Real wood beauty with top-rated fire resistance

No typical decking material is truly fireproof. The Vintage and Landmark Collections are fire resistant. The Ignition Resistant designation and Class A Flame Spread Rating they carry signifies superior fire resistance compared to traditional wood and composite decking.

None of these indicate that a deck won’t burn. An Advanced PVC deck can burn, but not the way decking with a lower flame spread rating would. The Vintage and Landmark Collections’ Ignition Resistant designation and Class A Flame Spread Rating means they will have a slower rate of flame spread and will burn in a slower, less intense way compared to traditional wood and composite decking.

No. While our Vintage and Landmark Collections resist catching fire and contributing to the spread of flames, sustained exposure to extreme fire temperatures may severely damage the boards. And if the deck’s substructure is made of wood, it’s possible that may catch fire and burn. 

Independent testing laboratories use a standard method to come up with A, B, or C flame spread ratings. It involves putting test material—like our Advanced PVC Decking—into a device that ignites it and measures how far and how fast the fire spreads down the material in a fire-proof tunnel as technicians observe and time the test. The results of the test are used to calculate the flame spread index value and then ranked against the flame spread classifications of an A, B, or C that are found in the International Building Code (IBC). A is the best rating a material can receive in this test.

While TimberTech Advanced PVC Decking is not specifically fire-rated by UL standards such as UL263, it is rigorously tested for flame spread and ignition resistance under ASTM and related standards for decking. An engineering judgement states that a decking-as-cladding application will not adversely affect the fire-resistance rating of a fire-resistance rated wall assembly.

While these ratings indicate a level of fire resistance, eligibility for homeowner’s insurance reductions or discounts depends on your provider’s criteria. We recommend consulting your insurance company to see if fire-resistant decking qualifies for any benefits.

Fascia and risers are not currently part of the testing that is required under ASTM D7032 for composite decking and railing where ASTM E84 is required. While they are made from similar Advanced PVC material and are likely to demonstrate comparable flame spread resistance, they are not formally rated.

A: Many everyday materials, including wood, foam, and textiles, release fumes when burned, and PVC is no exception. However, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, PVC releases fewer and less acutely toxic gases compared to these other materials. TimberTech Advanced PVC Decking has inherent fire-resistant properties, meaning it burns more slowly and, due to its composition, self-extinguishes under certain conditions, helping to reduce the spread of flames. It’s important to note that as a finished deck board, fumes are only released under intense flames or burning conditions, which would typically indicate a larger fire issue.

Flame Spread Ratings and Fire Ratings or Classifications are crucial for understanding fire safety, but they assess different aspects of fire behavior.

A Flame Spread Rating (also known as a Flame Spread Index or Flame Spread Index Rating) measures how easily a material’s surface will ignite and how quickly flames will spread across it. This is key for evaluating the surface-level fire performance of materials like decking boards.

A Fire Rating, on the other hand, may evaluate the ability of a material or assembly to resist penetration by flames, heat, and smoke over a specific period.