Vaaro® Fire: Fire-Compliant Timber Without Compromise
As building codes evolve and wildfire resilience becomes an increasingly important design consideration, architects, builders, and specifiers are seeking materials that combine exceptional aesthetics with proven fire performance. Traditionally, this has meant choosing between the warmth of natural timber and the stringent fire compliance requirements demanded by modern construction.
Vaaro® Fire by Abodo changes that.
Available through Texel Wood, Vaaro Fire is an innovative, ultra-durable timber specifically engineered for projects where both architectural beauty and fire performance are essential. As the world’s first complete coated, tested fire-compliant timber system from a single manufacturer, Vaaro Fire establishes a new benchmark for exterior cladding and architectural timber products.
Engineered for Modern Fire Safety Requirements
Unlike conventional fire-retardant-treated lumber, Vaaro Fire integrates fire protection directly into the timber’s cellular structure.
The manufacturing process begins with FSC®-certified New Zealand Radiata Pine that undergoes Abodo’s proprietary thermal modification process. The timber is then pressure impregnated with a specially developed resin-based fire-retardant system before being cured at high temperatures, permanently locking the treatment into the wood.
This “triple modification” process delivers:
- Long-term fire performance
- Exceptional leach resistance
- Enhanced dimensional stability
- Increased durability
- Consistent performance throughout the timber—not simply on the surface
Because the fire-retardant technology becomes part of the wood itself, Vaaro Fire maintains its performance even after accelerated weathering tests that simulate years of exterior exposure.
Internationally Tested Fire Performance
Vaaro Fire has undergone extensive independent testing across multiple international fire standards for both coated and uncoated assemblies.
Depending on the region and application, Vaaro Fire has achieved classifications including:
| Region | Fire Compliance Standards |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | AS/NZS 3837 Type A, ISO 9705 Group 1-S |
| Australia | AS 3959 BAL-29, AS 5637.1 Group 1 |
| Europe / UK | EN 13501-1 (up to B-s1,d0), EN 16755 |
| United States | ASTM E84 Class A |
These certifications make Vaaro Fire suitable for many multi-family, commercial, institutional, and high-performance residential projects where strict fire regulations apply. Final code compliance should always be confirmed by the project design team and local authority having jurisdiction.
Built for Long-Term Exterior Performance
Fire resistance is only one part of the equation.
Vaaro Fire also delivers the durability expected from premium architectural timber products.
Technical Highlights
- Durability Class: Class 1
- Average Density: 696 kg/m³
- Equilibrium Moisture Content: 7.5%
- 40-Year Durability Warranty (subject to manufacturer warranty conditions)
- Excellent dimensional stability
- Low swelling characteristics
- Increased hardness compared to untreated Radiata Pine
- Extremely low VOC emissions
- Formaldehyde Super E0/F★★★★ rating
These characteristics help minimize movement, reduce maintenance concerns, and extend service life in demanding climates.
A Complete Tested System
One of the most significant advantages of Vaaro Fire is that it is supplied as a complete tested system.
Rather than relying on separate manufacturers for timber, coatings, and fire treatments, every component has been engineered and tested together by Abodo.
The system includes:
- Factory-applied Protector™ coating options
- Multiple architectural colour selections
- Bandsawn and brushed finishes
- Architectural cladding profiles
- Matching specification documentation
- Tested installation assemblies
This integrated approach provides greater confidence during specification while simplifying the approval process for architects and building professionals.
Sustainable by Design
Performance does not come at the expense of sustainability.
Vaaro Fire is manufactured using rapidly renewable, FSC®-certified New Zealand plantation Radiata Pine rather than slow-growing old-growth hardwoods.
The product is designed to:
- Support responsible forestry practices
- Store carbon within the timber
- Provide a renewable alternative to traditional high-fire-risk cladding materials
- Contribute toward lower embodied carbon construction
An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is currently in development, with preliminary assessments indicating continued carbon storage after manufacturing.
Ideal Applications
Vaaro Fire is particularly well suited for projects where fire compliance and premium architectural appearance must work together.
Typical applications include:
- Multi-family residential developments
- Commercial buildings
- Educational facilities
- Hospitality projects
- Mixed-use developments
- Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) projects
- Luxury residential homes
- Public buildings
Its natural timber appearance allows designers to meet increasingly stringent fire regulations without sacrificing warmth or biophilic design principles.
Available Through Texel Wood
