Crawl Space Retrofits- . NCO Inc. . 2025

Securing Crawlspace Access Points for Wildfire Safety:

Crawlspace access doors may seem minor, but they are critical points of vulnerability in your home’s wildfire defense. Combustible or poorly sealed crawlspace access doors can easily allow embers and flames to breach your home. During a wildfire, these embers can enter through these openings and ignite flammable materials stored in the crawlspace, creating a pathway for fire to breach your home. Upgrading to fire-resistant crawlspace access doors, combined with proper sealing and weather stripping, significantly enhances your home’s protection against wildfire intrusion. Ensuring that these doors comply with California's Wildfire Mitigation Program Code standards is essential for maintaining a robust barrier. Reinforcing your crawlspace access doors is an important step in fortifying your home against the relentless threat of wildfires.

Key Points:

Replace or cover crawlspace openings: Use fire-resistant materials or tight metal mesh in frame ensure materials meet building code standards.
Proper access for future maintenance: Allow for continued access to the crawlspace area while maintaining fire resistance.
Follow building code guidelines: Materials, installation, and ventilation adhere to the requirements for safe and compliant retrofitting.

This section details two options for strengthening crawlspace access openings to meet California's Wildfire Mitigation Program Code. Here's a breakdown:

Crawlspace Retrofits:

Crawlspace Access Ignition-Resistant Material Retrofit:

Replace missing, deteriorated, or combustible crawlspace access doors with fire-resistant materials.
Choose replacement materials that are non-combustible, ignition-resistant for exterior use, or fire-retardant treated wood for exterior use (meeting relevant building code sections).
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and building code requirements (CBC or CRC) for exterior wall coverings and installation.
Dispose of old access doors at an approved disposal site.
Ensure proper ventilation after installation (following CBC or CRC guidelines).
Apply primer and paint to the new access door to match the existing building color.

Crawlspace Access Mesh Retrofit:

If replacing the entire access door isn't feasible, cover the opening with a metal mesh screen.
Remove all debris and combustible materials before installing the mesh.
Use a non-combustible and corrosion-resistant mesh with a hole size between 1/16" and 1/8" in diameter.
The mesh frame should also be non-combustible and allow for access to the crawlspace, with no gaps larger than 1/8" around the frame.
Ensure proper ventilation after installation (following CBC or CRC guidelines).
Apply primer and paint to the frame to match the existing building color.

Compliance References:

CBC (California Building Code): Sections 707A.3, 1404.1-1404.18, 2303.2, 1202
CRC (California Residential Code): Sections R337.7.3, R703.1-703.17, R408

Disclaimer: The California Wildfire Mitigation Program Home Hardening Initiative recommends the following measures to retrofit a residence. Please note that not all retrofits listed are available in the Lake County Home Hardening Program.