Install Fire-Rated Window Shutters
05/03/2023
Make Resilient Upgrades | Strengthen Your Home • Wildfires
Why do they matter?
Exterior window fire-rated shutters can protect windows and sliding glass doors in a wildfire. Reduce your home’s risk of fire by keeping the windows from breaking and preventing burning embers and firebrands from entering your home.
What do I need to know?
- Solid metal shutters are preferred over wooden or plastic shutters because they are unlikely to ignite or melt.
- Shutters can also protect against other extreme weather like high-wind events. If your home is in a windborne debris region, shutters can also serve as opening protection against wind-borne debris.
- Temporary shutters only work if you have enough time to put them into place. Permanent shutters are easier and quicker to deploy.
Where do I start?
- Protect windows and sliding glass doors with shutters, especially if your windows and doors are made with wood or vinyl.
More Resources:
- FEMA P-737, Home Builders’ Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones.
- FEMA. How to Prepare for a Wildfire.
- FEMA. Rebuilding After a Wildfire.