HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD Amendment to San Rafael's Building Code to Require Replacement of Wood Roofing PPTMitigating Wood Roof Fire
Risk
May 16, 2022: Public Hearing on the Required Phase out of Wood Shake
Roofs
Fire Adapted
Communities
History
Year Action
1992 San Rafael Prohibited Wood roofs
2001 California prohibits wood roofs for new constructions
2007 Vegetation standards were first adopted to reduce wildfire risk in San Rafael
2018 City Council directed the Fire Chief to “Be Bold” in a plan to reduce wildfire risk
2019 Wildfire Prevention and Protection Action plan was drafted, reviewed, and supported by the Citizens Wildfire Advisory
Committee
2020
Measure C passes and funds the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority
San Rafael expands wildfire prevention and adaptation efforts thanks to the MWPA
2021 Council adopts amendment to SRMC 4.12 to establish Citywide Vegetation Standards
38-Point
Wildfire
Action Plan
#18 Eliminate fire hazard associated with
shake and wooden roofs
Action: Ordinance change. Update building
code to require all shake roofs be replaced
in five years. Require structures with shake
roofs to disclose the replacement
requirement at time of resale.
Overview
•No new wood roofs in San Rafael since ~1992
•State prohibited wood roofs for new construction around 2001
•Staff estimate less then 200 in the City remain
•Roof type and condition largely contribute to homes surviving wildfire
•Pose risk to nearby and more distant neighbors
•Supported by Citizen's Wildfire Advisory Committee and the Wildfire
Action Plan
Roofs
•According to the National Board of
Fire Underwriters, the roof is the
most common structural fuel bed for
ignition by embers.
•Studies show the most effective step
to increasing the probability of
structure survival is a Class A roof.
•Camp Fire: 51% of post 2008
undamaged, 18% prior
Proposed Code Change
•5 years after the adoption
•Disclose requirement at the
time of sale
•Retrofit requirement necessary
to address built out
environment
Replace
wood roofs
with Class-
A material
Class A Examples
Implementation
Outline
Data gathering-specific
addresses
Direct Outreach to
impacted parcels
Share available resources
Support through permit
process
Resources
Various Loan options
•Credit Unions
•Marin Housing
•Go-Green Loans
•Energy Efficiency Loans
Grant Program
•MWPA Grant
Program
Annual Mailer
Questions and Comments