As wildfires increase in frequency and intensity across North America, architects, engineers, and builders face growing responsibility to design buildings that can better withstand these extreme events—especially in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zones.

Windows are among the most vulnerable points in the building envelope during a wildfire. Yet with thoughtful design and product selection, they can become a crucial line of defense. This session provides a focused exploration of strategies to enhance window wildfire resistance in fire-prone environments. Attendees will be introduced to key performance considerations for window assemblies, covering fire exposure mechanisms, material behavior, and construction details that affect survival in WUI conditions.

Through case studies, test data, and performance comparisons, attendees will gain practical insight into current wildfire-resistance guidance in both the U.S. and Canada, including California’s State Fire Marshal (SFM) Standard Test Method 12-7A-2 and FireSmart Canada recommendations. The session also provides an overview of material selection, construction detailing, and system integration strategies that can reduce ignition risk and improve building survivability in fire-prone regions.