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Building With Resilience Makes Case for Non-Combustible Building Materials as California Rebuilds from Wildfires.

Building With Resilience emphasizes that non-combustible construction materials—readily available in California today—offer the best solution for achieving climate, clean air, and water goals while strengthening communities against natural disasters.

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Contact: spridmore@calcima.org | cell: (310) 293-028

SACRAMENTO (May 12, 2025) – Californians are faced with a number of choices and challenges as they evaluate rebuilding following recent wildfires, and a campaign launched today provides resources and insights on the best path forward. Building With Resilience shows how non-combustible construction materials not only enhance fire safety but can lower insurance costs and help reach ambitious climate targets—materials produced locally and readily available here in California. 

The campaign makes the case for why incentivizing and investing in fire-resistant, non-combustible building materials is the most cost-effective and sustainable way to rebuild in fire-damaged areas while protecting community safety.

“People have learned for thousands of years that you can never truly fireproof our built environment. And yet we know owners, designers, and builders are still having to make choices each day about non-combustible materials used in construction and infrastructure development. This initiative will help make clear there is an absolute standard for fire resilience,” said Robert Dugan, President and CEO of CalCIMA. “We’ll convene the world’s leading experts with a focus on how we can prioritize the use of concrete, masonry, metal, stone, fiber-cement, and asphalt readily available here in California today and in ways that meet the state’s ambitious environmental and climate goals. This matters not only for housing but for community infrastructure, especially roads and water which are critical during fire events. We know the structural and sustainable arguments for concrete homes and infrastructure are being made. There are companies in-market today delivering–but we need local governments to prioritize codes and ordinances that ensure a smooth path to non-combustible construction. We expect this initiative to help local leaders prioritize where they can act today.”

“California is at a turning point where we can and must build better than before. We can no longer tolerate homes and communities being destroyed by fires by rebuilding in ways that we know aren’t safe. Let’s build our future with safer structures by using materials that don’t burn, rot, or rust. This will minimize damage and speed up recovery for those of us that will inevitably face future fire threats,” said Tom Tietz, Executive Director of the California Nevada Cement Association. 

“We know there are debates, trade-offs, and intense conversations happening on these topics—especially among lawmakers, insurance experts, and building code officials —but we simply must prioritize the ways communities can withstand changing climate patterns and natural disasters,” said Shamim Rashid-Sumar, Senior Vice President, Codes and Standards and fire building codes expert with NRMCA. “We believe showing why building with non-combustible materials is the best overall path forward given all the natural disasters and emergencies we must prepare for is an issue worth championing.”

The Building With Resilience effort will engage lawmakers, communities, and citizens to increase awareness and education, and consolidate resources for experts seeking information on the highest levels of structural durability, strategies for slowing wildfire spread, and increasing building sustainably. The initiative’s mission also includes fostering cross-sector collaboration that advances safer, more sustainable practices for building and rebuilding homes, commercial structures, and infrastructure. 

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About NRMCA - Founded in 1930, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) is the leading industry advocate with a mission to provide exceptional value for our members by responsibly representing and serving the entire ready mixed concrete industry through leadership, promotion, education and partnering to ensure ready mixed concrete is the building material of choice. Build With Strength is an initiative of NRMCA that seeks to educate the building and design communities and policymakers on the benefits of ready mixed concrete.

About CalCIMA - CalCIMA is a trade association for the construction and essential mineral industries in California, including aggregate, essential and rare earth minerals, ready mixed concrete, and asphalt producers. In all, there are about 70 producer member companies that include 500 production sites in every county of California. Our members also include more than 100 suppliers and service providers to the industry. 

About CNCA - CNCA is the not-for-profit organization committed to developing sustainable and economical construction solutions for California and Nevada with an emphasis on the use of cement and concrete. CNCA provides expert technical leadership, design assistance, and educational opportunities designed to responsibly transform our built environment and improve the lives of people throughout the region. The member companies of the CNCA are cement producers and shippers. For more information, please visit cncement.org.