805 Upholstered Furniture and Mattresses in New and Existing Buildings — 2025 California Fire Code

The requirements in Sections 805.2.1 through 805.2.2 shall apply to Group I-2 occupancies and Group B ambulatory care facilities.

805.2.1 Upholstered furniture. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall meet the requirements of Sections 805.2.1.1 through 805.2.1.3.

805.2.1.1 Ignition by cigarettes. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with one of the following: (a) mocked-up composites of the upholstered furniture shall have a char length not exceeding 1.5 inches (38 mm) when tested in accordance with NFPA 261 or (b) the components of the upholstered furniture shall meet the requirements for Class I when tested in accordance with NFPA 260.

Exception: Upholstered furniture belonging to the patients in sleeping rooms of Group I-2, Condition 1 occupancies, provided that a smoke detector is installed in such rooms. Battery-powered, single-station smoke alarms shall be allowed.

805.2.1.2 Heat release rate. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with ASTM E1537 or California Technical Bulletin 133, as follows:

1. The peak rate of heat release for the single upholstered furniture item shall not exceed 80 kW.

Exception: Upholstered furniture in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

2. The total heat released by the single upholstered furniture item during the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 25 MJ.

Exception: Upholstered furniture in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

805.2.1.3 Identification. Upholstered furniture shall bear the label of an approved agency, confirming compliance with the requirements of Sections 805.2.1.1 and 805.2.1.2.

805.2.2 Mattresses. Newly introduced mattresses shall meet the requirements of Sections 805.2.2.1 through 805.2.2.3.

805.2.2.1 Ignition by cigarettes. Newly introduced mattresses shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with DOC 16 CFR Part 1632 and shall have a char length not exceeding 2 inches (51 mm).

805.2.2.2 Heat release rate. Newly introduced mattresses shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with ASTM E1590 or California Technical Bulletin 129, as follows:

1. The peak rate of heat release for the single mattress shall not exceed 100 kW.

Exception: Mattresses in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

2. The total heat released by the single mattress during the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 25 MJ.

Exception: Mattresses in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

805.2.2.3 Identification. Mattresses shall bear the label of an approved agency, confirming compliance with the requirements of Sections 805.2.2.1 and 805.2.2.2.

The requirements in Sections 805.3.1 through 805.3.2 shall apply to detention and correction facilities classified in Group I-3.

805.3.1 Upholstered furniture. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall meet the requirements of Sections 805.3.1.1 through 805.3.1.3.

8-8 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

805.3.1.1 Ignition by cigarettes. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with one of the following:

1. Mocked-up composites of the upholstered furniture shall have a char length not exceeding 1.5 inches (38 mm) when tested in accordance with NFPA 261.

2. The components of the upholstered furniture shall meet the requirements for Class I when tested in accordance with NFPA 260.

805.3.1.2 Heat release rate. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with ASTM E1537, as follows:

1. The peak rate of heat release for the single upholstered furniture item shall not exceed 80 kW.
2. The total heat released by the single upholstered furniture item during the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 25 MJ.

805.3.1.3 Identification. Upholstered furniture shall bear the label of an approved agency, confirming compliance with the requirements of Sections 805.3.1.1 and 805.3.1.2.

805.3.2 Mattresses. Newly introduced mattresses shall meet the requirements of Sections 805.3.2.1 through 805.3.2.3.

805.3.2.1 Ignition by cigarettes. Newly introduced mattresses shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with DOC 16 CFR Part 1632 and shall have a char length not exceeding 2 inches (51 mm).

805.3.2.2 Fire performance tests. Newly introduced mattresses shall be tested in accordance with Section 805.3.2.2.1 or 805.3.2.2.2.

805.3.2.2.1 Heat release rate. Newly introduced mattresses shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with ASTM E1590 or California Technical Bulletin 129, as follows:

1. The peak rate of heat release for the single mattress shall not exceed 100 kW.
2. The total heat released by the single mattress during the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 25 MJ.

805.3.2.2.2 Mass loss test. Newly introduced mattresses shall have a mass loss not exceeding 15 percent of the initial mass of the mattress where tested in accordance with the test in Annex A3 of ASTM F1085.

805.3.2.3 Identification. Mattresses shall bear the label of an approved agency, confirming compliance with the requirements of Sections 805.3.2.1 and 805.3.2.2.

The requirements of Sections 805.4.1 through 805.4.2.3 shall apply to college and university dormitories classified in Group R-2, including decks, porches and balconies.

805.4.1 Upholstered furniture. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall meet the requirements of Sections 805.4.1.1 through 805.4.1.3.

805.4.1.1 Ignition by cigarettes. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with one of the following:

1. Mocked-up composites of the upholstered furniture shall have a char length not exceeding 1 1/2 inches (38 mm) when tested in accordance with NFPA 261.

2. The components of the upholstered furniture shall meet the requirements for Class I when tested in accordance with NFPA 260.

805.4.1.2 Heat release rate. Newly introduced upholstered furniture shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with ASTM E1537 or California Technical Bulletin 133, as follows:

1. The peak rate of heat release for the single upholstered furniture item shall not exceed 80 kW.

Exception: Upholstered furniture in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

2. The total heat released by the single upholstered furniture item during the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 25 MJ.

Exception: Upholstered furniture in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

805.4.1.3 Identification. Upholstered furniture shall bear the label of an approved agency, confirming compliance with the requirements of Sections 805.4.1.1 and 805.4.1.2.

805.4.2 Mattresses. Newly introduced mattresses shall meet the requirements of Sections 805.4.2.1 through 805.4.2.3.

805.4.2.1 Ignition by cigarettes. Newly introduced mattresses shall be shown to resist ignition by cigarettes as determined by tests conducted in accordance with DOC 16 CFR Part 1632 and shall have a char length not exceeding 2 inches (51 mm).

805.4.2.2 Heat release rate. Newly introduced mattresses shall have limited rates of heat release when tested in accordance with ASTM E1590 or California Technical Bulletin 129, as follows:

1. The peak rate of heat release for the single mattress shall not exceed 100 kW.

Exception: Mattresses in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

2. The total heat released by the single mattress during the first 10 minutes of the test shall not exceed 25 MJ.

Exception: Mattresses in rooms or spaces protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

805.4.2.3 Identification. Mattresses shall bear the label of an approved agency, confirming compliance with the requirements of Sections 805.4.2.1 and 805.4.2.2.