01Separate material from roof classification
A metal panel may be non-combustible, but a roof performance claim concerns the complete assembly and applicable test or code evidence. Record deck, underlayment, insulation or cover board, attachment, panel and details included in the cited configuration. Do not infer a class, approval or wildfire outcome from the word metal. Any proposal statement should identify the exact document, limitations and match to the build-up offered for the property.
- Name every layer
- Capture the evidence identifier
- Flag mismatches
02Check current code and product evidence
Use the current BC Building Code and authority guidance for the project, then request current manufacturer documents and any relevant listing or assessment. The CCMC registry instructs users to confirm that an assessment remains published and current before use. Record the checked date because codes, products and assessments change. An assessment for one product does not automatically cover a different panel, underlayment, slope, fastening pattern or installation condition.
- Use primary documents
- Record publication status
- Read conditions and limitations
03Map roof geometry where debris may collect
FireSmart BC identifies the roof as a vulnerable building component and emphasizes roof design, maintenance and places where roofing meets other materials. On the property plan, mark valleys, re-entrant corners, dormers, walls, gutters and lower roofs where needles, leaves or other debris can accumulate. Complex geometry does not prove a failure, but it changes inspection and maintenance questions that a panel-only comparison will miss.
- Mark collection points
- Include adjoining walls
- Plan safe access
04Review vents, eaves and openings
List attic and roof vents, ridge openings, soffits, fascia gaps, chimneys, skylights and service penetrations. FireSmart guidance discusses ember entry at vents and roof interfaces while recognizing that vents have a moisture-control role. Any screening or rated component must be compatible with required ventilation and the actual opening. Avoid prescribing products or modifications without confirming current guidance, manufacturer information and project-specific building requirements.
- Inventory every opening
- Coordinate fire and moisture functions
- Keep product evidence
05Include gutters, attachments and adjacent materials
Record gutters, downspouts, solar equipment, rooftop mechanical units, decks, fences, cladding, stored material and vegetation near the building. These are separate project factors; a metal roof does not eliminate them. Ask how roof edges and attachments are detailed, how debris can be removed and whether future equipment affects the accepted assembly. Do not turn a maintenance recommendation into a promise that the property will withstand a wildfire.
- Map nearby components
- Coordinate future solar
- Keep risk statements qualified
06Define a practical inspection record
Identify accessible gutters, valleys, transitions and roof areas that require observation according to applicable product and FireSmart guidance. Record who can safely perform the work, what conditions should prompt service and where replacement parts or finish information are stored. Maintenance frequency should come from current evidence and site conditions rather than an invented universal interval. Owners should not climb onto the roof when safe access and fall protection are not established.
- Use safe access methods
- Connect tasks to components
- Keep dated service notes
07Create a traceable claim register
For each wildfire- or fire-related statement, list the exact claim, current source, tested or assessed assembly identifier, product document, limitations and roof drawing. Compare every layer, attachment and opening condition with the cited evidence and mark unresolved differences. Record substitutions and recheck the claim when the build-up changes. The register helps evaluate documentation; it is not a certification, fire assessment or guarantee that a roof or property will survive a wildfire.
- Quote no unsupported classification
- Recheck substitutions
- Preserve final evidence