Technical Specifications & Installation Resources
Soffit and Eave Vents
Get everything you need to install, specify, or approve the Ember-Resistant Soffit Vent. Below you’ll find data tables, downloadable spec sheets by size, Instant CAD/Revit Files, installation videos, compliance certifications, and clarification on common misconceptions.
Technical Specifications by Size
Compare vent models by size, airflow, material, and compliance ratings to find the right fit for your project.
| Size (W x L) | Model # | Flange | NFVA (Airflow) | Spec Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 x 22” | UE2011-FF | Flange Front / Retrofit | 22 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet |
| UE2011-PG | Stucco/Plaster/ J Channel | 22 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2011-H | Hardie/Fiber Cement | 22 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2011-EF | Ears Front | 22 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2011-EB | Ears Back | 22 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| 3.5 x 14” | UE2021-FF | Flange Front / Retrofit | 14 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet |
| UE2021-PG | Stucco/Plaster/J Channel | 14 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2021-H | Hardie/Fiber Cement | 14 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2021-EF | Ears Front | 14 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2021-EB | Ears Back | 14 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| 5 x 14” | UE2031-FF | Flange Front / Retrofit | 24 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet |
| UE2031-PG | Stucco/Plaster/J Channel | 24 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2031-H | Hardie/Fiber Cement | 24 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2031-EF | Ears Front | 24 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2031-EB | Ears Back | 24 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| 5.5 x 22” | UE2051-FF | Flange Front / Retrofit | 36 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet |
| UE2051-PG | Stucco/Plaster/J Channel | 36 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2051-H | Hardie/Fiber Cement | 36 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2051-EF | Ears Front | 36 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet | |
| UE2051-EB | Ears Back | 36 sq inch | Download Spec Sheet |
CAD and Revit Drawings
Looking to specify BrandGuard Vents into your next project? Access all of our Revit BIM and CAD file downloads instantly! Please complete the form below to access materials.
Certifications
Soffit Vent CAL Fire Certification
Soffit Vent ASTM E2886 Certification
Installation Guides
It’s easy to install BrandGuard Vents.
Whether you are retrofitting a pre-existing home or specifying into a new construction build, BrandGuard’s Ember-Resistant Vents are designed to fit a wide range of applications with ease.
Soffit Vent Installation: New Construction
Interested in hardening your future home with BrandGuard’s Wildfire Defense Vents? For new construction builds, our Ember-Resistant Vents are specified just like any standard vent – but meets WUI requirements.
Retrofitting Existing Soffit Vents with BrandGuard
You simply insert one of our retrofit standard fire- and ember-resistant soffit vents into the opening where the old vent used to be. The vents are held in place with product-appropriate screw fasteners and exterior-approved clear caulking with a minimum 20-year warranty.
Step 1: Measure and choose the correct vent
- Locate the existing soffit vents you want to replace.
- Remove any paint or caulk if needed so you can see the edges.
- Measure the actual opening in the soffit or eave (width x length), not just the outside of the old vent.
- Select and order a BrandGuard Soffit or Eave vent with the same opening size and a retrofit flange (often “FF”). Custom sizes are available upon request.
Step 2: Remove the old vent and prep the opening
- Cut out the louvers and mesh of the existing vent using appropriate tools such as tin snips or a sawzaw. Do not cut the siding materials around the vent to remove it.
- Carefully pull the old vent out of the opening.
- Scrape away loose paint, debris, and old caulk around the perimeter so the new vent can sit flat.
- If needed, square up or slightly enlarge the opening with a multi-tool or saw so it matches the BrandGuard Vent’s opening size.
Step 3: Prep and Paint the new vent
- Wipe the new vent face with a vinegar-dampened cloth to clean and etch the metal.
- Apply a metal primer to the exposed face and screw heads.
- Finish with an exterior-grade Spray paint that matches (or accents) your soffit.
- Let everything dry completely before installation.
Step 4: Dry-fit the BrandGuard vent
- Slide the new soffit vent into the opening to make sure it fits.
- Confirm that:
- The vent sits flush to the soffit surface.
