Section 803 — INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING FINISH IN EXISTING BUILDINGS

The provisions of this section shall limit the allowable fire performance and smoke development of interior wall and ceiling finishes in existing buildings based on location and occupancy classification. Interior wall and ceiling finishes shall be classified in accordance with Section 803 of the California Building Code . Such materials shall be classified in accordance with NFPA 286, as indicated in Section 803.1.1, or in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, as indicated in Section 803.1.2.

Materials tested in accordance with Section 803.1.1 shall not be required to be tested in accordance with Section 803.1.2.

803.1.1 Interior wall and ceiling finish materials tested in accordance with NFPA 286. Interior wall and ceiling finish materials shall be classified in accordance with NFPA 286 and tested in accordance with Section 803.1.1.1. Materials complying with Section 803.1.1.1 shall be considered to comply with the requirements of Class A specified in Section 803.1.2.

803.1.1.1 Acceptance criteria for NFPA 286. The interior finish shall comply with the following:

1. During the 40 kW exposure, flames shall not spread to the ceiling.

2. The flame shall not spread to the outer extremity of the sample on any wall or ceiling.

3. Flashover, as defined in NFPA 286, shall not occur.

4. The peak heat release rate throughout the test shall not exceed 800 kW.

5. The total smoke released throughout the test shall not exceed 1,000 m [2] .

803.1.2 Interior wall and ceiling finish materials tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. Interior wall and ceiling finishes shall be classified in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. Such interior finish materials shall be grouped in the following classes in accordance with their flame spread and smoke-developed indices: 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 803.1.1 and as indicated in Sections 803.1.3 through 803.15.

803.1.3 Interior wall and ceiling finish materials with specific requirements. The materials indicated in Sections 803.4 through 803.15 shall be tested as indicated in the corresponding sections.

Interior finish materials regulated by this chapter shall be applied or otherwise fastened in such a manner that such materials will not readily become detached where subjected to room temperatures of 200°F (93°C) for not less than 30 minutes.

Interior wall and ceiling finish shall have a flame spread index not greater than that specified in Table 803.3 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 803.1.1.1, shall be used where a Class A classification in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723 is required.

TABLE 803.3—INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING FINISH REQUIREMENTS BY OCCUPANCYk

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INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

The required flame spread or smoke-developed index of surfaces in existing buildings shall be allowed to be achieved by application of approved fire-retardant coatings, paints or solutions to surfaces having a flame spread index exceeding that allowed. Such applications shall comply with NFPA 703 and the required fire-retardant properties shall be maintained or renewed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The fire-retardant paint, coating or solution shall have been assessed by testing over the same substrate to be used in the application.

Where used as interior wall finish materials, textile wall coverings, including materials having a woven, nonwoven, napped, tufted, looped or similar surface, shall be tested in the manner intended for use, using the product mounting system, including adhesive, and shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.1.1, 803.5.1 or 803.5.2.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.21(a) and (b)] Interior Finish of Decorative Material.

(a) Unframed Rigid Combustible Decorative Material. Rigid combustible decorative material and assemblies of materials not more than [1] / 4 inch in thickness used for folding doors, room dividers, decorative screens and similar applications, which do not create concealed spaces and which are installed with exposed edges, shall be flame resistant in accordance with the following:

(1) Test specimen shall be 12 inches wide and 24 inches long. Four specimens shall be tested, two in each direction of the material. (2) The specimen shall be suspended vertically with its lower edge 2 inches above the top of a [3] / 8 inch diameter Bunsen Burner. The test shall be performed in a draft-free area.

(3) The flames from the burner shall be 4 inches long and shall be adjusted with sufficient air supply to eliminate any yellow flame tips but without any distinct inner blue cone.

(4) The specimen shall be exposed to the flame at each corner and at not less than one other point along the lower edge. Each exposure shall be of sufficient duration to determine if the material will ignite and continue to burn, but shall be not less than 20 seconds.

(5) The criteria for acceptance shall be as follows:

(A) There shall be not more than intermittent flaming appreciably beyond the area exposed to the test flame.

(B) No flame shall reach the top of the specimen.

(C) On removing the test flame there shall be not more than one second of after flaming except there may be nonprogressive flaming of short duration in areas of accumulated char which were directly exposed to the test flame.

(b) Framed Rigid Combustible Decorative Material. Rigid combustible decorative material and assemblies of materials not more than 1 / 4 inch in thickness used for folding doors, room dividers, decorative screens and similar applications, and which are installed with all edges protected, shall conform to the following: (1) All exposed edges shall be protected with frames of metal or other noncombustible material, or solid wood of minimum [1] / 4 inch dimension.

(2) The total square foot area of the material shall not exceed ten percent of that of the floor area of the room in which the material is installed.

(3) When tested as follows, no flames shall reach the top edge of the specimen.

The test shall be conducted in a draft free area, on a specimen of the material 12 inches by 12 inches suspended at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal with the upper and lower edges in a horizontal plane. The test flame shall be 3 inches long from a Bunsen Burner of approximately [1] / 2 inch inside diameter with the air supply completely shut off. The burner shall be so positioned so that its top is 1 inch vertically below a point on the lower surface of the test specimen, 1 inch up from its lower horizontal edge, and mid-way between the inclined edges. The exposure to the test flame and the duration of test shall be for a period of 2 minutes.

