It depends on municipality or jurisdiction but in many areas in the U.S., rooftop decks must use non-combustible materials when they are installed over occupied space or on buildings subject to strict fire safety regulations. Local building and fire codes may require the deck surface, supporting structure, or both to meet non-combustible or Class A fire performance requirements.

These regulations are most common in dense urban areas, wildland interfaces, and multifamily or commercial buildings where rooftop decks are located close to other structures or upper-floor living spaces.

Many municipal fire codes evaluate the entire rooftop deck assembly, not just the walking surface. This can include the deck surface, pedestal supports, framing components, and any other materials used in the system.

Because of this, a non-combustible surface alone may not be sufficient if the supporting components are combustible. Fully non-combustible assemblies often use porcelain pavers supported by steel pedestals or other non-combustible structural components.

Porcelain pavers are commonly used in fire-rated rooftop deck systems because they are manufactured from inorganic ceramic materials that do not burn or contribute to flame spread. Their fire performance allows them to meet Class A surface fire requirements in many building code scenarios.

In addition to their own fire resistance, porcelain pavers can integrate with fully non-combustible steel pedestal systems such as the Incendio adjustable height pedestal.

Pedestal-supported rooftop decks can meet non-combustible fire code requirements by using materials that satisfy fire testing standards for both the deck surface and the supporting structure.

A common approach is to specify porcelain pavers supported by steel pedestals or other non-combustible supports. This system maintains the advantages of pedestal construction, including drainage, waterproofing protection, and service access, while meeting municipal fire safety requirements.

Yes. Deck assemblies constructed with non-combustible materials such as porcelain pavers and steel pedestal supports are often specified in urban and residential environments where wildfire exposure or strict fire regulations are a concern.

Porcelain pavers are manufactured from inorganic ceramic materials that do not burn or contribute to flame spread, while steel pedestal supports meet the criteria for non-combustible materials under fire testing standards such as ASTM E136. When combined into a pedestal-supported system, these materials can help designers create rooftop deck assemblies that align with fire safety objectives in wildfire-prone regions and jurisdictions with stringent fire codes.