PHOS-CHEK WILDFIRE HOME DEFENSE FAQs
A long-term fire retardant called PHOS-CHEK long-term fire retardant will be applied to vegetation and wooden structures (fences, sheds, etc.) around the residence and property to protect it from wildfire.
The product has gone through strict testing protocols administrated by the US Forest Service and it meets all performance, mammalian & fish toxicity and environmental safety requirements.
The product contains common agricultural fertilizer ingredients; as such, it may cause some fertilizer burn to plants with tender foliage. Simply rinse the product off those plants with water.
It is uncolored but treated vegetation and wood will show a fine white residue which is the actual fire retardant.
The application crew will have a copy of the Safety Data Sheet and a copy is also made available on our website. Please allow 2-4 hours after application of the product 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.
The product will be professionally applied to primarily the cellulose fuel 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.
The product does not have a smell during or after application.
PHOS-CHEK fire retardant is effective immediately after application and will continue to remain effective until a significant rain event. The product will continue to protect your home until the late fall and winter seasonal rains return. We recommend application of long-term retardants annually at the start of summer each year.
Neither. Long-term fire retardants are a completely different product than gels and foams. Retardants provide protection for days, weeks, or even months if applied and used properly. Firefighting gel and foam products rely on the water they hold to be effective. For these products, as soon as their contained water evaporates they are ineffective, which can be in as little as 30 minutes depending on windspeed, humidity, and temperature.
Your Authorized Service Provider will apply the long-term fire retardant product depending on the type, quantity, and size of fuels on your property. Applications can be as little as 10 gallons for properties with good defensible space; larger properties with more fuels will require larger volumes.
We recommend you complete your “defensible space” prior to the application to ensure an optimum level of protection for your residence. Your Service Provider can also assist you with creation of your defensible space.
Long-term fire retardants 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.
You can go to https://staging.perimeter-solutions.com/prevention-protection/ and read more about all of the products that Perimeter Solutions provides, including the PHOS-CHEK fire retardant products that we will be using.
No, you should always follow all local and state evacuation orders in the event of a fire.
Sprinklers and hand watering will reduce the effectiveness of the long-term fire retardant prematurely. Caution should be exercised to not directly spray the foliage of treated vegetation; instead, watering only around the base of plants and soaker hoses will ensure true long-term protection from fire.
Need help applying PHOS-CHEK to your property? Contact a service provider for more information on having your home professionally treated.