SAN JOSE, Calif. — A newly-launched accessory dwelling unit project in San Jose is underscoring a broader shift in how builders and policymakers are approaching fire safety in California, as rising housing density and changing environmental conditions increase risks well beyond traditional wildfire zones.
Builtech Construction recently broke ground on an 850-square-foot ADU using insulated concrete form construction, marking one of the first projects in the region built to Type IA fire-resistance standards, the highest classification under state and international building codes. The project reflects a growing emphasis on noncombustible construction as fire threats evolve across the state.
Aaron Liu, a general contractor and Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, said his company has been moving in this direction for several years, expanding beyond traditional wood construction into fire-resistant building systems. “From 2020, I lead my team not only to focus on the wood construction, we also do the non-combustible fire resistant houses,” Liu said…