A baffle vent replaces your old vent with one built to make embers take a winding path. Most of them lose energy and drop out before they reach the attic.
Protection is RF1's read of published tests, not a lab rating. Prices are rough ranges based on a 2024 California study, not RF1 quotes.
How it works
Inside the vent, overlapping metal baffles block a straight line through. Air can bend around them. Embers, which are heavier, mostly can't.
A fine stainless mesh behind the baffles catches what's left. Some models add a strip that swells shut in high heat.
In 2025, NIST tested vents at very high heat. Baffle designs held up better than honeycomb designs, though no vent was perfect once the eave itself caught fire.
Who makes it
Ember and flame-resistant baffle vents for soffits, eaves, gables, foundations, dormers, balconies and roofs.
They say: Tested to ASTM E2886 and E2912, with 1/8 or 1/16-inch stainless mesh, per BrandGuard.
Prices: Retail on BrandGuard's store (Oct 2026): eave $11 to $15, soffit $56 to $93, foundation $64 to $78, gable $94 to $399
Descriptions are each maker's claims, not RF1 test results. Before buying, confirm the exact model on the State Fire Marshal's Building Materials Listing (vents are category 8165).
What it costs
Rough installed costs, based on the 2024 Headwaters Economics study. Retail prices on BrandGuard's store are listed below.
These are rough ranges, not RF1 quotes. Most RF1 jobs land between $500 and $5,000, and your plan prices every vent before anything is booked.
Want to know which of your vents should be baffle vents?
Compare your mesh to real-size samples, or have Mark check every vent in person, free.
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