In some regions, wildfires are one the biggest dangers for home and building owners. This is especially true in California. The wildfires in January 2025 burned through whole tracts of land, leaving thousands of homes in cinders. Now more than ever, building owners are looking for effective ways to protect their investments and meet local fire rating requirements without overpaying.
In this article, we’ll look at a solution for meeting fire rating requirements in California and elsewhere: Titanium FR®, a type of fire-retardant underlayment that helps roofing assemblies meet Class A without the added costs of additional labor and materials.
When you’re done reading, you’ll understand what Titanium FR is, its advantages, and whether it might be worth considering for your unique roofing project.
The Issue with Meeting Fire Rating Requirements
Achieving a Class A fire rating for a metal roof is about more than just installing metal panels. Yes, metal panels are fire resistant, but your fire rating takes into account the entire roofing assembly, including the accessories used and the decking.
In the past, if your project had a combustible decking like wood, then that typically meant you’d need to add a fire barrier layer, like a quarter-inch gypsum board underneath your underlayment, which increased costs due to the added installation time and materials.
And as the threat of wildfires increases, it will become increasingly important to make homes fire-resistant to be able to get insurance.
So how can you get a Class A fire rating without racking up the additional cost? The answer: Titanium FR.
The Solution: Titanium® FR, Fire-Rated Underlayment
Titanium FR is 80 millimeters thick — double the thickness of most underlayment — with a self-adhered backing. It also has a textured top layer to help contractors navigate roofs while they work. And the key advantage of Titanium FR is that it’s typically a single-layer underlayment that helps roofing assemblies meet Class A fire ratings, without the extra materials or labor required by other products. Here’s how Titanium FR can help you complete projects as efficiently as possible while also keeping them protected from wildfires.
How Titanium FR Can Help You Meet Fire Rating Requirements
- Easier fire compliance: Before, in order to meet Class A fire rating requirements for some roofing assemblies, you’d need to add gypsum board or a fire barrier product like VersaShield® into the assembly. Titanium FR is installed like a typical underlayment that eliminates the need for additional materials and labor.
- Heavy-duty: Titanium FR’s 80-millimeter thickness means it’s more effective at resisting heat. It’s the heavy-duty underlayment option that’s perfect for California’s regional threats.
- Fire adhesive tested: Many peel and stick products break down under extreme heat, but Titanium FR’s formula is tested to resist melting and failure at high temperatures.
- Six-month exposure rating: You’ll have 180 days to put metal panels on this underlayment after installation, which allows flexibility for projects facing weather or schedule delays.
- Wildland Urban Interface Approved: Titanium FR has been vetted for fire-prone areas in California.
- Limited Lifetime Warranty: Standing seam metal roofing is one of the longest-lasting roofing options on the market, but it’s only as good as the complete assembly it’s a part of. Titanium FR can help roofs meet that long-lasting service life with a limited lifetime warranty.
Important Installation Considerations for Titanium FR
- Metal thickness: For steel that is 26-gauge or thicker, one layer of Titanium FR is enough to meet a Class A fire rating. For thinner-gauge metal or aluminum panels, multiple layers of underlayment will be required to get the same amount of fire protection.
- Installation method: Titanium FR is a peel and stick underlayment, though it may require back-nailing or priming in some applications. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Application: Every roof is unique, and the best way to install this underlayment will depend on the unique factors of your project, including the panel type, roof pitch, and environmental exposure. If you’re unsure how to install it, be sure to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Contact Sheffield Metals’ La Mirada Branch for More Details on Titanium FR
Contractors working in California and other fire-prone areas can streamline projects, cut down on added labor and installation time, and meet Class A fire rating requirements for home and building owners with Titanium FR. This underlayment can help you get over a regional hurdle.
Looking for more information on Titanium FR?
Feel free to reach out to the Sheffield Metals’ branch in La Mirada, California — the team there will be happy to provide you with the information and guidance you need.
Sheffield Metals is a leading provider of metal roofing coils, sheets, and accessories. We provide free content via the Metal Roofing Learning Center and The Metal Roofing Channel, and also offer help on projects from initial designs through finished installation via our Commercial, Technical, and Architectural (CAT) team.
