This chapter shall govern furnishings, decorative vegetation, decorations and scenery in buildings and structures.
The furnishings, decorative vegetation, decorations and scenery governed by this chapter shall be designed, stored, handled and used in accordance with this chapter.
When a material or item is treated with a flame-retardant chemical to meet the requirements of this chapter for a flame-resistant material, such chemical and its method of application shall be approved. Flame-retardant treatments shall be maintained so as to retain the effectiveness of the treatment under conditions encountered in actual use.
When a material or item is coated with a fire-retardant coating to meet the requirements of this chapter for a flame-resistant material, such coating and its method of application shall be approved. Flame-retardant coatings shall be maintained so as to retain the effectiveness of the coating under conditions encountered in actual use.
It shall be unlawful in Group A, E and I occupancies to store or use decorative vegetation, decorations or scenery that consists of or is coated with pyroxylin or similarly hazardous base.
The required width of any portion of a means of egress shall not be obstructed by any furnishing, decorative vegetation, decoration or scenery nor shall such furnishing, decorative vegetation, decoration or scenery obstruct any exit or the visibility thereof.
Compliance with flame resistance standards shall be under the supervision of a certificate of fitness holder in accordance with FC 801.7.1 and 801.7.2.
When a material or item is treated with a flame-retardant chemical to meet the requirements of this chapter for a flame-resistant material, the application of the chemical shall be conducted by or under the personal supervision of a certificate of fitness holder.
Certification of compliance with the requirements of this section shall be prepared by a certificate of fitness holder and made available to department representatives in accordance with the rules or upon request of any department representative, provided, however, that a manufacturer's certification, in a form acceptable to the department, may be presented for an article that is inherently flame-resistant.
Any flame-retardant chemical used to render a material flame-resistant to meet the requirements of this chapter shall be of a type for which a certificate of approval has been issued in accordance with FC112 and the rules.
The following terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter and used elsewhere in this code, have the meanings set forth in FC202.
CONIFER.
DECORATION.
FIRE-RETARDANT COATING.
FLAME-RESISTANT MATERIAL.
FLAME-RETARDANT TREATMENT.
FLAME SPREAD.
FURNISHING.
INTERIOR FINISH.
NATURAL DECORATIVE GREEN.
NATURAL TREE.
NATURAL VEGETATION.
SCENERY.
CONIFER.
DECORATION.
FIRE-RETARDANT COATING.
FLAME-RESISTANT MATERIAL.
FLAME-RETARDANT TREATMENT.
FLAME SPREAD.
FURNISHING.
INTERIOR FINISH.
NATURAL DECORATIVE GREEN.
NATURAL TREE.
NATURAL VEGETATION.
SCENERY.
Upholstered furniture newly introduced in Occupancy Groups I-1, I-2, I-3 and R-1 college and university dormitories after the effective date of this section shall comply with the resistance to ignition by cigarettes and maximum heat release rate requirements of this section.
Newly-introduced upholstered furniture in Occupancy Groups I-1, I-2, I-3 and R-1 college and university dormitories shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with one of the following standards:
- Mocked-up composites of the upholstered furniture shall have a char length not exceeding 11/2 inches (38 mm) when tested in accordance with NFPA 261.
- The components of the upholstered furniture shall meet the requirements for Class I when tested in accordance with NFPA 260.
Newly-introduced upholstered furniture in Occupancy Groups I-1, I-2, I-3 and R-1 college and university dormitories shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with California Technical Bulletins 116 and 117.
Upholstered furniture shall be listed and labeled in compliance with the requirements of FC 803.1.1 and 803.1.2.
Mattresses newly introduced in Occupancy Groups I-1, I-2, I-3 and R-1 college and university dormitories after the effective date of this section shall comply with the resistance to ignition by cigarettes and maximum heat release rate requirements of this section.
Newly-introduced mattresses in Occupancy Groups I-1, I-2, I-3, and R-1 college and university dormitories shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with 16 CFR Part 1632 and shall have a char length not exceeding 2 inches (51 mm).
Newly-introduced mattresses shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with ASTM E1590 or California Technical Bulletin 129, as follows:
- The peak rate of heat release for the single mattress shall not exceed 100 kW, except mattresses in rooms or spaces protected throughout by a sprinkler system.
- The total energy released by the mattress during the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 25 MJ, except mattresses in rooms or spaces protected throughout by a sprinkler system.
Exception: The exceptions set forth in FC 803.2.2(1) and 803.2.2(2) for mattresses in rooms or spaces protected throughout by a sprinkler system shall not apply to Occupancy Group I-3.
Mattresses shall be listed and labeled in compliance with the requirements of FC 803.2.1 and 803.2.2.
Natural trees and cut natural trees shall be stored, sold, displayed and maintained in accordance with FC 804.1.1 through 804.1.6.
Cut natural trees may be displayed in a building, except in Group A, B, E, I, M, R-1 and R-2 occupancies and any building or structure used for a public gathering. Notwithstanding the foregoing occupancy restrictions, cut natural trees may be displayed in houses of worship and dwelling units in Group R-2 apartment house occupancies.
It shall be unlawful to store cut natural trees in any building, except in connection with a display allowed under FC804.1.1.
Natural trees, except conifers, may be stored and displayed in a building, provided they are maintained in a healthy condition and are not allowed to become dry. It shall be unlawful to store or display natural trees that are conifers in any building.
Cut natural trees for display in any building shall have the trunk bottoms cut off at least 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) above the original cut and shall be placed in a support device. The support device shall be of a type that is stable, holds the tree in an upright position and meets all of the following criteria:
- The device shall hold the tree securely and be of adequate size to avoid tipping over of the tree.
