Phifer EmberScreen
Tuscaloosa, ALAluminum vent mesh sold in rolls for DIY and contractors.
They say: Woven to block more embers than standard vent mesh; tested to ASTM E2886, per Phifer.
Retrofit screen for existing vents
Metal mesh retrofit
The simplest upgrade: swap old or oversized screen for noncombustible metal mesh with openings 1/8 inch or smaller. Your existing vent stays; the mesh does the ember work.
EaveGableFoundationCrawlspace
- Price
- $$$
- Lowest cost, usually added during a vent job
- Ember protection
- Meets the 1/8-inch threshold, but small embers still pass
- Used on
- Eave, Gable, Foundation, Crawlspace
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
What happens when embers hit it.
- 01
Embers don't go out when they hit a screen. They keep burning until they're small enough to slip through, so the size of the openings decides how many get in.
- 02
1/8-inch metal mesh is the threshold IBHS uses for its Wildfire Prepared Home prescriptive option, and the size California's AB 38 disclosure uses for home sales.
- 03
Finer 1/16-inch mesh stops smaller embers but clogs, gets painted over more easily, and cuts more airflow.
Why people choose it
- Lowest cost and fastest to install
- Keeps your existing vent covers and look
- Meets the IBHS and AB 38 1/8-inch threshold
What to watch for
- Still lets the smallest embers through
- Cuts airflow: open area drops from about 81% (1/4 inch) to 75% (1/8) and 71% (1/16)
- Not enough for new wall, eave, gable or foundation vents under the 2026 code, which expects listed vents
- Never use plastic or fiberglass screen, it melts
From RF1 jobs
Real RF1 job photos. Locations withheld for our clients' privacy.
Who makes it
The makers, in their own words.
BrandGuard ember-resistant mesh
Lake Forest, CA1/8-inch and 1/16-inch ember mesh, alongside BrandGuard's baffle vents.
They say: Built for ember and flame resistance, per BrandGuard.
Prices: $66 to $365 per roll on BrandGuard's store (Oct 2026)
Retrofit screen for existing vents
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
- BrandGuard ember mesh, per roll (retail)
- $66 to $365
Mesh is usually part of a larger vent job. Installed cost depends on how many vents you have and how hard they are to reach.
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.
Not sure if mesh is enough for your vents, or if they need replacing?
Compare your mesh to real-size samples, or have Mark check every vent in person, free.
Other ember-resistant vent types
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