Sonoma County WUIBS Map
Wildland Urban Interface Codes in California (WUI or WUIBS) are specific California Building Codes created to ensure structures are built with fire resistant material, minimizing damage to structures during a wild fire.
State officials have identified the two most common ways buildings are lost during wildland fires; from direct exposure to heat and flames as well as burning embers that can blow up to a mile ahead of the fire. Wildland Urban Interface Codes provide two two solutions to these threats.
- Remove flammable materials from around the building
The California Building Code requires that homeowners clear flammable vegetation within 100 feet (or the property line) around their buildings to create a defensible space for firefighters and to protect their homes from wildfires. - Construct the building of fire resistant material
The California Building Code requires the building to be constructed to resist burning embers. Fire resistant construction creates a barrier around the structure to minimize the likelihood of burning embers entering the building.
WINDOW REQUIREMENTS to meet Wildland Urban Interface Codes (WUIBS)
Windows are considered one of the most vulnerable components of a structure when exposed to fire. Heat and/or impact from the burning embers can cause the glass to shatter, allowing entry into the building. WUIBS code requires windows used in high-risk areas to be insulated glass units with at least one pane tempered, glas block or have a fire protection rating of not less than 20 minutes.
Sonoma County
Many homes in Sonoma County fall within moderate, high, or very high risk zones for wildfires. When building a new home, or doing home improvements in one of these areas, you must comply to the new California Building Codes for fire safety.
- State Responsibility Areas.
New buildings located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone within State Responsibility Areas, for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after January 1, 2008, shall comply with WUIBS codes - Local Agency Area with a Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
New buildings located in any Local Agency Very-High Fire Hazard Severity Zone for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after July 1, 2008, shall comply with WUIBS codes - Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area designated by the enforcing agency.
New buildings located in any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area designated by the enforcing agency for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after January 1, 2008, shall comply with WUIBs codes.
Reference Links:
SRA Map: http://egis.fire.ca.gov/SRAReview2015/
SRA Map 2: http://www.firepreventionfee.org/sraviewer_launch.php
Severity Zones in SRA – Sonoma County: http://frap.fire.ca.gov/webdata/maps/sonoma/fhszs_map.49.pdf
http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/fire_prevention_wildland_codes