Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS
Section 804
California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2022 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 smokedeveloped indices, when tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, as described in Section 803.1.2.
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.
INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS
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 resilient 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 covering 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 rating 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 Groups 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 mate- rials are required.
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occupancies, provided that a smoke detector is installed in such rooms. Battery-powered, singlestation 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:
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
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