Board Up Procedures

April 2018
Mission Statement

We provide national leadership to foster a solid foundation for 

our fi re and emergency services stakeholders in prevention, 

preparedness and response.
Board Up Procedures 1

Board Up Procedures

Materials list and specifications

Security measures

1. All openings in the basement; all first floor doors and 

windows; and all points of entry accessible from a porch, fire 

escape or other potential climbing point must be barricaded 

with plywood, 2-by-4 braces, carriage bolt sets, and nails. 

Particle board, waferboard, Masonite, or other similar 

materials should not be used for purposes of boarding up 

a building.

2. Openings that are at least 10 feet above ground level and 

are not accessible from a porch, fire escape, roof or other 

climbing point can be secured with nails in each brace and 

every 12 inches around the perimeter. For all openings, the 

plywood should be fitted so that it rests snugly against the 

exterior frame, butting up to the siding on wood-frame 

buildings and up to the brick molding edge on brick buildings. 

It may be necessary to remove the staff bead so the fit is 

flush and tight.

3. The structure must be posted with a “No Trespassing” sign 

at the completion of the board up.

Materials

1. 1/2-inch (4 ply) CDX plywood, exterior grade.

2. Braces — 2-by-4 by 8 feet of construction-grade lumber.

3. 3/8-inch (coarse thread) by 12-inch long carriage bolts 

(rounded head on weather side).

4. 3/8-inch (coarse thread) construction-grade nuts.

5. 1/2-inch (USS standard) flat washers with an inside diameter 

large enough to bypass the wrench neck inside the carriage 

bolt head so that no lift edge is available beneath an installed 

carriage bolt head.

6. 3/8-inch (USS standard) diameter flat washers for installation 

beneath the nut inside the building.

7. 1 5/8-inches (6D) galvanized or stainless steel ring-shank 

nails or comparable deck nails.
Board Up Procedures 2

Barrier assembly

1. Applying barriers is accomplished by a carpenter using 

appropriate tools and supplies. The carpenter will need 

a light. His or her exit is made with a ladder once the last 

window is boarded.

2. Plywood must be cut to fit over the window and door 

openings, flush with the outside of the molding/trimmer 

stud. Application of barriers should be completed so that 

all lift or pry points are avoided.

3. The 2-by-4 braces must be cut to fit the horizontal dimension 

of the plywood. Two exterior and two interior 2-by-4 braces 

must be provided for each window, as well as three sets for 

each door.

4. Window assembly — Braces are located horizontally, 

approximately one-third of the distance from the top 

and the bottom of the window. Bolt holes are located at 

one-third of the brace’s length from the outside edge of the 

window jambs. Prior to installation, the assembly should be 

pre-assembled, and 3/8-inch holes should be drilled through 

all of the components.

5. Door assembly — Door braces will be placed horizontally: 

one in the center of the doorway, one at one-half the distance 

from the center to the top of the doorway, and one at one-half 

the distance from the center to the bottom of the doorway. 

Bolt holes are located at one-third of the brace’s length from 

the outside edge of the door frame. Prior to installation, 

the assembly should be pre-assembled, and 3/8-inch holes 

should be drilled through all of the components.

6. Plywood used to cover exterior openings must be nailed 

every 12 inches along the window or door frame perimeter.

7. The 2-by-4 braces on the interior and exterior of the 

assemblies should be secured using carriage bolt assemblies 

that are 3/8 inch by 12 inches. Bolts should be inserted from 

the exterior with a 1/2-inch washer placed against the exterior 

brace and a 3/8-inch washer placed against the interior 

brace. The bolt is tightened from the inside so that it slightly 

compresses the interior brace.

8. To minimize the appearance, the barrier’s exterior surfaces 

must be painted or stained the same color as the structure.

Should the through-bolt compression method be impossible, 

due to the size or condition of the opening, the opening must be 

covered with plywood and secured with deck or wood screws 

(minimum of 3-inches long) installed on 4-inch centers around 

the circumference of the opening.

