CFC · California Fire Code

What surfaces are considered ‘interior finish’ vs decorative materials?

Q: When is a panel considered interior finish instead of decorative?

If it is installed as a fixed or movable wall/partition, paneling, wall pad or crash pad applied structurally or for decoration/acoustics, the code treats it as interior finish and §803 applies.

Q: Do window curtains count toward the 10% decorative material limit?

No — the CFC expressly states the 10 percent limit does not apply to window coverings; other rules (treatment/nonflammable requirements) still apply.

Q: Can a material tested to NFPA 286 be treated as Class A?

Yes — materials meeting the NFPA 286 acceptance criteria in §803.1.1.1 are considered to comply with Class A performance.

Q: Are very thin wall coverings exempt from testing?

Materials with thickness less than 0.036 inch (0.9 mm) applied directly to walls or ceilings are not required to be tested per §803.14 .

Q: What about decorative screens that are 1/8 inch thick?

Rigid combustible decorative screens up to 1/4 inch thick are addressed by specific SFM standards and have different framed/unframed acceptance criteria — see §803.5.1.2 / §803.5.1.3 .

If a material is installed as a fixed or attached surface (walls, ceilings, wainscoting, paneling, wall pads, columns, ceilings, floors) the CFC treats it as interior finish and it must meet the classification/test requirements in Section 803 (Class A/B/C or NFPA 286). Loose or suspended items like curtains, banners and similar hangings are typically decorative materials subject to area limits (commonly 10%) and different rules; thin films under 0.036" and small exceptions are specified in the code.

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Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

What the code requires — 2–4 sentences

The California Fire Code (CFC) chapter on interior finish governs which building surfaces count as interior finish and which items are treated as decorative materials; this chapter applies to finishes, trim, furniture, furnishings and decorative vegetation (see §801.1). Interior finish (walls, ceilings, floors and similar exposed surfaces) must meet the classification and test requirements in Section 803; many otherwise‑combustible wall/ceiling coverings and some panels are explicitly treated as interior finish rather than “decorative” and must be tested/classified accordingly (see §803.1).

The single most important rule: if a material is installed as a structural or permanent surface (fixed or movable walls, paneling, wall pads, crash pads, wainscoting, columns, ceilings, etc.), the CFC treats it as interior finish and it must meet the §803 performance/testing requirements.

Requirements in detail

Basic definitions and scope (what counts)

Interior finish = exposed interior wall, ceiling and floor surfaces (including fixed or movable walls and partitions; interior wainscoting, paneling, columns, ceilings, toilet room partitions, etc.). §803.1 and the CFC definitions clarify this scope. §801.1 establishes that chapter scope covers interior finish, trim and decorative materials.
Decorative materials (separately regulated) include items such as curtains, draperies, fabric hangings, drops and similar suspended combustible decorative material and other non‑structural decorations — these are limited by area and combustibility rules in Sections 806/807.

Performance / testing requirements for interior wall & ceiling finish

Two accepted test paths:
- NFPA 286 acceptance criteria (performance test) — if met, considered equivalent to Class A. §803.1.1 / §803.1.1.1.
- ASTM E84 / UL 723 surface‑burning characteristics — results grouped into Class A, Class B, Class C by flame spread and smoke-developed indices. §803.1.2.
Key numeric thresholds (from testing standards):
- 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.
  (See §803.1.2.)

Decision-relevant dimensions / values

Surface or situation	How CFC treats it	Key numeric threshold(s) / limit	Code Reference
Fixed or movable walls, paneling, wall pads, crash pads (installed structurally or for decoration/acoustics)	Treated as interior finish (not decorative)	Must comply with §803 testing/classification	§803
Textile wall/ceiling coverings	Interior finish — tested in manner of use	Must comply with §803.1.1 (NFPA 286) or §803.5.2 (Class A + sprinkler)	§803.5 / §803.5.2
Rigid combustible decorative screens, folding doors (unframed / framed)	Treated as decorative material when meeting thin‑panel criteria; specific flame‑resistance tests apply	Thickness ≤ 1/4 inch for those provisions; SFM standards apply	§803.5.1.2 / §803.5.1.3
Thin applied materials (exemption)	Very thin materials applied directly to walls/ceilings may be exempt from testing	Thickness < 0.036 inch (0.9 mm) — no test required	§803.14
Suspended combustible decorative materials (e.g., curtains, draperies)	Regulated as decorative material; area limits apply in many occupancies	Generally 10 percent limit of the specific wall or ceiling area (with exceptions)	§806.2 / §807.2
Exceptions for area limits	Increased allowable area when sprinklers present or specific occupancies	75 percent for auditoriums in Group A with sprinklers; 50 percent for Group R‑2 dormitory units with sprinklers; 10% limit does not apply to window coverings	§806 exceptions; see text

