The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this chapter and as used elsewhere in this code, have the meanings shown herein.
EXPANDED VINYL WALL COVERING. Wall covering consisting of a woven textile backing, an expanded vinyl base coat layer and a nonexpanded vinyl skin coat. The expanded base coat layer is a homogeneous vinyl layer that contains a blowing agent. During processing, the blowing agent decomposes, causing this layer to expand by forming closed cells. The total thickness of the wall covering is approximately 0.055 inch to 0.070 inch (1.4 mm to 1.78 mm).
FLAME SPREAD. The propagation of flame over a surface.
FLAME SPREAD INDEX. A comparative measure, expressed as a dimensionless number, derived from visual measurements of the spread of flame versus time for a material tested in accordance with ASTM E 84 or UL 723.
INTERIOR FINISH. Interior finish includes interior wall and ceiling finish and interior floor finish.
INTERIOR FLOOR FINISH. The exposed floor surfaces of buildings including coverings applied over a finished floor or stair, including risers.
INTERIOR FLOOR-WALL BASE. Interior floor finish trim used to provide a functional and/or decorative border at the intersection of walls and floors.
INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING FINISH. The exposed interior surfaces of buildings, including but not limited to: fixed or movable walls and partitions; toilet room privacy partitions; columns; ceilings; and interior wainscoting, paneling or other finish applied structurally or for decoration, acoustical correction, surface insulation, structural fire resistance or similar purposes, but not including trim.
SITE-FABRICATED STRETCH SYSTEM. A system, fabricated on site and intended for acoustical, tackable or aesthetic purposes, that is comprised of three elements: (a) a frame (constructed of plastic, wood, metal or other material) used to hold fabric in place, (b) a core material (infill, with the correct properties for the application), and (c) an outside layer, comprised of a textile, fabric or vinyl, that is stretched taut and held in place by tension or mechanical fasteners via the frame.
SMOKE-DEVELOPED INDEX. A comparative measure, expressed as a dimensionless number, derived from measurements of smoke obscuration versus time for a material tested in accordance with ASTM E 84.
TRIM. Picture molds, chair rails, baseboards, handrails, door and window frames and similar decorative or protective materials used in fixed applications.
Interior wall and ceiling finish materials shall be classified in accordance with ASTM E 84 or UL 723. Such interior finish materials shall be grouped in the following classes in accordance with their flame spread and smoke-developed indexes.
Class A: Flame spread index 0-25; smoke-developed index 0-450.
Class B: Flame spread index 26-75; smoke-developed index 0-450.
Class C: Flame spread index 76-200; smoke-developed index 0-450.
Exception: Materials tested in accordance with Section 803.1.2.
During the 40 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with Item 1. During the 160 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with Item 2. During the entire test, the interior finish shall comply with Items 3 and 4.
- During the 40kW exposure, flames shall not spread to the ceiling.
During the 160 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with the following:
- 2.1. Flame shall not spread to the outer extremity of the sample on any wall or ceiling.
- 2.2. Flashover, as defined in NFPA 286, shall not occur.
- The peak rate of heat release throughout the NFPA 286 test shall not exceed 800 kW.
- The total smoke released throughout the NFPA 286 test shall not exceed 1,000 m2.
During the 40 kW exposure the interior finish shall comply with Item 1. During the 150 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with Item 2. During the entire test, the interior finish shall comply with Item 3.
- During the 40 kW exposure, flames shall not spread to the ceiling.
During the 150 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with the following:
- 2.1. Flame shall not spread to the outer extremities of the samples on the 8-foot by 12-foot (203 mm by 305 mm) walls.
- 2.2. Flashover, as described in NFPA 265, shall not occur.
- The total smoke released throughout the NFPA 265 test shall not exceed 1,000 m2.
Interior wall and ceiling finish shall have a flame spread index not greater than that specified in Table 803.9 for the group and location designated. Interior wall and ceiling finish materials tested in accordance with NFPA 286 and meeting the acceptance criteria of Section 803.1.2.1, shall be permitted to be used where a Class A classification in accordance with ASTM E 84 or UL 723 is required.
INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING FINISH REQUIREMENTS BY OCCUPANCYk
| GROUP | SPRINKLEREDl | NONSPRINKLERED | ||||
| Exit enclosures and exit passagewaysa, b | Corridors | Rooms and enclosed spacesc | Exit enclosures and exit passagewaysa, b | Corridors | Rooms and enclosed spacesc | |
| A-1 & A-2 | B | B | C | A | Ad | Be |
| A-3f, A-4, A-5 | B | B | C | A | Ad | C |
| B, E, M, R-1 | B | C | C | A | B | C |
| R-4 | B | C | C | A | B | B |
| F | C | C | C | B | C | C |
| H | B | B | Cg | A | A | B |
| I-1 | B | C | C | A | B | B |
| I-2 | B | B | Bh, i | A | A | B |
| I-3 | A | Aj | C | A | A | B |
| I-4 | B | B | Bh, i | A | A | B |
| R-2 | C | C | C | B | B | C |
| R-3 | C | C | C | C | C | C |
| S | C | C | C | B | B | C |
| U | No restrictions | No restrictions | ||||
For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929m2.
