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Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

Section 804

California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING TRIM

AND INTERIOR FLOOR FINISH IN

NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS

804.1 Interior trim. Combustible trim in new and existing

buildings, excluding handrails and guards, shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling areas to which it is attached. Other than foam plastic, material used as interior trim shall have minimum Class B flame spread and 450 smoke-developed index in Group I-3 and for all other occu- pancies shall comply with Section 804.1.1 or 804.1.2. Foam plastic used as interior trim shall comply with Section 804.2.

804.1.1 Testing in accordance with NFPA 286. Interior trim material shall be tested in accordance with NFPA 286 and comply with the acceptance criteria in Section 803.1.1.1. Where the interior trim material has been tested as an interior finish in accordance with NFPA 286 and complies with the acceptance criteria in Section 803.1.1.1, it shall not be required to be tested for flame spread index and smoke-developed index in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723.

804.1.2 Testing in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. Material, other than foam plastic, used as interior trim shall have minimum Class C flame spread and smoke-developed indices, when tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, as described in Section 803.1.2.

Exceptions & meaning →

804.2 Foam plastic interior trim.

Foam plastic used as interior trim shall comply with Sections 804.2.1 through 804.2.4.

804.2.1 Density. The minimum density of the interior trim shall be 20 pounds per cubic foot (320 kg/m 3 ).

804.2.2 Thickness. The maximum thickness of the interior trim shall be 1 /2 inch (12.7 mm) and the maximum width shall be 8 inches (203 mm).

804.2.3 Area limitation. The interior trim shall not constitute more than 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area to which it is attached.

804.2.4 Flame spread. The flame spread index shall not exceed 75 where tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723. The smoke-developed index shall not be limited.

Exception: Where the interior trim material has been tested as an interior finish in accordance with NFPA 286 and complies with the acceptance criteria in Section 803.1.1.1, it is not required to be tested for flame spread index in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723.

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804.3 New interior floor finish. New interior floor finish

and floor covering materials in new and existing buildings shall comply with Sections 804.3.1 through 804.3.3.2.

Exception: Floor finishes and coverings of a traditional type, such as wood, vinyl, linoleum or terrazzo, and resil ient floor covering materials that are not composed of fibers.

804.3.1 Classification. Interior floor finish and floor covering materials required by Section 804.3.3.2 to be of Class I or II materials shall be classified in accordance with ASTM E648 or NFPA 253. The classification referred to herein corresponds to the classifications determined by ASTM E648 or NFPA 253 as follows: Class I, 0.45 watts/cm 2 or greater; Class II, 0.22 watts/cm 2 or greater.

804.3.2 Testing and identification. Interior floor finish and floor covering materials shall be tested by an approved agency in accordance with ASTM E648 or NFPA 253 and identified by a hang tag or other suitable method so as to identify the manufacturer or supplier and style, and shall indicate the interior floor finish or floor covering classification in accordance with Section 804.3.1. Carpet-type floor coverings shall be tested as proposed for use, including underlayment. Test reports confirming the information provided in the manufacturer’s product identification shall be furnished to the fire code official upon request.

804.3.3 Interior floor finish requirements. New interior floor coverings materials shall comply with Sections 804.3.3.1 and 804.3.3.2, and interior floor finish materials shall comply with Section 804.3.1.

804.3.3.1 Test requirement. In all occupancies, inte- rior floor finish and interior floor covering materials shall comply with the requirements of ASTM Standard E648, and having a specific optical density smoke rat- ing not to exceed 450 per ASTM E662. For Group I-3 occupancies and Group I-2 areas where patients are restrained, see Section 804.3.3.3.

804.3.3.2 Minimum critical radiant flux. In all occupancies, new interior floor finish and floor covering materials in enclosures for stairways and ramps, exit passageways, corridors and rooms or spaces not separated from corridors by full-height partitions extending from the floor to the underside of the ceiling shall withstand a minimum critical radiant flux. The minimum critical radiant flux shall be not less than Class I in Group I-2 and I-3 areas where restraint is not used and R-2.1 and not less than Class II in Groups A, B, E, H, I- 2.1, I-4, M, R-1, R-2, R-2.2 and S.

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 shall be permitted in any area where Class I materials are required and materials complying with ASTM Standard E648, and having a specific optical density smoke rating not to exceed 450 per ASTM E662 are permitted in any area where Class II materials are required.

For Group I-3 areas occupied by inmates or Group I-2 areas where patients are restrained, see Section 804.4.3.3.3.

804.3.3.3 Group I-2 and Group I-3 floor surfaces. Interior floor finish and floor coverings occupied by inmates or patients whose personal liberties are

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

restrained shall be noncombustible. Carpet or other floor covering materials may be used in areas pro- tected by an automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Car- pet or other floor coverings shall comply with the requirements of ASTM Standard E648; the minimum critical radiant flux shall be not less than Class I and the specific optical density smoke rating shall not exceed 450 per ASTM E662. Carpeting and carpet pad- ding shall be tested as a unit in accordance with floor covering radiant panel test meeting Class 1 and has a critical radiant flux limit of not less than 0.45 watt per centimeter square. The carpeting and padding shall be identified by a hang-tag or other suitable method as to manufacturer and style and shall indicate the classifi- cation of the material based on the limits set forth above.

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804.4 Interior floor-wall base. Interior floor-wall base that

is 6 inches (152 mm) or less in height shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E648 or NFPA 253 and shall be not less than Class II. Where a Class I floor finish is required, the floor-wall base shall be Class I. The classification referred to herein corresponds to the classifications determined by ASTM E648 or NFPA 253 as follows: Class I, 0.45 watt/cm 2 or greater; Class II, 0.22 watts/cm 2 or greater.

Exception: Interior trim materials that comply with Section 804.1.

Exceptions & meaning →

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