A newly commissioned or remodeled deck holds the potential to serve as a direct extension of our home. But if not built correctly or with the right materials, this outdoor destination can be a weak link in a property’s fire defense system. To understand the fire risk a deck can pose, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) studied how different deck construction methods respond to fire and ember attacks.

The study illustrated that traditional wood frame decks catch fire easily, which obviously poses a significant threat to the structure it’s attached to and its occupants. The findings also underlined a critical takeaway—the choice of framing material can make a huge difference in the deck’s safety factor (more on that below). It’s clear that in order to help prevent property loss, prioritizing a fire-resilient deck structure from the ground up is a must. But are there building codes in place that enforce the adoption of fire-smart deck building materials?

There sure are. Many municipalities across the country have adopted Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) building codes and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1144 codes. These particular building codes require that contractors build a one-hour fire-resistant assembly (this includes the decking, framing and siding) to minimize ignition hazards and reduce the risk of fire spread. Let’s get into how contractors can achieve code compliance.

Fire-retardant treated wood falls short

While fire-retardant treated (FRT) wood is an acceptable route to building code compliance and can meet some deck framing requirements, it is far from an ideal solution. FRT wood is hard to source, expensive, and requires ongoing maintenance to retain its fire performance. The required fire treatments will also weaken the wood; the deck frame components can become brittle over time and have an altered load-bearing capacity. This poses another safety threat to the deck user.

The IBHS study highlights the vulnerability of old-school wood deck framing, stating that a burning combustible joist can rapidly spread fire to the deck boards and eventually to the attached structure. On the other hand, the study found that when a joist did not ignite, the deck boards above remained unburned. The study further notes, “A noncombustible joist in this case could limit, or even self-extinguish, the fire growth.” That’s why a steel joist is a game-changer.

Noncombustible steel deck framing meets building codes for fire-safe construction

Steel is inherently a noncombustible and fire-resistant building material. Leveraging steel’s proven fire performance, a steel deck framing system checks all the boxes of a fire code-compliant option. The Evolution steel deck framing system from Fortress Building Products received a Class A fire-resistant rating after completing the ASTM E84-21a, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. Because of its Class A designation, the deck framing system meets WUI building codes, NFPA 1144 codes, and the strict California Chapter 7A requirements.

Contractors that make the switch to this fire-smart deck framing solution can achieve building code compliance and deliver a long-lasting project that exceeds their clients’ expectations. Reach out to your local Fortress Building Products rep today to put Evolution steel deck framing to the test.