Fire Rated Roof Eaves

A minimum 1 hour fire resistance rating to prevent embers and hot gases from making contact with the joists rafters or trusses or the underside of the roof decking.

Fire rated roof eaves.

Enclose overhangs with soffits that have a minimum 1 hour fire resistance rating to prevent embers and hot gases from making contact with the joists rafters or trusses or the underside of the roof decking. If exterior rated fire retardant products were used in the assembly plywood sheathing 2x rafter tails and blocking the assembly would comply because ignition resistant materials were used. If noncombustible materials fiber cement panel stucco were used as the sheathing it could also comply. Many of our eaves use a drop in style with wings that can be adjusted to your material and cut out size and are horizontally oriented.

Use flat horizontal soffits see figure 3 instead of attaching the soffits to the sloped joists which creates sloped soffits. Stucco is often recommended as one of the best materials for boxing in hazardous eaves. Roof eaves overhangs are a fire hazard but they can be protected with an encasement of fire resistant material. Eaves without suffixes or with rt are for rafter and truss installation where spacing is commonly imprecise.

Eaves are the overhanging ledges of a roof and are usually diagonal. Stop fire and stay stylish. For more information on eave construction or other fire code requirements please refer to the county s wildland urban interface summary document pds 664 or contact the county s building department fire services division at 858 565 5920. Under eave soffit vents important airflow notes.

Everything you wanted to know about fire rated construction but were afraid to ask.