radiant heat

To deem a building worthy of “fire shelter” status, it must resist all of fire’s assaults: Its searing radiant heat that extends far beyond the flames, the falling embers capable of sneaking into any cracks to ignite whatever is inside, and the flames themselves.

The windows feature three panels of quarter-inch glass, which lessen the possibility of breakage in the face of scorching temperatures and protect the interior from radiant heat — one of the primary ways fires can enter a home.

Irvine Co. erected a 6-foot wall around an enclave on the north part of the neighborhood — where a Santa Ana wind-driven fire would most likely hit first — to protect the most vulnerable properties from radiant heat and keep low-flying embers out of the development.

Orchard Hills homes are constructed with two factors in mind: radiant heat and ember intrusion.

Radiant heat is the heat projected by fire; if a home’s exterior is made of flammable materials, the house can heat up to the point of igniting.