For buildings that require access by authorized personnel, 

a single door that is visible from the street may be secured 

using a solid-core wood or steel door. There should not be 

any windows or other openings in this door. The door should 

be securely locked using a padlock and hasp assembly that 

is bolted through the door. The lock loop portion of the hasp 

is attached to the door frame using wood screws that are a 

minimum of 3-inches long.
Board Up Procedures 3

WINDOW - OUTSIDE VIEW

A

A

B

D

C C

Notes:

1. For double hung windows, slide sash to center of unit and pass bolts through openings at top and bottom.

2. Storm windows should be removed and stored inside structure.

3. Outside trim may have to be removed to accommodate a flush and tight fit.

4. Tighten nuts from inside, enough to slightly compress the 2-by-4 brace.

5. Brace locations: A = 1/3 B (see dimension locations on drawing).

6. Bolt hole locations: C = 1/3 D (see dimension locations on drawing).

1/2-inch CDX plywood 

cut to cover 

window opening.

Secure to structure 

with 1 5/8-inch (6D) 

galvanized nails.

2-by-4 brace cut 

to outside 

dimension of 

window trim.

2-by-4 brace 

cut to size of 

plywood.

3/8-inch by 12-inch long 

carriage bolt/course thread nut 

to match; washers installed on 

both sides with rounded head 

of the bolt on the outside.
Board Up Procedures 4

Notes:

1. Door is removed and stored inside building.

2. Use 3/8-inch by 12-inch long carriage bolts — rounded head on outside of building.

3. Tighten nuts from inside, enough to slightly compress the 2-by-4 brace.

4. If plywood can not be butted against band molding, cut to cover outside edge of door frame.

5. Bolt holes are located as they are for windows (see window detail).

6. Center brace located in center of doorway opening. Top and bottom braces are positioned where A = 1/2 B (see dimension locations on drawing).

TOP

BOTTOM

DOOR - OUTSIDE VIEW

CENTER

DOOR - INSIDE VIEW

 BOTTOM BRACE - OPTIONAL

B

A

A

1/2-inch CDX plywood 

cut to fit against 

door band molding or 

outside of door frame.

1/2-inch CDX plywood 

cut to cover door 

frame and molding.

Remove trim as 

necessary to 

eliminate pry points.

2-by-4 braces 

cut to size of 

plywood.

12-inch long 

by 3/8-inch 

carriage bolt 

with 1/2-inch 

washers on 

both sides.

3/8-inch carriage bolt 

with 1/2-inch washer.
Board Up Procedures 5

Notes:

1. Use 3/8-inch by 12-inch long carriage bolts — rounded head on outside of building.

2. Tighten nuts from inside, enough to slightly compress washer into the 2-by-4 brace.

3. Use 1/2-inch washer on weather side to accommodate the wrench neck of the bolt and eliminate pry points.

BRACE BRACE

3/8-inch USS standard 

flat washer.

1/2-inch CDX plywood.

1/2-inch USS standard 

flat washer.

Rounded head of 

3/8-inch carriage bolt 

on weather side of 

opening.

3/8-inch hole in brace and 

plywood — pre-drilled 

during fabrication.

3/8-inch by 12-inch long 

carriage bolt with 

course thread and 

rounded head.

3/8-inch 

construction 

grade nut with 

course thread.
Board Up Procedures 6

Window assembly

Materials required per window

One 1/2-inch CDX plywood sheet — cut to dimensions of 

window frame (weather side).

Four 2-by-4 braces — cut to width of plywood.

Four carriage bolt assemblies.

Door assemblies

Materials required per door

One 1/2-inch CDX plywood sheet — cut to dimensions of door 

frame (weather side).

One 1/2-inch CDX plywood sheet — cut to outside dimensions 

of door frame trim (inside).

Six 2-by-4 braces — three cut to width of outside plywood, 

three cut to width of inside plywood.

One 2-by-4 bottom brace — cut to width of door trim (optional).

Six carriage bolt assemblies.

Carriage bolt assemblies

One 12-inch by 3/8-inch carriage bolt — course thread.

One 1/2-inch USS standard flat washer (weather side).

One 3/8-inch USS standard flat washer (inside).

One 3/8-inch construction grade nut — course thread.

Number of windows to be secured (NW): _________

Number of windows braces required: (NW x 4) _________

Carriage bolt assemblies required (BW): (NW x 4) _________

Number of doors to be secured (ND ): _________

Number of door braces required: (ND x 6) _________

Number of bottom braces required: (ND) _________

Carriage bolt assemblies required (BD): (ND x 6) _________

Total carriage bolt assemblies required: (BW + BD) _________