How to decide — short checklist

Is the material an exposed, attached surface serving as a wall, ceiling, floor, column or fixed partition? → Treat as interior finish; apply §803 tests/classifications.
Is the material a hanging curtain, drape, banner, or non‑structural screen (not forming continuous finish)? → Often decorative material; area limits and combustibility rules in §806/§807 apply.
Is the item a thin, applied covering (< 0.036 inch) or small signage (<10% area)? → May be exempt or treated under different rules — check §803.14 and specific exceptions.

Exceptions & special cases

Very thin applied coverings — materials thinner than 0.036 inch (0.9 mm) applied directly to walls/ceilings are not required to be tested under §803.14.
Rigid decorative panels/screens ≤ 1/4 inch have specific SFM test methods and acceptance criteria (framed vs unframed differences) under §803.5.1.2/1.3.
Area limits on suspended combustible decorative materials: normally 10 percent of the wall/ceiling specific area (Groups A, B, E, I, M, R‑1 and R‑2 dorms), but exceptions increase that to 75 percent in sprinklered Group A auditoriums (when installed per relevant CBC provisions) and 50 percent in sprinklered R‑2 dormitory sleeping/dwelling units; window coverings are not subject to the 10% limit. See §806/§807 exceptions.
Some materials may meet NFPA 286 acceptance criteria (performance path) and therefore qualify as Class A even if their ASTM E84 index would otherwise be lower — see §803.1.1.1.

Common mistakes

Assuming any decorative screen or panel is “decorative” and therefore exempt — if the panel is installed as a finish or applied structurally (paneling, wall pad, fixed partition), the code treats it as interior finish and §803 applies.
Forgetting the thickness thresholds: panels used as decorative assemblies may be subject to SFM framed/unframed criteria at 1/4 inch; thin film exemptions are at 0.036 inch — don’t confuse the two.
Counting suspended draperies/window coverings toward the 10% limit without checking the exception — window coverings are exempt from the 10% decorative‑area cap.
Using ASTM E84 class only and ignoring NFPA 286 performance path when the product is tested to NFPA 286 and meets its acceptance criteria (in which case it’s treated as Class A). §803.1.1.1 clarifies this.

Worked example — conference room wainscoting + fabric banners

Scenario: A Group B conference room has fixed wood paneling (wainscoting) installed on walls up to 4 ft high, and several fabric banners suspended from the ceiling that cover 12% of one wall surface.

Step 1 — Which items are “interior finish”?

The fixed wood paneling/wainscoting is a structural/attached finish → treated as interior finish and must meet the applicable flame spread / test classification in §803 (Class A/B/C or NFPA 286 path as required for that room/location). (Interior finish = walls/ceiling finishes.)

Step 2 — How to treat the fabric banners?

Fabric banners suspended from walls/ceiling are typically decorative materials. In Group B, combustible fabric suspended from walls/ceilings is limited to 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area (unless another exception applies). The banners covering 12% therefore exceed the default 10% limit in §806/§807.

Step 3 — Options to achieve compliance

Reduce banner coverage to ≤ 10%; or
If the building has an approved automatic sprinkler system and the occupancy/exception applies (auditiorium or certain dormitory situations have higher allowed percentages), check whether a higher limit applies (note: Group B typically does not get the 75% auditoria or 50% dorm exception). Here, the practical solution is to reduce banners to ≤ 10% or use noncombustible/flame‑retardant treated banners and follow local approval — but the 10% area cap still governs unless an exception applies.

Related provisions

§801.1 — Scope (chapter applicability to interior finishes and decorative materials).
§803.1 – §803.1.2 — Interior wall and ceiling finish classification and test methods (NFPA 286, ASTM E84/UL 723).
§803.5 / §803.5.1 — Textile and rigid decorative materials requirements (including framed/unframed ≤ 1/4 inch).
§803.14 — Thickness exemption (materials < 0.036 inch).
§806 / §807 — Decorative materials, area limits (typical 10 percent limit) and occupancy exceptions (75% auditoriums, 50% certain dormitories, window covering exemption).

