Fire Ratings: A Critical Safety Layer for Kansas City Roofs
Understanding how your roof resists ignition from embers, wind-blown debris, and internal house fires.
In the Kansas City metro, we often talk about hail and wind, but fire ratings are the unsung heroes of your home's exterior envelope. Whether you are living in a historic Victorian in the Northeast KC neighborhood or a modern build in Shoal Creek, the fire classification of your roofing material determines how well your home can withstand a neighboring fire or an ember-heavy storm.
The Gold Standard: Class A
Most modern asphalt shingles sold at local suppliers like ABC Supply Co. on 19th Street or Beacon Building Products are Class A fire-rated. This is the highest level of protection, designed to withstand severe fire exposure originating from outside the building. In Kansas City, where autumn brush fires can occur near the Blue River or high winds can carry embers across dense blocks in Waldo, a Class A rating is your primary defense.
Breaking Down the Ratings
- Class A: Effective against severe fire exposure. Materials like fiberglass-reinforced asphalt shingles, concrete tiles, and slate fall here. They must resist flame spread and not produce flying brands.
- Class B: Effective against moderate fire exposure. Often seen with pressure-treated wood shakes that have been chemically injected with fire retardants.
- Class C: Effective against light fire exposure. This includes untreated wood shakes or older "organic" shingles that are rarely used in new KC construction today.
Local Code Insights
The City of Kansas City, Missouri, currently operates under the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC). Section R902 specifically dictates that roof coverings must be tested in accordance with ASTM E108 or UL 790. While most of KCMO allows for Class A, B, or C, many local HOAs and specific fire districtsâespecially those in more densely wooded areas of the Northlandâmay mandate a minimum Class A rating to prevent the "domino effect" of house-to-house fire spread.
The "Wood Shake" Dilemma in KC
In neighborhoods like Sunset Hills or Ward Parkway, many original homes featured natural cedar shakes. Untreated cedar is naturally combustible and typically unrated or Class C. If you are looking to maintain that aesthetic but need to meet modern safety expectations, you have two local paths:
Treated Real Wood
Pressure-impregnated shakes can achieve a Class B or even a Class A rating when used with specialized fire-resistant underlayments like VersaShield. This adds roughly $1.50 - $2.50 per square foot to material costs.
Synthetic Alternatives
Brands like DaVinci Roofscapes (headquartered right here in the KC metro in Lenexa) offer polymer shakes that carry a natural Class A fire rating without extra treatments, providing the look of wood with the highest safety profile.
Fire Rating Anatomy
| Material Type | Typical Rating | KC Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Architectural Shingle | Class A | Standard for 90% of KC homes. |
| Stone-Coated Steel | Class A | Great for high-wind/fire-risk areas. |
| Untreated Cedar Shakes | Unrated / Class C | Becoming harder to insure in KC. |
| Natural Slate | Class A (Non-combustible) | Common on historic Armour Blvd estates. |