- The baffles face outward and the mesh side faces into the attic/soffit cavity
- Make any minor adjustments to the opening if needed.
Step 5: Caulk and fasten the vent
- Run a continuous bead of exterior-rated clear/paintable sealant on the back side of the vent flange
- Press the vent into the opening so the flange beds into the sealant.
- Use corrosion-resistant screws (Galvanized or Stainless, per local code)
- Pre-Drill pilot holes through the vent’s nail flange into the soffit material or framing.
- Drive screws at all four corners, and along the length for vents longer than 22”, to keep the vent tight and flat.
Step 6: Seal, touch up and inspect
- Apply a final bead of sealant around the outer edge of the flange where it meets the soffit and tool it smooth with a finger or caulk tool.
- Touch up any paint if needed.
- Ensure the vent is secure, flat and fully sealed – no obvious gaps.
- Repeat for each soffit/eave vent you are retrofitting.
Common Misconceptions
BrandGuard Fire-Resistant vents help stop wildfires from entering your home. They make your home safer in a wildfire by protecting it from flames, embers and radiant heat. Understanding the differences between soffits and eaves is essential to ensuring your roofline’s look, function, and feel to match your specific needs and preferences.
Eaves and soffits overlap, so many homeowners are unsure whether they need one or both types of vents. Despite their proximity to one another they have quite different forms and functions.
Soffits
A soffit is the finished underside of a roof’s overhang, enclosed with materials like wood, vinyl, fiber cement or metal to create a clean, protected surface. It hides the structural elements of the eave while allowing controlled ventilation through vents or perforations.
Eaves
In contrast, Open Eaves leave the rafters exposed without an enclosed underside. This difference matters for both aesthetics and building performance. Soffited eaves provide a polished look and help manage attic airflow, while open eaves offer a more traditional, exposed appearance but require careful attention to ventilation and wildfire protection.
More information
Frequently Asked Questions
The essential questions, answered.
How do Brandguard Vents™ work?
Home hardening is a critical factor to improve the survivability of structures during wildfires. All homes have vulnerable “point of entry” that must be sealed to avoid hot embers and fire from entering the structure. Home ventilation is essential from an energy saving point of view, however in case of a fire nearby, there is a risk of hot embers finding their way into your attic, basement, garage, etc. BrandGuard has patented a unique system to keep embers from entering your house. Our design consists of multiple line of defense:
- A baffle design which allows air to move freely, but traps embers
- BrandGuard propriety intumescent material, which expand only if high heat and extreme flames are reaching the vents
- Non combustible, metal vents which resist heat and flames
How are Brandguard Vents™ different than standard vents?
BrandGuard Vents resists the intrusion of flame and embers into your attic through the building’s vents, thus protecting your home from dangerous flying embers created by wildfires.
Standard Vents do not offer any protection against flying embers and fire.
Why are baffles better for protection?
Baffles have long been used in commercial kitchens as a way to prevent stovetop fires. We have redesigned them to help keep flames, dangerous burning embers, and radiant heat out of your home during a wildfire. Baffles provide immediate protection during a wildfire from the very first second of exposure.
Another reason baffles are better is because they provide protection from driving rain, snow, and rodents. Our vents have passed stringent driving rain tests in Hurricane labs in Florida keep heavy driving rain out at even 140mph! Rodents are unable to chew or squeeze through our vents like they do with regular mesh vents, making them an excellent option for pest control!
What is an intumescent material?
BrandGuard Vents are equipped with a propriety material (intumescent) which expands in case of fire. The thermally activated strip expands up to 30 times its original thickness, sealing off the vent completely. This is an extreme measure to make sure that fire doesn’t penetrate the home.
Are custom vents/products available?
Yes, BrandGuard Vents will work with you and your needs to create a custom fire prevention vent for your project.
How are the vents installed?
BrandGuard Vents are installed like any traditional vent with the same footprint. Our line of retrofit fire Vents can be easily inserted over existing vents without any damage to the structure. They are held in place by applying appropriate screw fasteners. They can also be installed from inside the attic. Please see our installation instructions.
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