SaftiFirst Glass
Ordering a custom-made window with SaftiFirst’s SuperLite I-XL heat-reflective glass reduces the amount of heat that can enter your home when a fire is raging outside. The single-pane window’s heat-reflective coating acts to reduce up to 90 percent of a fire’s heat. Windows clad in steel (the most fire-resistant framing material) and fitted with this safety glass can cost as much as twice that of a good-quality wood-framed window. SaftiFirst/O’Keefe’s Inc., San Francisco, CA; 888-653-3333.
Lessons from Paradise: The importance of fire-resistant windows and doors was underscored during TOH’s visit to Paradise, California. As Tommy Silva learned on site, after California changed its building code in 2008 to make homes more fire-resistant, half of the 350 homes built under the new code survived the devastating Camp Fire—compared to only 18 percent of homes built before the code was updated. Fire-rated glass and noncombustible framing are key components of these modern building standards.
Pilkington Glass
A custom, steel-framed window fitted with Pilkington’s single-pane Pyrostop glass is rated to withstand fire for up to two hours. The science behind the glass, Cliff’s Notes–style, is this: A clear layer of heat-absorbing material inside the glass transforms into a “hard foam structure” during a fire, reducing the risk of the window breaking. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) added the glass to its “What’s Hot” product spotlight in 2005, and we’re happy to follow suit. Contact dealer directly for pricing. Pilkington North America Inc., Toledo, OH; 419-247-3731.
Double-Pane
If you aren’t prepared to shoulder the extra cost of fire-rated custom windows, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection recommends installing regular dual-pane windows throughout the house. Though not specifically designed to protect against the heat of a fire, dual panes do provide more protection than single-pane glass. The “sacrificial” outer layer will typically break in a blaze, leaving the inner layer intact. Having two panes also means that the inner layer of glass heats up more evenly and slowly than the outer one, helping the inner layer resist cracking. In terms of window framing, steel offers the best protection, though it’s is not offered by many window manufacturers. The next best options are wood and aluminum, which perform similarly in some fire tests. Vinyl is the least effective. Most major manufacturers, such as Andersen, offer dual-pane glass in a variety of styles with prices starting at $200 for the gliding wood-frame window shown here. Andersen Corp., Bayport, MN; 651-264-5150.
Lessons from Paradise: When TOH visited Paradise, California, after the devastating 2018 Camp Fire, builder Brett Wayland showed Tommy Silva key features of the state’s updated building code. As Tommy reported: “In 2008, California changed the building code to make homes more fire-resistant. Between 2008 and the fire, Paradise had 350 homes built using the new code. Half of those survived the fire. By contrast, only 18% of the homes built before the new code survived.” Dual-pane windows are one of several upgrades required under those codes.
What the Research Shows: Dan Gorham, a former firefighter and research engineer who spoke with TOH’s Kevin O’Connor, emphasized that understanding how wildfires interact with homes is the key to protection: “The biggest takeaway is to just realize that wildfires and wildland fires in general are a natural” part of the landscape — and that “over the past decade, there’s also been a lot of scientific research that will help homeowners better understand how they can protect their houses.” Dual-pane glass is one of the most accessible upgrades homeowners can make as part of a broader fire-hardening strategy.
Steel Garage Door
Wayne-Dalton’s 9000 series steel garage doors have a center core made of “polyurethane foamed-in-place insulation,” a heat-resistant material that bonds the steel outer panels together. A resin coating on the door’s exterior also creates a protective barrier, helping to prevent the spread of flames and reducing the amount of billowing smoke. $700 to $2,000, depending on size and design. Wayne-Dalton Corp., Mt. Hope, OH; 888-827-3667.
ThermaTru Steel
Fire prevention specialists consistently recommend the installation of a metal entry door for better protection against fires than wood or fiberglass, because they buy more time should you have to escape from a blaze. A good pick is ThermaTru’s 90-minute fire-rated steel version, which comes in a variety of panel styles. Prices start at $250. ThermaTru Doors, Maumee, OH; 800-843-7628.
Steel doors also offer superior energy performance. As TOH master carpenter Norm Abram has demonstrated on the show, steel entry doors feature thermal blocks — insulating barriers that prevent cold from transferring through the metal to the interior — along with magnetic weatherstripping that creates an exceptionally tight seal against the steel frame. “It’s more secure, and it’s also a little bit more expensive, but it’s worth it in the long run,” Norm notes.
Wood Door
If you prefer the natural look of wood for your entry door, JELD-WEN offers a selection of 20-minute fire-rated doors with a 1 3/8-inch fire-resistant core. Proper weather stripping is recommended no matter what type of door you go with, whether it’s made of alder, like this two-panel model, or steel. A sweep on the bottom of the door, for instance, will help prevent smoke from entering the house and will provide more energy efficiency throughout the year. Alder door, $807. JELD-WEN Inc., Klamath Falls, OR; 877-535-3462.
Pro Tip: Tom Silva, TOH general contractor, explains that fire-rated doors are essential in specific areas of the home: “This has to be a fire-rated door. In other words, you have to have 20 to 30 minutes fire rating because this is a garage. If anything should happen in the garage like a fire, you want to have 20 minutes to get out of the house.” Understanding where code requires fire-rated doors—such as between a garage and living space—is key to choosing the right product.
Why Weather Stripping Matters for Fire Safety: TOH master carpenter Norm Abram has noted that thorough weather stripping with quality rubber gaskets “gives us about as tight a seal as we can possibly get.” While weather stripping is typically associated with energy efficiency, a tight seal also plays a role in slowing smoke infiltration—making it a smart complement to any fire-rated door installation.
Triple-Pane
Pella’s Designer Series of triple-paned windows provides more fire protection than double-paned while also offering a higher level of insulation and Energy Star qualification. The same radiant principle that makes a double-pane window better than a single-pane applies here: The sacrificial outer layers of glass allow the inner layer to heat up more evenly and resist cracking during a fire. The triple-pane windows also come with snap-in, snap–out window shades that are embedded behind the first interior layer of glass. Prices start at $900 for wood-frame models. Pella Corporation, Pella IA; 800-374-4758.
For more information on Pella and other window brands, read our article on Pella vs Andersen Windows.
