Can cedar shakes and shingles still be used in California?
	Yes, if they conform to fire-retardant standards. Effective July 1, 1995 California State law mandates minimum Class C fire retardant roofs. Class B rated roofs are required in specified "very high hazard severity zones".

	How long will full-cell pressure-treated shakes and shingles remain fire retardant?
	Tests conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Products Laboratory, independent testing laboratories and manufacturers prove that the treatment process renders the wood fire retardant for the life of the roof.

	What is the difference between "fire retardant" and "fire proof"?
	No roofing product is fire proof. All materials are subject to fire damage, therefore the term fire proof is incorrect for any product. Fire tests are developed by engineers and fire technicians to provide comparable fire resistant values of materials.

Will factory treated fire-retardant cedar shakes and shingles protect my home?

Fire retardant roofing materials will protect your home's roof from flying embers and will not spread flying embers. The typical burning ember in a large fire is the size of a pencil eraser. The Underwriters Laboratories' burning-brand tests use burning brands 60 to 1,000 times that size. In large conflagrations such as the 1993 Laguna Beach and Malibu fires, the majority of homes destroyed had Class A rated roofs.

	How do the full-cell pressure-treated fire retardant shakes and shingles perform in actual fire conditions?
	Extremely well. There are no known instances where the products contributed to the spread of fire. Official fire incident reports have shown the products to actually prevent the spread of fire.

	What is the chance a fire will begin on a roof?
	The incident rate of fires caused by sparks-on-roofs is less than 1/2-of-1% of all residential fires. The annual odds of a fatality occurring from a fire that originates on a roof is 1-in-25,000,000 - - substantially lower than the chance of winning a lottery (1-in-5,000,000) or an automobile fatality (1-in-4,800).

	What are the primary fire hazards in homes?
	The National Fire Protection Association reports that 95% of all fires begin inside the home. Statistics show that 16% of all fires begin in "cooking materials" and 14% in "rubbish/trash". They also report that 38% of fire related deaths occur when fires begin in upholstered furniture and bedding material.

	How can I identify full cell pressure-treated shakes and shingles?
	Buy only treated shakes and shingles that are labeled with a fire rating from a recognizable testing laboratory like Underwriters Laboratories or Fire Tech Services. These agencies randomly inspect and test products to assure conformance to national standards.

	What can I do if my current cedar roof is not the factory treated type?
	There are after market fire retardants available. Because these are sprayed on, the treatment is only topical and is not permanent. Spray on treatments do not provide complete protection. Homeowners should be cautious and aware of the limitations these treatments can provide.

	Will fire-retardant cedar shakes and shingles last longer than untreated material?
	The U.S. Department of Agriculture found that after ten years of outdoor weathering the treated shakes and shingles impaired the development of surface mold and fungal spores. Cedar Plus treated shakes and shingles carry a longer warranty than untreated products.