ROCKWOOL's Build for Greater Resilience in Wildfire-prone Areas
Holistic approach includes specifying noncombustible materials such as stone wool insulation.
ROCKWOOL has released an essential technical resource for builders, architects, and engineers working in wildfire-prone regions. The Technical Bulletin, "Building with ROCKWOOL Stone Wool Insulation in Wildfire-Prone Areas," provides guidance on construction methods that enhance the resilience of structures against wildfires.
Wildfires are an escalating problem in North America. In 2023, Canada faced its most catastrophic wildfire season on record, with over 37 million acres burned—more than six times the typical annual average. The United States has also experienced a surge in record-breaking fires in recent years, including California’s Eaton and Palisades Fires in 2025 and the Panhandle Wildfires in Texas in 2024.
The document includes:
• A detailed comparison of U.S. and Canadian WUI code approaches
• A comprehensive building code matrix outlining requirements for critical building components
• Fire-resistance rated exterior wall assemblies featuring the company's products
• Detailed architectural drawings for various construction scenarios
• Climate-specific roof assembly recommendations
"As communities expand into forested regions and climate change extends fire seasons, the need for fire-resistant construction has never been more critical," said Antoine Habellion, Technical Director at ROCKWOOL. "Our noncombustible stone wool insulation products are ideally suited for these applications."
The bulletin emphasizes that properly implemented WUI building standards significantly improve structure survival rates during wildfires. In the 2018 California Camp Fire, for example, 59.4 percent of buildings constructed to the 2008 California Building Code survived, compared to only 21 percent of structures built before the code implementation.The technical bulletin (Version 1.2) is available here. Additional WUI resources and information can be found on the company's dedicated wildfire page. The manufacturer recommends regularly checking rockwool.com/buildingscience to ensure users have the most up to date documentation.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
