Phronesis-Online

Wildfire Deck Mitigation Crosswalk

Alignment of Allstate • Deschutes County WUI • NFPA 1144 • IBHS/CalFire

This table shows where all four systems agree, differ, or add detail.
Use this as your authoritative reference when speaking to Commissioners.

1. Deck-to-Wall Flashing

| Standard | Requirement | Notes | |———|————-|——-| | Allstate | Requires flashing where deck touches siding | No height specified, but expectation follows industry standards | | Deschutes County WUI | Non-combustible flashing at all deck/landing interfaces | Matches CalFire guidance | | NFPA 1144 (5.2.4) | Noncombustible or ignition-resistant material required at deck-to-wall joints | Height not dictated, but flashing implied | | IBHS / CalFire | 2” vertical rise, 1” horizontal overhang, continuous flashing | This is the de facto national standard |

Interpretation:
Everyone requires flashing; IBHS/CalFire provide the numeric spec (2” rise, 1” overhang).

2. Deck Underside Enclosure (<4 ft)

| Standard | Requirement | |———|————-| | Allstate | Decks <4 ft must be enclosed with 1/8” metal mesh or fire-resistant material | | Deschutes County WUI | Decks close to ground must be enclosed with non-combustible screening | | NFPA 1144 (5.3.2) | Eliminates “ember traps”; recommends enclosure with noncombustible material | | IBHS / CalFire | 1/8-inch metal mesh, fully enclosed, no combustibles |

Interpretation:
All systems align.
1/8” metal mesh is the unifying specification.

3. Railing/Step Attachment to House

| Standard | Requirement | |———|————-| | Allstate | Requires flashing or break; flags direct contact as hazard | | Deschutes County WUI | Non-combustible separation or flashing at attached components | | NFPA 1144 | Attached combustible structures must be isolated from siding | | IBHS / CalFire | 1” minimum separation OR flashing |

Interpretation:
Use 1-inch separation or flashing as the unifying rule.

4. Fence-to-House Break

| Standard | Requirement | |———|————-| | Allstate | Requires flashing between combustible fence and siding | | Deschutes County WUI | Requires noncombustible break at fence connections | | NFPA 1144 (5.3.5) | Fences must not provide direct flame path to structure | | IBHS / CalFire | Convert last 5–8 ft to metal or insert flashing at house |

Interpretation:
All four agree:
No combustible fence directly touches the house.

5. Ground Clearance Below Siding

| Standard | Requirement | |———|————-| | Allstate | Calls out debris and duff against siding | | Deschutes County | Requires minimum clearances above grade | | NFPA 1144 | Requires removal of vegetative fuels along foundation | | IBHS / CalFire | 6-inch minimum vertical clearance |

Interpretation:
Use 6 inches minimum as the standard.

6. Debris Management (Roof, Gutter, Deck)

| Standard | Requirement | |———|————-| | Allstate | Requires removal of all vegetative debris on roof, gutters, decks | | Deschutes County | Matches general defensible-space rules | | NFPA 1144 (4.3.2) | Remove leaves, needles, and flammables from all surfaces | | IBHS / CalFire | Identical — emphasis on embers collecting in corners, gaps |

All four align 100%.

7. 0–5 Foot Ignition Zone

| Standard | Requirement | |———|————-| | Allstate | Zero combustibles in 0–5 ft (woodpiles, lumber, equipment) | | Deschutes County WUI | Matches state WUI code: noncombustible zone required | | NFPA 1144 (7.2) | Zone must be entirely free of combustibles | | IBHS / CalFire | The “Immediate Zone”: nothing combustible in 0–5 ft |

Unanimous agreement.
This is the highest-priority mitigation zone across all frameworks.

  1. Flashing: 2” rise, 1” overhang
  2. Mesh Enclosure (<4 ft decks): 1/8” metal mesh
  3. Railing/Stairs: 1” separation OR flashing
  4. Fence: Noncombustible break or flashing; no direct contact
  5. Ground Clearance: 6” minimum
  6. Debris: Roof/gutters/deck clear at all times
  7. 0–5 ft Zone: Absolute non-combustible buffer

This unified list is compatible with every agency, insurer, and national standard.