- The device shall be capable of containing a minimum 2-day supply of water.
- The water level, when full, shall cover the tree stem at least 2 inches (51 mm). The water level shall be maintained above the fresh cut and checked at least once daily.
Natural trees and cut natural trees shall be removed from the building whenever the needles or leaves fall off readily when a tree branch is shaken or if the needles are brittle and break when bent between the thumb and index finger. Trees shall be checked daily for dryness.
Merchants of cut natural trees, including Christmas trees, shall, at the time of retail sale of each such tree, attach to the tree a printed tag containing appropriate instructions for its safe and lawful display and disposal.
Natural vegetation shall be maintained in a healthy condition to prevent the vegetation from becoming dry and ignitable. Natural vegetation that has become dry and readily ignitable shall be promptly removed from the premises. Natural vegetation shall be regularly pruned to prevent the vegetation from becoming overgrown and expanding beyond the space designated for it.
Candles and other open flames shall not be used or maintained on or near decorative vegetation. Natural cut trees shall be kept a distance at least equal to the height of the tree from heat sources, including fireplaces, portable heaters and vents, and open-flame or heat-producing devices.
Electrical wiring and lighting used on natural cut trees and decorative vegetation shall be listed. It shall be unlawful to use electrical wiring and lighting on metal artificial trees.
Artificial decorative vegetation, including artificial trees, shall be made of flame-resistant material in the buildings and occupancies set forth in FC805.1 Alternatively, artificial decorative vegetation shall have a maximum heat release rate of 100 kW when tested in accordance with NFPA 289, using a 20 kW ignition source.
Natural decorative greens shall be stored and displayed in a building in accordance with FC 804.5.1 through 804.5.4.
It shall be unlawful to store natural decorative greens in any building, except merchandise for sale or displayed for sale which does not contain conifers.
Natural decorative greens may be displayed in buildings on a temporary basis. The display of natural decorative greens in Group A, E, I, and M occupancies, in common areas of Group R-1, R-2 and B occupancies, and any building or structure used for a public gathering, except display of works of art in museums and houses of worship, shall comply with the restrictions set forth in FC804.5.3.
It shall be unlawful to display in any building natural decorative greens that:
- Contain pitch, such as hemlock, balsam, pine or Spanish moss.
- Are displayed at a location less than 3 feet (914 mm) from upholstered furniture, rugs, or other combustible material or contain combustible decorations.
- Are on a combustible framework or displayed in conjunction with combustible material unless such material is flame resistant.
Any natural decorative green shall be removed from a building at the first sign of deterioration or dryness. Natural decorative greens shall be checked at least daily for dryness.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, decorations shall be made of flame-resistant material in Group A, E, I and M occupancies, Group R-1 college and university dormitories, common areas in Group B, R-1 and R-2 occupancies, and any building or structure used as a place of public gathering.
Exceptions:
Exceptions:
- Acoustical or other decorative materials consisting of foam plastics with a maximum heat release rate of 100 kW when tested in accordance with UL 1975.
- Artwork in a museum or art gallery.
- Artwork on the walls of building hallway corridors in Group B office and Group R-2 occupancies, provided that the wall area covered by such artwork does not exceed 20 percent of any wall in any occupancy not protected throughout by a sprinkler system or 50 percent of any wall in any occupancy protected throughout by a sprinkler system, and the artwork is affixed in a manner that prevents it from moving freely.
- Artwork and educational materials in classrooms in Group E and I-4 occupancies, and on the walls of corridors in such occupancies, provided that the corridor wall area covered by such artwork and materials does not exceed 20 percent of any wall, and the artwork and materials are affixed in a manner that prevents them from moving freely.
- Curtains, draperies, hangings and other decorative materials suspended from walls of sleeping units and dwelling units in Occupancy Group R-1 dormitories protected throughout by a sprinkler system, where the total amount of such materials does not exceed 25 percent of the aggregate area of walls.
- Decorations displayed for sale.
- Guest rooms in hotels and motels.
- Decorations in houses of worship, including wood used for screening or ornamental purposes.
- Decorations in private offices in commercial buildings.
In Group B and M occupancies, fabric partitions suspended from the ceiling and not supported by the floor shall be flame-resistant material.
The type and quantity of interior trim allowed shall be as set forth in Chapter 8 of the Building Code. The quantity of flame resistant materials used in decorations when combined with combustible trim shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area to which it is attached.
Motion picture screens and supporting construction shall comply with the requirements of FC306.3.
All scenery in Group A occupancies shall be made of materials that are inherently flame-resistant, have a Class A flame-spread rating, or rendered flame resistant by the application of a fire-retardant coating, except that the commissioner may authorize the use of scenery not complying with any of the above requirements where provision is made to ensure an equivalent level of fire safety. Foam plastic materials used for scenery shall have a maximum heat release rate of 100 kW when tested in accordance with UL 1975, or when tested in accordance with NFPA 289 using the 20 kW ignition source.
In an outdoor place of assembly, outdoor place of public gathering or other outdoor common area in a building or occupancy set forth in FC805.1, any decorative installation that is freestanding, more than 4 feet (1219 mm) in height, and under, through or around which the public or building occupants can enter or pass, shall be flame-resistant material, except as otherwise authorized by the department.
The quantity and type of interior finishes shall comply with the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Building Code.
Foam plastic signs that are not interior finishes shall have a maximum heat release rate of 150 kW when tested in accordance with UL 1975, or when tested in accordance with NFPA 289 using the 20 kW ignition source.