4C SAFE™
4C SAFE is a steel-framed system built entirely with Class A and ignition-resistant materials, engineered for resilience against fire, moisture, mold, pests, and severe weather. Its WUI-compliant exterior walls are available in 1-hour and 2-hour fire-rated assemblies.
Built for places where resilience matters most.
4C SAFE is our steel-framed system for projects where resilience matters most. Built entirely from non-organic, Class A, ignition-resistant materials, it resists fire, moisture, mold, pests, and severe weather. With WUI-compliant, fire-rated exterior walls, SAFE supports Types I-V through traditional design, permitting, and inspections.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Frame material | Steel |
| Material resilience | Ignition-resistant, class A, inorganic materials |
| Fire rating | Available 1-HR & 2-HR fire-rated WUI-compliant exterior wall assemblies |
| Construction types supported | All types (I – V) |
| Recommended for | Wildfire-prone and high-risk areas, fire rebuilds |
| Cost profile | Traditional cost. Greater performance. |
Code listed · Patent pending
When resilience is non-negotiable.
Resilience beyond fire
Ignition-resistant, inorganic materials help resist moisture, mold, rot and pests, with available fire-rated exterior wall assemblies.
Applies to every construction type
Steel framing makes SAFE suitable across all construction types, from single-family homes to larger multifamily and commercial projects.
More performance, not more cost
Comparable cost to traditional construction, with greater resilience and performance.
What goes into a 4C SAFE™ wall panel.
Every 4C SAFE™ panel is built in our Hayward factory as a complete wall assembly: structure, insulation, sheathing and weather barrier, ready for cladding and interior finish on site.
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Framing | 6″ cold-formed galvanized steel studs (18 gauge), factory assembled |
| Cavity insulation | Mineral wool, up to R-24 |
| Exterior sheathing | Continuous structural insulated sheathing with mineral-faced skins, approx. R-10 continuous insulation |
| Air & water barrier | Integrated in the factory, with a 10-year limited warranty |
| Thermal performance | Assembly U-factor approx. 0.047 |
| Panel size | Up to 12 ft tall, built on a 4 ft module |
| On-site dry-in | Typically 2–3 days |
Third-party tested to national standards.
4C SAFE™ wall assemblies have been tested by independent laboratories for fire, wind, racking and cladding attachment. The values below are tested results; design values for each project are set by the engineer of record.
| Test & Standard | Result |
|---|---|
| Fire resistance ASTM E119 / UL 263 | 1-HR and 2-HR load-bearing ratings, applying from either side of the wall (rated assembly is completed on site with the listed interior finish) |
| Exterior wall fire propagation NFPA 285 | Compliant with a broad range of claddings, including stucco, brick, stone, terracotta, fiber cement, metal and metal composite panels, and EIFS |
| Wildland-urban interface | WUI-compliant exterior wall assemblies for wildfire-prone sites |
| Wind load ASTM E330 | Over 140 psf ultimate pressure; deflection limits met at 95 psf (L/240) and 75 psf (L/360) |
| Racking shear ASTM E72 | Over 230 plf nominal racking strength |
| Cladding attachment ASTM D1761 | Cladding fasteners anchor directly into the sheathing, with over 280 lbf withdrawal and 450 lbf lateral capacity per fastener |
4C SAFE™ is listed by ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), with factory inspections and ongoing quality surveillance under the ICC-ES program. Listing and test documentation are available to project architects, engineers and building officials on request. Request technical documentation.
Built for California's fire-affected communities.
4C SAFE™ is the system behind our fire rebuild programs in Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, and was installed on our Borrego Springs and Escondido projects. Every 4C SAFE™ build is delivered through our network of partner architects, GCs, and developers.
View Project Portfolio4C SAFE™ technical questions
What fire ratings does the 4C SAFE™ wall carry?
4C SAFE™ exterior walls are tested to ASTM E119 / UL 263 as load-bearing assemblies, with 1-hour and 2-hour ratings. The rating applies from either side of the wall, so the same panel works where fire exposure is from the interior or the exterior. The assemblies are also NFPA 285 compliant for exterior walls that require it.
Which exterior claddings can be used with 4C SAFE™?
The NFPA 285-compliant assembly accepts a broad range of claddings, including stucco, brick and thin brick, natural and cast stone, limestone, terracotta, fiber cement, metal and metal composite panels, and EIFS. Cladding fasteners anchor directly into the exterior sheathing, which simplifies cladding layout.
Can 4C SAFE™ be used outside of single-family homes?
Yes. Because the system is steel-framed and built from ignition-resistant, inorganic materials, it can be used across construction Types I through V, from single-family homes and ADUs to multifamily and commercial projects. Project-specific requirements are confirmed by the design team and the engineer of record.
How do building officials verify the 4C SAFE™ system?
4C SAFE™ is listed by ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), and our factory is subject to ICC-ES inspections and quality surveillance. We provide the listing, test documentation and standard details to the project architect, engineer and building department during plan check.
What is the thermal performance of a 4C SAFE™ wall?
The standard wall combines mineral wool cavity insulation (up to R-24) with roughly R-10 of continuous exterior insulation, for an assembly U-factor of about 0.047. Energy compliance is confirmed for each project.
Is the 4C SAFE™ wall covered by a warranty?
Yes. The factory-integrated air and water barrier carries a 10-year limited warranty.
Specifying for a high-risk site?
Talk to our team about 4C SAFE™ for your next fire-rebuild or high-risk project.