When constructing a home in an at-risk area for wildfires, 87 percent of consumers would consider installing a steel or metal roof, a new survey finds.

The results indicate that steel building, with its fire-retardant qualities, is becoming the new material of choice for residential roofing, particularly in the wildfire-prone Western states.

Asked whether they would favor a mandate to change local building codes to require that roofs in fire prone areas be constructed of fire-retardant materials like steel buildings, two of three said they support such a requirement.

The survey, conducted by the global research firm Harris Interactive and sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), is part of a summer safety campaign being conducted by AISI. The campaign is focused on educating consumers about the safety benefits of steel building and to provide safety tips for consumers related to fire safety.

"Installing a steel roof is one of the most effective steps to reduce the chance of a home being destroyed by a fire," said Steel Recycling Institute President Bill Heenan. "Not only is steel roofing fire-retardant, but steel roofs can last for over 50 years, over 2-1/2 times a traditional asphalt shingle roof. Installing a steel roof will provide you and your family security for decades to come."

There was more, informative praise about the advantages of metal building.

"From a firefighter perspective, steel roofing gives you the advantage when, if for example, you are fighting a rapidly approaching fire, the steel roof allows you to focus on the more vulnerable parts of the house or a structure, such as the sides, because you know the metal roof isn't going to be prone to the fire," said Kim Raddatz, fire chief for the city of Coronado, CA.

Kim, who has more than 27 years of experience in firefighting, installed a general steel building roof on his own home a few years ago.