AWC Advances Performance-Based WUI Code in California

As detailed in the Government Affairs section, AWC’s coordinated engagement in California helped steer the state’s post-wildfire response away from reactive legislation that could have restricted material choice. Well before the California wildfires in early 2025, wildland urban interface (WUI) issues were already a leading concern for California building code and local officials and became an even more urgent topic.

Building on multiyear participation, AWC helped guide California’s shift from Chapter 7A requirements to a standalone Wildland Urban Interface Code (WUIC). After extensive meetings and public comments, during which AWC staff served as chairs and members on multiple workgroups, the California Building Standards Commission approved the 2025 WUIC and set the effective date for January 1, 2026. AWC’s leadership and expertise in the workgroups helped preserve key performance- based provisions for wood products.

California has already begun working on intervening cycle amendments to the WUIC that will be considered in 2026. Some proposals have included the elimination of combustible materials and vegetation as well as updating the criteria for roofing, vents and windows, all subjects that were spotlighted by the fire service, legislators and the media after the Palisades and Eaton wildfires. AWC staff continue to be involved with the State Fire Marshal’s office and Building Standards Commission activities to ensure these revisions are grounded in data, reflect fire resilient design principles, and do not impose unjustified restrictions on wood products.

In parallel, the California State Fire Marshal expanded the enforcement of the new CA WUIC into High Fire Severity Zones in the Local Responsibility Areas (LRAs). The emergency regulations also eliminate the July 1, 2008, trigger for additions and remodels, meaning all such projects must now comply with the CA WUIC. AWC views these expansions as reasonable steps toward more consistent wildfire mitigation statewide and continues to participate in workgroups to ensure wood products are evaluated fairly and based on performance. Discussion about these changes was robust and is expected to continue into 2026.

AWC’s leadership in this space was reinforced through our appointment to the CalPoly San Luis Obispo (SLO) Wildland Urban Interface Fire Institute’s Advisory Board. The Institute seeks to address issues around fire, research, training and education in the WUI, and its recommendations are poised to influence regulatory approaches across California and the broader West. AWC’s appointment demonstrates the longstanding and trusted expertise we have established in California and gives our industry an important seat at the table in the development of WUI regulations.

Outside of California, AWC leadership in WUI codes and testing led to the Senior Director of Fire Engineering, Jason Smart, joining technical panels at WoodRise and a SLB-sponsored National Institute of Building Sciences webinar. The technical panel sessions positioned AWC and the industry as experts in the WUI code, highlighting how recent fire tests support performance-based provisions and help ensure fair treatment of wood products.