Technical Data
Fire classifications, ASTM test standards, Zone 0 regulatory status, and documented material data for the fence, gate, and wall systems we install in San Diego.
Reviewed: July 2026 · Zone 0 status updated September 2026
This page consolidates the fire-performance classifications, regulatory citations, and documented material data behind our fence, gate, and wall systems. It is a planning reference, not a substitute for a product-specific test report or an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) review. Fire and code requirements vary by parcel and jurisdiction.
Where a general test standard or classification applies to a material category, it is shown below with the standard linked. Where MFD does not yet hold a specific spec sheet, wind-load report, or test document, the honest value is “Available on request” — product-specific test reports and engineering documentation are confirmed per project. For a side-by-side material view, see the fencing comparison and ASTM fire ratings pages.
Data sources: Fire classifications reference ASTM E136 (non-combustibility) and ASTM E84 (surface burning characteristics). Regulatory status reflects the California Board of Forestry Zone 0 rule adopted August 19, 2026 (not yet in effect) and the City of San Diego SDWUI Code and Fire-Rescue Zone 0 standards as of September 2026. Confirm all requirements with your AHJ before installation.
Table 1
Fire Performance by Material
General classifications by material category. Product-specific results depend on the tested assembly and its documentation.
| Material | Classification | Test standard | Zone 0 relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Aluminum
6063-T6 Alloy
|
Non-combustible | ASTM E136 | Non-combustible material option for near-structure runs; confirm the assembly and attachment detail with your AHJ. |
|
Steel
Powder-Coated / Galvanized
|
Non-combustible | ASTM E136 | Non-combustible material option for near-structure runs; confirm the assembly and attachment detail with your AHJ. |
|
CMU Block Wall
Concrete Masonry
|
Non-combustible | ASTM E136 | Non-combustible masonry boundary; performance also depends on wall design, openings, and AHJ review. |
|
Gabion Wall
Stone + Steel Mesh
|
Non-combustible | ASTM E136 | Stone-and-steel assembly with no combustible content; confirm the configuration with your AHJ. |
|
Ipe Hardwood
Brazilian Walnut
|
Combustible | ASTM E84 — product-specific Class A possible | Some Ipe products have achieved ASTM E84 Class A flame-spread results in product-specific testing. That does not make Ipe non-combustible, and product documentation, installation details, and AHJ review determine near-structure suitability. |
|
Composite
Wood-Plastic (WPC)
|
Per product test report | ASTM E84 class, where documented | Fire performance varies by product line. Some composite products carry ASTM E84 documentation; verify the specific test report and confirm acceptance with your AHJ. |
|
Wood / Vinyl
Cedar, Redwood, Pine, PVC
|
Combustible | ASTM E84 class (varies) | Combustible materials that need careful review near structures; standard vinyl can also melt or deform under heat. |
Non-combustible classifications reference ASTM E136; ASTM E84 assigns Class A (FSI 0–25), B (26–75), and C (76–200) for combustible materials. Class ratings apply to the specific tested assembly — confirm the manufacturer test report for the exact product and configuration.
Table 2
Zone 0 Regulatory Status
Ember-resistant zone (0–5 ft) rules affecting fences and gates, as of September 2026. The state rule is adopted but not yet in effect; San Diego's rules are already in force.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Effective dates | What it says about fences & gates |
|---|---|---|---|
|
State of California
Board of Forestry — 14 CCR §1298.04 (LRA); §§1299.01–1299.03 (SRA)
|
Adopted — not yet in effect | Adopted as emergency regulations Aug 19, 2026 and submitted to the Office of Administrative Law; no effective date as of September 2026. New occupied structures comply on the effective date; existing structures within 3 years (up to 5 on a local timeline). | Board summary of the adopted text: combustible fences and gates may not be attached to an occupied structure; fences and gates that attach need a 5-foot non-combustible section at the point of attachment; after the effective date, no new combustible fences or gates in Zone 0. Non-combustible is defined by ASTM E136. In the LRA it covers occupied structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones; in the SRA, all structures. |
|
City of San Diego
SDMC §512.0604 (SDWUI Code); Fire-Rescue Standard D-2; Existing Structures guidelines
|
Adopted | New structures (building permit applied for on or after): Feb 28, 2026. Existing structures: Feb 28, 2027. Full-compliance target for existing homes: Feb 28, 2029. | §512.0604 defines Zone 0 but does not use the word “fence”; the fence rules are Fire-Rescue’s, for structures in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. New structures (Standard D-2): all new fences and gates in Zone 0 non-combustible (steel, aluminum, fiber cement board or masonry); fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) exception if ignition-resistant, parallel to the walls, ≥4 ft from the structure, with a 5-foot non-combustible span where it attaches. Existing structures (guidelines): an attached perpendicular fence or gate needs a 5-foot non-combustible transitional span; existing vinyl (parallel, ≥4 ft from the wall, good condition, free of debris, no vegetation between fence and structure) may stay; new parallel wood must be FRTW listed in the OSFM WUI Products Handbook; fences outside Zone 0 are unchanged; homeowners should attempt full compliance, including replacing noncompliant fences, by Feb 28, 2029. The guidelines note that insurers or the IBHS may not accept vinyl or FRTW. |
Sources: California Board of Forestry & Fire Protection Zone 0 emergency action notice (Aug. 20, 2026); SDMC §512.0604; San Diego Fire-Rescue Standard D-2; City of San Diego Zone 0 Guidelines for Existing Structures (rev. 4/22/2026). The state rule is not yet in effect, and its text may change before it takes effect. Confirm current requirements with your AHJ.
Table 3
Documented Material & Profile Data
Reference values MFD documents today. Rows without a published MFD document are marked “Available on request” and are confirmed per project.
| Item | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminum alloy — tensile strength | 31,000 PSI | 6063-T6 — typical alloy handbook values |
| Aluminum alloy — yield strength | 25,000 PSI | 6063-T6 — typical alloy handbook values |
| Aluminum alloy — density | 0.097 lb/in³ | 6063-T6 — typical alloy handbook values |
| Aluminum alloy — melting point | ~1,200°F | 6063-T6 — typical alloy handbook values |
| Steel fence finish | Powder coat or galvanizing | Finish system selected around site exposure; finish documentation available on request |
| Powder-coat finish class | AAMA 2604 / AAMA 2605 | Coating specification classes for UV and chalking resistance; see the powder coating guide. Product-specific coating documentation per project. |
| Side gate — pedestrian width | 3–4 ft typical | Standard side-yard pedestrian gate; wider for bins or equipment. Final width set on a site walk. |
| Side gate — standard height | 6 ft standard | Taller where privacy and code allow; confirmed per project. |
| Post size / gauge, footing depth, panel span | Available on request | Engineered per material, height, terrain, and wind exposure; confirmed per project. |
| Wind-load rating (ASCE 7 / local) | Available on request | Project-specific engineering documentation; confirmed per project. |
| Product-specific fire test reports (ASTM E84 / E136) | Available on request | Confirmed per product and assembly for the selected material. |
Handbook values are typical for the alloy family and are not a substitute for a mill certificate. Structural, wind-load, and product-specific fire documentation is assembled and confirmed for each project scope.
Need Project Documentation?
We confirm product-specific test reports and engineering per project