t even meet the Class C requirements. A roof like this offers little to no protection against fires and should be avoided at all costs. Even some building codes won’t even allow its installation due to its hazardous nature that could be dangerous for the homeowner and neighboring homes.
Class C Roofing
A Class C roof provides light fire protection. These can only resist flames 13 feet away. It lasts 20 minutes before going up in flames. A few examples of these roofing systems include untreated wood shakes, shingles, plywood and particleboard. Most roof installation services would recommend staying away from these materials as they could be dangerous in the long run.
Class B Roofing
A Class B-rated roof is moderately effective against fire. These roofs can withstand flames eight feet away and can last at least one hour before igniting. Some of these roofing materials include pressure-treated shakes and shingles. They provide an adequate amount of protection against fire and are a good choice for many homes.
Class A Roofing
The Class A roof provides maximum protection against fires. For a roof to be rated as Class A, it should resist flames at least six feet near and withstand flames for four hours before igniting. These roofing materials include tile, slate, asphalt and composition shingles. Homeowners living in areas prone to wildfires should install Class A roofs.
Are you in need of roof and gutter repair services? Call on Willi Roofing Services! Call us at (512) 394-8234, or fill out our contact form for a FREE estimate. We serve clients in Pflugerville and Greater TX.
