Encyclopedia of Wildfires and Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fires

Living Edition
| Editors: Samuel L. Manzello

Roofing, Gutters and Eaves

  • Stephen L. QuarlesEmail author
  • Daniel J. Gorham
Living reference work entry
First Online:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51727-8_7-1
How to cite

Synonyms

Roof Covering; Under Eave;Soffited Eave; Open Eave

Definition

A roof is the structure forming the upper covering of a building that can provide structural integrity and protection from external forces on the building. Roofs can be described by two key components, the field and edges.

A gutter is a water collection trough and when installed on a building is used as a means to transport water off the roof and away from the building. It is attached to the edge of the roof, on the non-gable end sides. A vertical member (a downspout) is used to drain water from the gutter to the ground. Other conduit typically funnels water away from the building. The gutter and downspout are typically made of metal or plastic.

An eave is the extension of the roof covering beyond the exterior walls of a building.

Introduction

As a large, relatively horizontal surface, the roof and accessory components that can be located on and adjacent to it may be the most vulnerable components of a building when...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Reference

  1. ASTM E108-17 (2017) Standard test methods for fire tests of roof coverings. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. www.astm.orgGoogle Scholar
  2. California Building Code (2016) Chapter 7A – materials and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure. pp 293–299Google Scholar
  3. Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (1999) Wood-frame envelopes in the coastal climate of British Columbia, best practices guide, building technology. CMHC Vancouver, BC, Canada. pp 3–3Google Scholar
  4. FEMA P-737 (2008) Home Builder’s Guide to Construction in Wildfire Zones, Federal Emergency Management Agency. Washington, DC Google Scholar
  5. International Code Council (2018) International wildland-urban Interface Code. International Code Council, Inc. 2017. 56 ppGoogle Scholar
  6. Lawson JR (2009) A history of fire Testing. NIST technical note 1628, Gaithersburg. 41 ppGoogle Scholar
  7. Manzello SL et al (2010) Quantifying the vulnerabilities of ceramic tile roofing assemblies to ignition during a firebrand attack. Fire Saf J 45:34–43Google Scholar
  8. Manzello SL, Park S-H, Suzuki S, Shields JR, Hayashi Y (2011) Experimental investigation of structure vulnerabilities to firebrand showers. Fire Saf J 46:568–578CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. NFPA (2018) Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire. NFPA 1144. 31 ppGoogle Scholar
  10. Quarles SL. Vulnerability of vents to wind-blown embers. Insurance Institute for Business & home safety, 2017. 24 ppGoogle Scholar
  11. Quarles SL, Cope AD (2011) Ember Testing. Disaster Safety Review. Interscience Communications, Hampshire, UK. 2:12–15Google Scholar
  12. Quarles SL, Stacy H, Simontacchi J, Loar RJ (2011) Vulnerability of the eave to direct flame contact and radiant exposures, fire and materials conference 2011, San Francisco, pp 493–505Google Scholar
  13. Ridenour K, Rissel S, Powell W, Gray R, Fisher M, Sommerfeld J (2012) Bastrop Complex Wildfire Case Study. Texas Forest Service and Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management. 166 ppGoogle Scholar
  14. Suzuki S et al (2016) The performance of wood and tile roofing assemblies exposed to continuous firebrand assault: wood and tile roofing assemblies exposed to firebrand showers. Fire Mater 41(1):84–96CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Insurance Institute for Business & Home SafetyRichburgUSA

Section editors and affiliations

  • Sayaka Suzuki
    • 1
  1. 1.National Research Institute of Fire and DisasterTokyoJapan