- Class C interior finish materials shall be permitted for wainscotting or paneling of not more than 1,000 square feet of applied surface area in the grade lobby where applied directly to a noncombustible base or over furring strips applied to a noncombustible base and fireblocked as required by Section 803.11.1.
- In exit enclosures of buildings less than three stories above grade plane of other than Group I-3, Class B interior finish for nonsprinklered buildings and Class C interior finish for sprinklered buildings shall be permitted.
- Requirements for rooms and enclosed spaces shall be based upon spaces enclosed by partitions. Where a fire-resistance rating is required for structural elements, the enclosing partitions shall extend from the floor to the ceiling. Partitions that do not comply with this shall be considered enclosing spaces and the rooms or spaces on both sides shall be considered one. In determining the applicable requirements for rooms and enclosed spaces, the specific occupancy thereof shall be the governing factor regardless of the group classification of the building or structure.
- Lobby areas in Group A-1, A-2 and A-3 occupancies shall not be less than Class B materials.
- Class C interior finish materials shall be permitted in places of assembly with an occupant load of 300 persons or less.
- For places of religious worship, wood used for ornamental purposes, trusses, paneling or chancel furnishing shall be permitted.
- Class B material is required where the building exceeds two stories.
- Class C interior finish materials shall be permitted in administrative spaces.
- Class C interior finish materials shall be permitted in rooms with a capacity of four persons or less.
- Class B materials shall be permitted as wainscotting extending not more than 48 inches above the finished floor in corridors.
- Finish materials as provided for in other sections of this code.
- Applies when the exit enclosures, exit passageways, corridors or rooms and enclosed spaces are protected by an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.
Where walls and ceilings are required by any provision in this code to be of fire-resistance-rated or noncombustible construction, the interior finish material shall be applied directly against such construction or to furring strips not exceeding 13/4 inches (44 mm) applied directly against such surfaces. The intervening spaces between such furring strips shall comply with one of the following:
- Be filled with material that is inorganic or non-combustible;
- Be filled with material that meets the requirements of a Class A material in accordance with Section 803.1.1 or 803.1.2; or
- Be fireblocked at a maximum of 8 feet (2438 mm) in any direction in accordance with Section 717.
An interior wall or ceiling finish that is not more than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) thick shall be applied directly against a noncombustible backing.
Exceptions:
- Noncombustible materials.
- Materials where the qualifying tests were made with the material suspended or furred out from the noncombustible backing.
Interior floor finish and floor covering materials in exit enclosures, exit passageways and corridors shall not be less than Class I in Groups I-1, I-2 and I-3 and not less than Class II in Groups A, B, E, H, I-4, M, R-1, R-2 and S. In all areas, floor covering materials shall comply with the DOCFF-1 “pill test” (CPSC 16 CFR, Part 1630).
Exception: Where a building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, Class II materials are permitted in any area where Class I materials are required, and materials complying with the DOC FF-1 “pill test” (CPSC 16 CFR, Part 1630) are permitted in any area where Class II materials are required.
Combustible materials installed on or embedded in floors of buildings of Type I or II construction shall comply with Sections 805.1.1 through 805.1.3.
Exception: Stages and platforms constructed in accordance with Sections 410.3 and 410.4, respectively.
In occupancies in Groups A, E, I and R-1 and dormitories in Group R-2, curtains, draperies, hangings and other decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 in accordance with Section 806.2 or be noncombustible.
In Groups I-1 and I-2, combustible decorative materials shall meet the flame propagation criteria of NFPA 701 unless the decorative materials, including, but not limited to, photographs and paintings, are of such limited quantities that a hazard of fire development or spread is not present. In Group I-3, combustible decorative materials are prohibited.
Fixed or movable walls and partitions, paneling, wall pads and crash pads applied structurally or for decoration, acoustical correction, surface insulation or other purposes shall be considered interior finish if they cover 10 percent or more of the wall or of the ceiling area, and shall not be considered decorative materials or furnishings.
In Group B and M occupancies, fabric partitions suspended from the ceiling and not supported by the floor shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria in accordance with Section 806.2 and NFPA 701 or shall be noncombustible.
The permissible amount of decorative materials meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area to which it is attached.
Exceptions:
- In auditoriums in Group A, the permissible amount of decorative material meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall not exceed 75 percent of the aggregate wall area where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and where the material is installed in accordance with Section 803.11.
- The amount of fabric partitions suspended from the ceiling and not supported by the floor in Group B and M occupancies shall not be limited.
Interior floor-wall base that is 6 inches (152 mm) or less in height shall be tested in accordance with Section 804.2 and shall not be less than Class II. Where a Class I floor finish is required, the floor-wall base shall be Class I.
Exception: Interior trim materials that comply with Section 806.5.
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