Fire & Wind/Storm Protection

"The Three Little Pigs” were right: Brick provides superior shelter in ways other cladding materials can’t match in terms of durability, fire protection, protection from wind-borne debris and more. Other products - like fiber cement - may talk a big game, but no material delivers like brick in so many different types of severe weather events.

 Hail Damage to Vinyl

A Shelter from the Storm study conducted in September 2004 shows that homes built with brick offer dramatically more protection from wind-blown debris than homes built with vinyl and/or fiber cement siding. In fact, the tests found that homes made with brick exceed the 34 mph impact resistance requirement for high velocity hurricane zones in the Florida building code. Brick also exceeds Florida’s impact resistance requirements for essential facilities in hurricane areas. The other products? Not even close!
 

The primary ingredient in brick is clay that is fired to around 2000 degrees F, which is why brick is classified as a noncombustible material. Moreover, both the National Institute of Standards and Technology and BIA conducted separate fire tests that conclusively demonstrate that nothing outperforms good old-fashioned brick in a one-hour fire test. Vinyl and fiber cement? See for yourself.
 

 

According to a nationally renowned, independent, building-products research laboratory, brick veneer wall assemblies control moisture better than wall systems clad with other exterior materials. Therefore, brick veneer wall systems help minimize mold growth, wood rot and infestation by insects, and corrosion of fasteners embedded in wood better than other wall assemblies.