FAQ
PHOS-CHEK® FAQ
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A long-term fire retardant called PHOS-CHEK® will be applied to vegetation around the property to protect it from wildfire. For nearly 60 years, PHOS-CHEK® products have been applied from the air by the world’s largest fire management agencies. Their ground-applied products have shown the same superior performance, allowing precise, cost-effective placement and the ability to apply retardant in advance of fire. PHOS-CHEK® long-term retardants can help prevent the start of wildfires by treating wildland fuels in place and helping to render them non-flammable.
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PHOS-CHEK® has been approved by the US Forest Service and is on the Long-Term Fuel Retardant Qualified Products List published by the US Forest Service. It has also gone through strict testing protocols administered by the US Forest Service, and it meets all performance, mammalian & fish toxicity, and environmental safety requirements.
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Please allow 2-4 hours after application of PHOS-CHEK® to dry before walking on the treated vegetation. If you get some of the wet product on you accidentally, please rinse off with water immediately.
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PHOS-CHEK® does not have a smell during or after the application.
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PHOS-CHEK® is effective immediately after application and will continue to remain effective until receiving excessive rainfall.
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The amount of PHOS-CHEK® needed will vary based on the size of the property and amount of vegetation present. Applications can be as little as 10 gallons for properties with good defensible space; larger properties with more fuels will require larger volumes.
Please watch the video on our Services page to see how much of the product is used to properly cover an area.
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PHOS-CHEK® will be professionally applied primarily to the vegetation around your home. This includes grass, leaves, needles, brush, wood, bushes, and trees. The recommended application of the retardant is on vegetation (fuels) around homes and outbuildings to create a firebreak in the fuels leading up to each structure. The retardant should be used in conjunction with standard vegetation management practices and defensible space recommendations (NFPA Firewise USA Principles) as communicated by your local fire department. Other vegetative fuel sources closer to the home may also be sprayed with retardant to prevent ignition by wind-driven embers.
Please watch the video on our Services page to see what the application process looks like.
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We recommend creating a “defensible space” prior to the application of PHOS-CHEK® to ensure an optimum level of protection to your residence.
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PHOS-CHEK® can only be applied to homes with exposed, unpainted wood surfaces. They are regularly applied to wood fences, decks, sheds, and barns, but some staining and discoloration of the wood surfaces is to be expected.
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PHOS-CHEK® contains common agricultural fertilizer ingredients and may cause some fertilizer burn to plants with tender foliage. Simply rinse the product off those plants with water.
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PHOS-CHEK® is uncolored but treated vegetation and wood will show a fine white residue which is the actual fire retardant.
Please watch the video on our Services page to see what the product looks like.
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No, you should always follow all local and state evacuation orders in the event of a fire.
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Sprinklers and hand watering will reduce the effectiveness of the PHOS-CHEK® prematurely. Caution should be exercised to not directly spray the foliage-treated vegetation; instead, watering only around the base of plants and soaker hoses will ensure true long-term protection from fire.
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You can find out more here and read about the products, like PHOS-CHEK®, that Perimeter Solutions makes.
BrandGuard Vents™ FAQ
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Home hardening is a critical factor to improve the survivability of structures during wildfires. All homes have vulnerable “point of entry” that must be sealed to avoid hot embers and fire from entering the structure. Home ventilation is essential from an energy saving point of view, however in case of a fire nearby, there is a risk of hot embers finding their way into your attic, basement, garage, etc. BrandGuard has patented a unique system to keep embers from entering your house. The design consists of multiple line of defense:
A baffle design which allows air to move freely, but traps embers
BrandGuard propriety intumescent material, which expand only if high heat and extreme flames are reaching the vents
Non combustible, metal vents which resist heat and flames
These three combined technologies, help protecting your home, in case of a wildfire, increasing the survivability ratio of the structures.
For more details visit the official website of BrandGuard Vents™.
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BrandGuard Vents™ resists the intrusion of flame and embers into your attic through the building’s vents, thus protecting your home from dangerous flying embers created by wildfires.
Standard Vents do not offer any protection against flying embers and fire.
For more details visit the official website of BrandGuard Vents™.
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Baffles have long been used in commercial kitchens as a way to prevent stovetop fires. BrandGuard has redesigned them to help keep flames, dangerous burning embers, and radiant heat out of your home during a wildfire. Baffles provide immediate protection during a wildfire from the very first second of exposure.
Another reason baffles are better is because they provide protection from driving rain, snow, and rodents. These vents have passed stringent driving rain tests in Hurricane labs in Florida keep heavy driving rain out at even 140mph! Rodents are unable to chew or squeeze through our vents like they do with regular mesh vents, making them an excellent option for pest control!
For more details visit the official website of BrandGuard Vents™.
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BrandGuard Vents™ are equipped with a propriety material which expands in case of fire. The thermally activated strip, expands up to 30 times its original thickness, sealing off the vent completely. This is an extreme measure, to make sure that fire doesn’t penetrate the attic.
For more details visit the official website of BrandGuard Vents™.
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BrandGuard Vents™ resist the intrusion of flame and embers into your attic through the building’s vents, thus protecting your home from dangerous flying embers created by wildfires.
Provides comparable airflow and WON’T CLOG- BrandGuard Vents™ protect your building while providing almost the same airflow compared to standard vents. The unique patented vents maintain the same airflow over time, because the vents do not clog and they are easy to clean if needed.
ASTM E2886/2912: Only vent with a FULL STATE LISTING: BrandGuard Vents™ currently have the only fire vent with a full listing with the State of California’s BML Program having passed all aspects of ASTM E2668/2912 for Flames, Embers and Radiant Heat in both the Vertical and Horizontal positions. All of the vents have been approved and used on the local level since 2007. They have been proven in actual wildfires and have helped save many homes in recent California Wildfires.
20 Year Warranty: BrandGuard Vents™ offer a 20 year limited warranty. Their products are made of long lasting 26ga G90 Galv Steel. A material that has been used in the industry for over 60 years.
Protects from Rain, Snow, and Rodents: These vents have passed stringent driving rain tests in Hurricane labs in Florida keep heavy driving rain out at even 140mph! Rodents are unable to chew or squeeze through our vents like they do with regular mesh vents, making them an excellent option for pest control!
For more details visit the official website of BrandGuard Vents™.
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Yes, WPC and BrandGuard Vents™ are happy to work with you to create a custom fire prevention vent for your project.
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BrandGuard Vents™ are made standard with 26 gauge G90 galvanized steel. We can customize as well with copper, stainless steel, bonderized or aluminum zinc.
For more details visit the official website of BrandGuard Vents™.
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BrandGuard Vents™ can be painted to match the color of the house.
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