Home Hardening Program
The City of Agoura Hills has partnered with the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council
to establish wildfire mitigation programs to harden homes and communities against wildfire.
California Building Code, specifically Chapter 7A, mandates that vents in homes located in designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones
(most of Agoura Hills), be equipped with non-combustible, corrosion-resistant mesh with openings between 1/16 and 1/8 inch.
FREE EMBER-RESISTANT VENT MESH PROGRAM
Get your Free Mesh before the programs ends
Why we created a free Ember-Resistant Vent Mesh Program
The foremost study on home hardening is NIST Technical Note 2205 which recommends 40 actions that should be taken.
So, where should you focus your efforts?
The diagram below shows the relative cost of upgrading the listed features to ember-resistant materials and design compared to the priority level which indicates the features most vulnerable to wildfires and embers.
When reviewing the diagram below we see that the three low-cost and high-priority items are:
- Vents – This is where we can have the most cost effective impact on homes by providing free ember-resistant mesh to residents
- Gutters – Metal gutter mesh guards are a high priority with a reasonable relative cost
- Maintenance – It is very important for the resident to keep up with the home hardening maintenance of their home
The installation of non-combustible gutter guards and the replacement or retrofitting of the vents to your attic, basement and crawlspace have proven to be inexpensive and very effective in wildfire mitigation.
FREE Vent Mesh Program
For a limited time, the City of Agoura Hills and the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council will distribute FREE ember-resistant mesh to help residents retrofit their vents with metal mesh that will help defend against ember intrusion in the case of a wildfire. Embers entering homes during wildfires have shown to be the number one ignition threat to homes.
Ember-resistant metal mesh blocks embers, reduces radiant heat and diffuses direct flames.
Our FREE distribution of ember-resistant mesh provides an affordable and trusted home hardening solution to defend your home from the threat of wildfires. The ember-resistant mesh we supply is proven to be 98% effective at stopping dangerous embers, reduces radiant heat by ~38%, and diffuses direct flame.
Note, this is a “while supplies last” program, intended to incentivize and jumpstart proactive behavior in the community. When supplies and/or funding are exhausted, the program will be retired. However, the City and Fire Safe Council will continue to be a resource of information and guidance for the community.
COMMON TYPES OF VENTS
Foundation Vent
Gable Vent
Bird-hole Vent
Dormer Vent
Under Eave/Soffit Vent
Off-ridge Vent
The Mesh comes in rolls of 8″ and 24″ wide and 50 feet long. The standard sizes we offer are as follows:
- Foundation/Soffit Vents: 8″ wide x 16″ long
- Bird-hole/Soffit Vents (covers multiple bird-holes between two rafters): 24″ wide x 4″ long
- Dormer Vents: 24″ wide x 13″ long
- Gable Vent/Off-ridge Vents: 24″ wide x 19″ long
- Certain custom sizes may be available upon request
CUSTOM SIZES AND EXTRA PIECES OF MESH:
The intent of the City of Agoura Hills and the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council is to protect as many homes as possible.
To make this free vent mesh program fair and equitable to all Agoura Hills residents, the amount of free mesh available has been limited to:
FREE MESH LIMITS
8 – Foundation/Soffit Vents: 8″ wide x 16″ long
8 – Bird-hole/Soffit Vents (covers multiple bird-holes between two rafters): 24″ wide x 4″ long
4 – Dormer Vents: 24″ wide x 13″ long
4 – Gable Vent/Off-ridge Vents: 24″ wide x 19″ long
Custom sizes and Extra pieces of mesh are available for an additional cost, which covers our breakeven cost of materials, shipping, and sales tax.
CUSTOM SIZES AND EXTRA PIECES
$6.00 each piece – Foundation/Soffit Vents: 8″ wide x 16″ long
$6.00 per piece – Bird-hole/Soffit Vents (covers multiple bird-holes between two rafters): 24″ wide x 4″ long
$12.00 per piece – Dormer Vents: 24″ wide x 13″ long
$18.00 per piece – Gable Vent/Off-ridge Vents: 24″ wide x 19″ long
$20.00 per custom cut piece: smaller than 24″ wide x 19″ long
$30.00 per custom cut piece: larger than 24″ wide x 19″ long
For additional custom sizes and extra pieces, click the button below to visit our standard donation page, where, using the prices listed above, you can make the minimum donation equal to the cost of the additional mesh pieces.
