Titanium FR High Temp and Fire Resistant Self-Adhered Underlayment, first unveiled by Owens Corning at the 2023 International Roofing Expo in Dallas, is designed to provide the Class A fire resistance normally required for roofing assemblies installed in wildland-urban interface [WUI] areas. 

In a release, the company notes how Class A indicates the material used in Titanium FR High Temp and Fire Resistant Self-Adhered Underlayment is “effective against severe fire exposure.” Class A is the highest classification for fire resistance in roofs, per ASTM E108 or UL 790 fire testing.

In WUI areas and other environments presenting a high risk for fire, a Class A roof is required by codes to help prevent the spread of external structure fires. As the country has witnessed, wildfires have remained a persistent hazard in many regions of the U.S. in recent years.

With its proprietary technology, Titanium FR is designed to mitigate the risk of fire spread to the roof deck under metal, tile, or asphalt roof coverings. The classification is important for metal roof systems given that most metal roof products cannot meet Class A fire resistance without a special fire-retardant underlayment or installation of gypsum panels over the roof sheathing. 

The new underlayment also offers support for fire safety in energy-generating roof assemblies. As roof-mounted solar panels are often located in WUI areas and are subject to harsh conditions, the company said Titanium® FR provides Class A fire-resistant underlayment that also offers leak protection under BAPV solar panels. 

Roof assemblies equipped with mounted photovoltaic [PV] panels are evaluated to assess the ability of the entire assembly to protect a structure’s interior from fire. Typically, according to the company, most roof-mounted solar panels only meet the requirements for Class C, designating “effective against light fire exposure.” Titanium® FR High Temp and Fire Resistant Self-Adhered Underlayment achieve Class A fire resistance for roof assemblies, including solar panels, even if the panels alone are Class C. 

In addition to supporting fire safety efforts, Titanium FR High Temp and Fire Resistant Self-Adhered Underlayment features Sure-Foot technology, supporting walkability in wet and dry conditions. The new underlayment also features an engineered self-adhesive layer that allows repositioning for easy installation on the roof.

For more information about Titanium FR Self-Adhered Underlayment, visit owenscorning.com.