September 17, 2024
Wildfire Defense Mesh is now approved by California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (Cal Fire) in Building Materials Listing program

Wildfire Defense Mesh’s ember-resistant vent screens meet the requirements of the California Building Code and are approved for supporting new builds, driving down the cost of wildfire mitigation.

Wildfire Defense Mesh, a leader in home hardening solutions supporting wildfire risk mitigation efforts, is excited to announce that its line of Wildfire Defense Vent Screens has been listed on the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Office of State Fire Marshal (OFSM) Building Materials List. The BML list provides essential information to building authorities, architects, engineers, contractors, and the fire service, searching for products that meet Chapter 706A of the California Building Code. 

Wildfire Defense Mesh’s BML Listed Vent Screens are designed to meet new build requirements of CBC Chapter 7A and provide a proven effective solution at an affordable price point. This cements Wildfire Defense Mesh’s mission to help protect as many homes and communities as possible by providing low-cost wildfire mitigation solutions for new builds, retrofits, and infrastructure. Find details of the listing here on the Cal Fire Office of the State Fire Marshal website.

Wildfire Defense Mesh Vent Screens are manufactured with a 26 Gauge Stainless Steel (300 Series) Frame for mounting and an internal flange for structural integrity. Its performance component is Wildfire Defense Mesh 98. 

Wildfire Defense Mesh Vent Screens with Wildfire Defense Mesh 98

Wildfire Defense Mesh’s innovative line of Stainless Steel (300 Series) mesh screening products are U.S. patent pending and have been proven to be 98% effective at blocking dangerous embers while decreasing ~38% radiant heat and diffusing direct flames. The product was first developed by a family business in Australia to protect against bushfires there and was brought stateside by Wildfire Defense Mesh’s CEO, James Greer. Since then, Greer has assisted with delivering a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Climate Action, which included various shared initiatives to improve wildfire mitigation across the two regions. 

Wildfire threats are on the rise. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimates that roughly 45 million homes are at risk of wildfires, including over 1.2 million in California alone. To combat the crisis, agencies such as CalFire and the NFPA urge homeowners to build or retrofit homes through home hardening to withstand wildfire destruction. 

Wildfire Defense Mesh is focused on working with communities, homeowners, builders, or contractors installing the products over various ember entry points to prevent structure ignition, including: 

  • Screening Building Vents
  • Screening Roof Vents and Birdstop 
  • Screening Decks, Patios, etc.
  • Windows and doors
  • Perimeter Fencing 
  • Storage sheds and garages

The recent inclusion of Wildfire Defense Vent Screens on CalFire’s Building Materials Listing reinforces the company’s mission to reduce structure damage from wildfire exposure.  

“We believe protecting neighborhoods from wildfire destruction is a shared responsibility,” said Wildfire Defense Mesh CEO and Founder James Greer. “We’re proud to work with CalFire and show how innovating Wildfire Defense Mesh in our products, from retrofits to new builds bolsters our efforts and commitment to building community resilience.” 

Coming soon to our online store!