KB Home Unveils First Fire-Resilient Community in California

Fire-Resilient Community Development

• 🏠 KB Home has developed the first-of-its-kind fire-resilient community in Escondido, California, featuring 64 single-family homes.
• 🛡️ These homes are designed to meet wildfire resilience standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), protecting against flying embers, flames, and radiant heat.

Architectural and Material Innovations

• 🧱 Architectural changes were implemented on the fly, incorporating more stucco, fire-resistant shutters and doors, and tempered windows.
• 🛠️ Key features include covered gutters, enclosed eaves, non-combustible siding, tempered glass windows, non-combustible patios and doors, and a 6-inch vertical clearance on concrete foundations.
• 🌱 Defensible space is created with vegetation at least 5 feet from the homes and metal fencing throughout.

Community and Insurability

• 📍 This development serves as a testbed to demonstrate fire-resilient building practices, with KB Home having other projects in the area.
• 📈 It is anticipated that other builders will adopt similar standards, driven by the goal of making homes more insurable.
• 💰 The homes are priced in the $1 million-plus range, considered a move-up price point for the area, with KB Home not disclosing the exact extra costs associated with these resilience features.