Record dry conditions in 2008 sparked wildfires across many parts of the country, damaging and destroying thousands of homes and businesses in their path. To help combat the threat of fire damage, builders and property owners are switching to fire-resistant prepainted metal roofing systems. Coating suppliers and coil coaters have responded to this trend, working with metal roof manufacturers to add new designs, textures and colors.

Nearly all of today’s metal roofing systems are prepainted prior to being cut and formed into tile, shingle, slate, and vertical style panels. Prepainted metal is the best choice for metal roofing manufacturers because it provides lubricity that cannot be achieved with unfinished metal as it goes through the dies and presses.

Class A, B and C fire-resistant metal roofing offers dual protection for property owners. First, metal roofs provide unmatched protection from wind-blown burning embers produced by unpredictable wildfires and nearby structure fires. Second, in the event of an internal structure fire, traditional roof systems can suffer premature collapse. Metal roofs help maintain structural integrity, meaning occupants have a higher chance of escaping safely. Following a wildfire near Oakland, California, one home -- topped with a fire resistant prepainted metal roofing system -- remained largely unharmed amidst dozens of completely burned out structures.

In addition to fire and weather-resistant capabilities, prepainted metal roofing systems provide unmatched longevity and are sustainable, made from recycled materials and 100 percent recyclable at the end of their life cycle. Additionally, “cool metal roofs” prepainted with heat-reflecting pigments can be specified to help buildings stay cooler, reduce energy costs, and improve the environment. Some property insurers even offer substantial policy savings of up to 30 percent for structures topped with prepainted metal roof systems, and a growing list of states and municipalities offer incentives and rebates for using cool metal roofing materials in both commercial and residential construction.