Your payment will be paired with your order. Payments must be made in full before processing your order.
On the order form, please state your Custom Vent Order in the Custom Vent Field and for Extra Pieces of Mesh, please state you extra requested pieces in the Notes Field.
Orders must be placed at least 72 hours before pickup.
Custom orders must be placed at least 7 days before pickup.
Placing your order does not mean it is ready for pickup.
You will be notified by email when your order is ready for pickup.
Thanks for your understanding.
HOW TO ORDER YOUR VENTS
Please read carefully before ordering
CLICK HERE to contact us if you have questions
ORDERING YOUR VENTS IS EASY
The person installing the mesh is the best person to count and measure your mesh needs.
- Identify your type of vent (See images above)
- Count and measure your vents (See video below)
- Complete the online order form (See Green button below)
- Pick up your vents in the parking lot at Agoura Hills City Hall
8:00 am – 10:00 am, on the 1st Saturday of each month
or
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, on the 3rd Thursday of each month - Installation (See video below)
1. Identify your type of vent (See images above)
There are many different kinds of and sizes of vents. Be sure to correctly identify your type of vent.
2. Count and measure your vents (See video below)
Now that you have identified your vent types, it is time to count and measure them.
The beginning of the video “How to Measure, Cut and Prepare your Wildfire Defense Mesh” will take you through the process of how to properly measure your vents, including adding an additional inch to each side for the fixing of the mesh.
If you are using a handyperson or contractor to install the vents, please also get them to count and measure your vents.
TIP:
Identifying and counting vents can be difficult—especially eave and roof vents.
- Go on Google Maps, find your home and zoom into your roof. This birds eye view will help you identify and count your roof vents.
- Get your handyperson or contractor to count and measure your vents for you. They will be the ones installing them.
3. Order form
Click on the button below to complete the order form.
Orders must be submitted at least 72 hours before pickup.
You will be notified via email when your order is ready for pickup.
Multi-unit residences, please CLICK HERE to contact us directly when ordering.
4. Pick up your vents at the Agoura Hills City Hall
- Identification and proof of residency of Agoura Hills will be required at pickup.
- Only one free mesh order per residence will be permitted during the course of this program.
Mesh is distributed between
8:00 am – 10:00 am, on the 1st Saturday of each month
and
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm, on the 3rd Thursday of each month
at the far end of the Agoura Hills City Hall parking lot
5. Installation (See video below)
- Do-It-Yourself (DIY): We do not recommend doing it yourself unless you have the correct tools and have experience doing similar jobs around the house. Be sure you have watched the measuring and installation videos, and you have a good understanding of the installation.
- Handyperson: Be sure you and your handyperson have watched the measuring and installation videos, and have a good understanding of the installation.
- Contractor: Be sure you and your contract have watched the measuring and installation videos, and have a good understanding of the installation.
CLICK HERE to view a list of Materials and Installers.
SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST!
Restrictions
The Agoura Hills Home Hardening Program is restricted to Agoura Hills residents only!
- Driver’s License with Agoura Hills address will be required for pickup.
- Only residents can pick up the order.
- Only one order may be submitted per residence during the course of this program.
- CLICK HERE to contact us if you have questions
Wildfire-prepared homes and community
Dangerous wind-blown embers can travel up to five miles and work their ways into roof and foundation vents, gutters, decks, windows, doors, and more. One of the best ways to prevent embers from igniting destruction in your community is by building defensible space and hardening your home. Get started with these three simple steps.
Count and measure your vents
First identify your vent types, and then measure them. The beginning of this “How to Measure, Cut and Prepare Video” will take you through the process of how to properly measure your vents, including adding an additional inch to each side for the fixing of the mesh.
Before installing vents, it is important to be aware of Net Free Area (NFA)
Before installing your vent mesh it is important for you, your handyperson, or contractor, to have a good understanding of, and know how to calculate, Net Free Area (NFA).
NFA in vents refers to the total unobstructed area through which air can pass, effectively measuring the open space available for airflow. It’s important for ventilation systems, particularly in attics, to ensure proper air circulation and prevent issues like heat buildup or moisture retention.
Please CLICK HERE to learn more about NFA.