Is James Hardie Siding Fire Rated

Nfpa 251 fire tests of building construction and materials.

Is james hardie siding fire rated.

Ubc 7 1 94 uniform building code standard. While jameshardie products will not ignite when exposed to direct flame or contribute fuel to a fire heat will transfer through them. James hardie fiber cement siding is fire resistant which is a huge advantage compared to wood or vinyl siding. Because of this the product itself is not 1 hour fire rated.

Unless otherwise noted fire ratings apply to tests conducted on both sides. For homes that have a fireplace or live in areas vulnerable to wildfires an investment of james hardie siding could literally save lives. Ul 263 fire tests of building construction and materials. However they do qualify for use in certain 1 hour fire rated warnock hersey and ul assemblies.

It is not 1 hour fire rated but it is still classified for use in certain 1 hour fire rated warnock hersey and ul assemblies. Read more about fire resistant cladding here. Designs listed are minimum construction requirements to achieve fire rating. Warnock hersey fire resistance rated wall assemblies warnock hersey product listings standards products are certified against astm iso en can cgsb can ulc 1 hour fire resistive rated wall assemblies click the link above each design number below represents a james hardie 1 hour fire resistive wall assembly jh fcs 60 01.

This means that it is a non combustible cladding and will not ignite when exposed to direct flame or extreme heat nor will it contribute fuel to a fire. The astm rating for james hardie siding classifies it as non combustible. A fiber cement product simply does not burn. All james hardie siding and trim materials from hardieplank lap siding to hardiepanel vertical siding to straight and staggered edge hardieshingle siding are rated as non combustible based on astm fire resistance tests.

Of course wood siding is rather vulnerable to fire due to its nature and building material. It does not provide a good barrier for flames. Think of jh products as a pan used for cooking. While vinyl siding is technically non flammable it does warp and melt when close to flames.

Fibre cement cladding from james hardie has a fire rating of a2 s1 d0 which is the highest possible fire rating for a coloured cladding board.