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INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

803.5.1 Room corner test for textile wall coverings and expanded vinyl wall coverings. Textile wall coverings and expanded vinyl wall coverings shall meet the criteria of Section 803.5.1.1 when tested in the manner intended for use in accordance with the Method B protocol of NFPA 265 using the product mounting system, including adhesive. Test specimen preparation and mounting shall be in accordance with ASTM E2404.

803.5.1.1 Acceptance criteria for NFPA 265 Method B test protocol. Where testing to NFPA 265, the interior finish shall comply with the following:

1. During the 40-kW exposure, flames shall not spread to the ceiling.
2. The flame shall not spread to the outer extremities of the samples on the 8-foot by 12-foot (203 by 305 mm) walls.
3. Flashover, as defined in NFPA 265, shall not occur.
4. For newly introduced wall coverings, the total smoke released throughout the test shall not exceed 1,000 m [2] .

803.5.1.2 Unframed rigid combustible decorative material. Rigid combustible decorative material and assemblies of materials not more than [1] / 4 inch in thickness used for folding doors, room dividers, decorative screens and similar applications, which do not create concealed spaces and which are installed with exposed edges, shall be flame resistant in accordance with SFM Standard 12-7-5 contained in Title 24, Part 12, California Referenced Standards Code.

803.5.1.3 Framed rigid combustible decorative material. Rigid combustible decorative material and assemblies of materials not more than [1] / 4 inch in thickness used for folding doors, room dividers, decorative screens and similar applications, and which are installed with all edges protected, shall conform to SFM Standard 12-7-5 contained in Title 24, Part 12, California Referenced Standards Code.

803.5.2 Acceptance criteria for wall and ceiling coverings. Textile wall and ceiling coverings shall have a Class A flame spread index in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, and be protected by an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2. Test specimen preparation and mounting shall be in accordance with ASTM E2404.

Where used as interior ceiling finish materials, textile ceiling coverings, including materials having a woven, nonwoven, napped, tufted, looped or similar surface and carpet or similar textile materials, shall be tested in the manner intended for use, using the product mounting system, including adhesive, and shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.1.1 or 803.5.2.

Where used as interior wall finish materials, expanded vinyl wall coverings shall be tested in the manner intended for use, using the product mounting system, including adhesive, and shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.1.1, 803.5.1 or 803.5.2.

Where used as interior ceiling finish materials, expanded vinyl ceiling coverings shall be tested in the manner intended for use, using the product mounting system, including adhesive, and shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.1.1 or 803.5.2.

[BF] 803.9 High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP). Where high-density polyethylene or polypropylene is used as an interior finish, it shall comply with Section 803.1.1.

[BF] 803.10 Site-fabricated stretch systems. Where used as newly installed interior wall or interior ceiling finish materials, sitefabricated stretch systems containing all three components described in the definition in Chapter 2 shall be tested in the manner intended for use, and shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.1.1 or 803.1.2. If the materials are tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, specimen preparation and mounting shall be in accordance with ASTM E2573.

Foam plastic materials shall not be used as interior wall and ceiling finish unless specifically allowed by Section 803.11.1 or 803.11.2. Foam plastic materials shall not be used as interior trim unless specifically allowed by Section 804.2.

803.11.1 Foam plastics. Foam plastics shall be allowed to be used as interior wall and ceiling finish only where in accordance with Section 2603.9 of the California Building Code . This section shall apply both to exposed foam plastics and to foam plastics used in conjunction with a textile or vinyl facing or cover.

803.11.2 Thermal barrier for foam plastics. Foam plastic material shall be allowed if it is separated from the interior of the building by a thermal barrier in accordance with Section 2603.4 of the California Building Code.

Facings or veneers intended to be applied on site over a wood substrate shall comply with one of the following:

1. The facing or veneer shall meet the criteria of Section 803.1.1 when tested in accordance with NFPA 286 using the product mounting system, including adhesive, described in Section 5.8.9 of NFPA 286.
2. The facing or veneer shall have a Class A, B or C flame spread index and smoke-developed index based on the requirements of Table 803.3, in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. Test specimen preparation and mounting shall be in accordance with ASTM E2404.

Laminated products factory produced with an attached wood substrate shall comply with one of the following:

1. The laminated product shall meet the criteria of Section 803.1.1 when tested in accordance with NFPA 286 using the product mounting system, including adhesive, of actual use.
2. The laminated product shall have a Class A, B or C flame spread index and smoke-developed index based on the requirements of Table 803.3, in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. Test specimen preparation and mounting shall be in accordance with ASTM E2579.

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INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

Materials having a thickness less than 0.036 inch (0.9 mm) applied directly to the surface of walls or ceilings shall not be required to be tested.

Exposed portions of building elements complying with the requirements of Type IV construction in accordance with the California Building Code shall not be subject to interior finish requirements.