Mass Ply Reshapes Residential Housing Design in this Fire-Resistant Rebuild
With wildfires on the rise, the team at Freres Engineered Wood has been hard at work, advancing the fire resilience of mass timber construction. The Mass Ply product line offers an exceptional solution for fire hardening buildings, offering a slower char rate and more consistent fire performance than concrete, steel, and even many alternative mass timber products. While Mass Ply products are becoming more prevalent in commercial construction, their superior fire-resilience has sparked interest among residential builders and developers, as well.
Photo provided by Kaufman Homes Inc.
In response to growing wildfire risk, Oregon’s Building Codes Division has adopted new fire hardening building code standards for extreme or high risk regions. Fire hardening is the process of making a building more fire-resistant, by selecting materials and design choices that slow the progression of fire and resist ignition. Strategies include multi-layered or tempered windows, soffits with ignition-resistant materials, and noncombustible siding and trim.
Freres Wood celebrated the completion of an original fire-resistant Oregon home in late 2024. After losing their family retreat in the 2020 Labor Day wildfires, the homeowners prioritized fire resistance throughout the rebuild, including 6,750 cubic feet of Mass Ply Panels (MPP) for the floors, walls, and roof.
In addition to Mass Ply, this new three-bedroom home features a range of fire hardening measures, including the following:
- Metal and pre-burned shou sugi ban siding and roofing to prevent ignition.
- No gutters, reducing fire-prone debris accumulation.
- Flat and steep-pitched roofs directing runoff to oversized French drains.
- A 15-foot rock buffer around the home to keep flammable vegetation at bay.
- Non-flammable insulation for enhanced protection.
- No vented eaves for sparks to penetrate attic voids. Air cycling is via air exchanger and dehumidifier which can be turned off during a fire event.
- Hose bibs on flat roof sections for easy sprinkler installation.
- Property perimeter sprinkler systems and near house sprinkler systems.
- 20,000 gallon fire pond with a local fire department hookup.
Photo provided by Freres Engineered Wood
While the Oregon home is certainly one-of-a-kind in terms of fire resilience, Kent Kaufman, president of Kaufman Homes Inc. and general contractor for the newly constructed Mass Ply home, says it reflects a broader shift in the construction industry. “We’re definitely thinking about fire hardening a lot more than we used to,” says Kaufman.
“We’ve done several fire rebuilds, and there are numerous ways to help prevent a future fire. A few strategic choices like selecting Mass Ply can make a really big difference.” says Kent Kaufman, president of Kaufman Homes.
As wildfire threats continue to influence building practices, Freres Wood anticipates fire hardening strategies will become standard in both residential and commercial construction—and that Mass Ply will play a central role.
“Fire resilience was built into every aspect of this home’s design,” says Tyler Freres, Vice President of Sales at Freres Engineered Wood. “We hope this project serves as an inspiration for homeowners and builders looking for smarter ways to construct in wildfire-prone areas.”
Download a PDF of the Fire-Resistant Residential Rebuild Case Study