Class A Roofing Standards for Wildfire Protection

This comprehensive article details Class A fire-rated roofing systems and their critical role in wildfire resilience. It explains fire testing protocols (ASTM E108/UL 790), compares roofing materials like asphalt shingles, metal, tile, and composites, and evaluates their real-world performance under ember attack and flame exposure. The paper also presents key design principles, retrofit guidance, and lessons from wildfire case studies including Lahaina, Marshall Fire, and Oakland Hills. The paper highlights code requirements, maintenance best practices, and policy recommendations to improve building survivability in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones.