Part A — Find Your Level
First, manage vegetation on your property (provincial vegetation management guidance). Then, the self-assessment guide walks you through every exterior element: roof, eaves, vents, windows, doors, cladding, decks, fencing, and perimeter zone. For each, you identify the material and condition, and the guide maps it to a Wildfire Exposure Rating (WER) level.
Your WER level is determined by three factors: vegetation type near your home, distance to that vegetation, and slope from the vegetation toward your building. Uphill slopes amplify fire behaviour — the self-assessment includes separate lookup tables for flat, gentle uphill, and steep uphill conditions. Formal slope correction: 5–10° adds one WER level, 10–15° adds one to two levels, 15–20° adds two levels, and slopes exceeding 20° default to WER-4 (P.Eng. required). Estimated radiant heat: WER-1 <10 kW/m², WER-2 10–19 kW/m², WER-3 19–40 kW/m², WER-4 >40 kW/m².
Your overall WER is determined by your weakest element — because wildfire finds the weakest point.
You need: the guide (printed or digital), a camera, 30 minutes, and daylight.
The Canadian Wildfire Information System (CWFIS) provides real-time fire weather maps and historical fire data for your region. It's a free NRCan resource that can give you context before you start your self-assessment. Your WER level is determined by what's actually on and around your property — the CWFIS maps help you understand the broader fire climate.
Part B — Harden to Your Level
Once you know your WER level, grab the design guide for that level. It tells you exactly what to do — materials, specifications, priorities, and costs. Practical measures you can start this weekend.
Basic — Ember Protection
What's covered
Class A roofing, gutter guards, 1.5m NC perimeter zone, basic vent screening (3mm mesh), defensible space zones. CNEL tiers apply at any WER level to the exposed wall portion (per 45° splay method), including exposure from own accessory buildings: CNEL-1 (6–10m) requires NC ground cover, NC fencing, and enclosed soffits on facing zone. CNEL-2 (4–6m) adds NC cladding on CNEL zone; wildfire shutters recommended as retrofit. CNEL-3 (2.4–4m) requires Type X sheathing, mineral wool, and wildfire shutters on all facing openings. Permit triggers NBC spatial separation compliance on wall assembly. Equivalency guidance for alternative materials.
Moderate — Radiant Heat Resistance
What's covered
Enclosed NC soffits, ember-resistant vents (ASTM E2886), tempered glazing, NC or fire-rated fencing within 6m. CNEL tiers on exposed wall zones (including accessory building exposure): CNEL-1 adds tempered glazing and NC soffits. CNEL-2 adds Type X gypsum sheathing, full NC cladding, mineral wool insulation. CNEL-3 adds fire-rated assembly and wildfire shutters. Deemed-to-satisfy and engineered equivalency paths.
High — Direct Flame Contact
What's covered
NC cladding to ground (or engineered equivalent), wildfire shutters, NC/FRT decking, fire-rated timber options for fencing and outbuildings. CNEL on exposed wall zones (including own accessory buildings): CNEL-2 measures overlap with WER-3 specs. CNEL-3 adds sealed soffits with no vents, radiant heat barrier between properties, and fire-rated shutters on all facing openings.
Extreme — Full NC Envelope
What's covered
Complete NC exterior envelope, BAL-40+ equivalent (Bushfire Attack Level, the Australian benchmark), fire-rated wall assemblies, steel/bronze shutters all elevations. CNEL fully integrated — WER-4 exceeds all CNEL tiers. Professional P.Eng. assessment required including radiation modelling.
New Build Design Guide
Per-face assessment, property-line method (actual distance or zoning setback). Permit triggers NBC spatial separation compliance., consolidated spec tables WER-1 through WER-4, CNEL standard with horizontal extent, community design, cost comparison new vs retrofit.
Component & Assembly Reference
Formatted specification tables — wall assemblies, roof & eave assemblies, mitigation categories. All FireHard levels and CNEL tiers side by side.
Don’t Invite Disaster
Some of the most popular residential design features are among the most dangerous in wildfire-prone areas. These features are not addressed by standard building codes. They are addressed by FireHard.
NIST, IBHS, and NRC research has identified specific construction features and maintenance habits that dramatically increase the probability of structure loss during wildfire events. Each card shows a common “inviting disaster” practice.
Document it now to reduce risk of future rework
Canadian wildfire insurance is changing fast. California already requires insurers to offer discounts for hardened homes. Canada will follow. When insurance rebate programs arrive — and they will — the homeowners who documented their work will be first in line.
Every hardening measure you implement is an investment in your home's resilience and your future insurability. Document it properly now, and reduce the risk of rework.
Your Hardening Record
Photograph every element before work starts, during installation, and after completion. Include close-ups of materials, labels, and connections. Date-stamped photos are best.
Keep all material receipts and contractor invoices. These prove what was installed, when, and by whom. Store digital copies — paper fades.
Complete your FireHard self-assessment and keep the filled-in checklist. Record your starting level and your target level. This becomes the baseline for your hardening record.
For each design guide item you complete, note what was done, what materials were used, and the date. A simple spreadsheet or notebook works. Match each item to the FireHard specification it satisfies.
Create a "FireHard Hardening File" — digital folder or physical binder. When your insurer asks what you've done, hand them the file. When rebate programs launch, you're ready.
California's Safer from Wildfires regulation already requires insurers to offer discounts for hardened homes. WER covers all 10 qualifying measures. Canadian programs are coming — the question is when, not if. The homeowners who can prove their work will benefit first.
Technical Reference
The WER·CNEL v1.1 Technical Document and six construction detail guides provide the full technical basis behind the design guides. These are primarily for professionals — engineers, architects, building officials, and contractors.
Construction Detail Guides (1–6) STANDARD DETAILS IN DEVELOPMENT
Standard construction details and product-specific installation specifications are currently under development. The existing modules provide material requirements and general assembly guidance. Detailed CAD-ready construction drawings and the Component & Assembly Reference database are coming. Help us prioritize →
Six guides covering every element of the building envelope in designer-ready detail. Full research references, product options, cost analysis, installation details, CNEL specifications for each element, and equivalency guidance for alternative materials and engineered solutions.
Close Neighbour Exposure Level (CNEL) Guide
Separation-distance-based framework for hardening building faces exposed to neighbouring structures. Applies to any home within 10m of another structure.
CNEL Guide — Structure-to-Structure Fire Protection
Three CNEL tiers based on separation distance and exposing structure condition. Applies to neighbouring buildings and accessory structures on the same property. Decision tree, horizontal extent method, full specifications, and community effectiveness.
Technical Bulletins
In-depth guidance on specific assembly design topics, building science integration, and advanced detailing for wildfire resistance in Canadian climates.
Help shape the future of wildfire-resistant construction
5 minutes. Anonymous. Your input guides our priorities and demonstrates community support.