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22 2020-2021 Marin Home Resource Guide THE NEW STANDARDS FOR FIRE SAFE CONSTRUCTION The following are all current, standard construction requirements of the CRC (California Residential Code) for newly built or substantially remodeled homes that are in endangered areas. The code calls this the Wildland Urban Interface zone (or WUI zone). Essentially, these are the areas that are most at risk for wildfire. These required upgrades will need to be documented in your construction plans when you pull a permit with your city or county. Your architect will be the one documenting these and can walk you through the reasoning behind each requirement. Create a fire truck turn-around if your home is far enough from the main road. The goal is to allow the fire department to get close enough so that their hoses can be effective. If they can't turn- around, they will not bring in a truck. Create defensible space and plant pyrophytic landscaping, which are plants that have adapted to tolerate fire. The goal is to keep the fire away from the building and mitigate any pathways the fire can use to access the structure. Request a fire hydrant if there isn't already one located close enough to your home. Install interior fire sprinklers. In the event that the structure catches fire, sprinklers can be the factor that saves lives. Install fire-resistant materials on the exterior of your home. Siding such as fiber cement board, stucco, or concrete all meet this designation. Install dual-pane, tempered windows which will resist heat longer than single pane windows and will protect you against sharp shattering glass in the event that the glass does shatter. A Fire-Resistant Future