If you want, I can produce a quick one‑page checklist you can print and use on site to classify whether an item is interior finish or decorative (with the exact § references to show inspectors).

Code references

Grounded in the retrieved California Fire Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:

CFC § 8-10 High relevance — show source text
8-10 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

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INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

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 to be interior finish, shall comply with Section 803 and shall not be considered decorative materials or furnishings.

Exceptions:
1. In auditoriums in Group A, the permissible amount of curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar combustible decorative material suspended from walls or ceilings shall not exceed 75 percent of the aggregate wall area where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, and where the material is installed in accordance with Section 803.15 of the California Building Code.
2. In Group R-2 dormitories, within sleeping units and dwelling units, the permissible amount of curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall not exceed 50 percent of the aggregate wall areas where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.
3. In Group B and M occupancies, the amount of combustible fabric partitions suspended from the ceiling and not supported by the floor shall comply with Section 807.3 and shall not be limited.
4. The 10-percent limit shall not apply to curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar combustible decorative materials used as window coverings.
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.08]. Decorative Materials.

In every Group A, E, I, R-1, R-2, R-2.1, R-3.1 and R-4 occupancy, all drapes, hangings, curtains, drops and all other decorative material, including Christmas trees, that would tend to increase the fire and panic hazard shall be made from a nonflammable material, or shall be treated and maintained in a flame-retardant condition by means of a flame-retardant solution or process approved by the State Fire Marshal, as set forth in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 8. Exits, exit lights, fire alarm sending stations, wet standpipe hose cabinets and fire extinguisher locations shall not be concealed, in whole or in part, by any decorative material.

Exceptions: (a) Cubical curtains and individual patient room window curtains and drapes in Group I, R-2.1, R-3.1 and R-4 occupancies. (b) Window curtains and drapes within dwelling units of Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies. (c) Christmas trees within dwelling units of Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §1273.1] Fabrics for Interior Use.

Fabrics as described in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, 1272(c) intended for interior use shall be tested in their original condition only and shall meet the requirements for fire resistance outlined in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 1273.3.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §1273.2] Fabrics for Exterior Use.
CFC § 410.2 High relevance — show source text
Exception: Stages and platforms constructed in accordance with Sections 410.2 and 410.3, respectively.

805.1.1 Subfloor construction. Floor sleepers, bucks and nailing blocks shall not be constructed of combustible materials, unless the space between the fire-resistance-rated floor assembly and the flooring is either solidly filled with noncombustible materials or fireblocked in accordance with Section 718, and provided that such open spaces shall not extend under or through permanent partitions or walls.

805.1.2 Wood finish flooring. Wood finish flooring is permitted to be attached directly to the embedded or fireblocked wood sleepers and shall be permitted where cemented directly to the top surface of fire-resistance-rated floor assemblies or directly to a wood subfloor attached to sleepers as provided for in Section 805.1.1. 805.1.3 Insulating boards. Combustible insulating boards not more than [1] / 2 inch (12.7 mm) thick and covered with finish flooring are permitted where attached directly to a noncombustible floor assembly or to wood subflooring attached to sleepers as provided for in Section 805.1.1.

SECTION 806—DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND TRIM

[F] 806.1 General. The following requirements shall apply to all occupancies:
1. Furnishings or decorative materials of an explosive or highly flammable character shall not be used.
2. Fire-retardant coatings in existing buildings shall be maintained so as to retain the effectiveness of the treatment under service conditions encountered in actual use.
3. Furnishings or other objects shall not be placed to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress therefrom or visibility thereof.
4. The permissible amount of decorative vegetation and noncombustible decorative materials shall not be limited.
[F] 806.2 Combustible decorative materials. In Groups A, B, E, I, M and R-1 and in dormitories in Group R-2, curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar combustible decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall comply with Section 806.4 and shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area to which such materials are attached.

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 to be interior finish, shall comply with Section 803 and shall not be considered to be decorative materials or furnishings.

Exceptions:
1. In auditoriums in Group A, the permissible amount of curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar combustible decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall not exceed 75 percent of the aggregate wall area where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, and where the material is installed in accordance with Section 803.15 of this code.
2. In Group R-2 dormitories, within sleeping units and dwelling units, the permissible amount of curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar decorative materials suspended from walls or ceiling shall not exceed 50 percent of the aggregate wall areas where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.
3. In Group B and M occupancies, the amount of combustible fabric partitions suspended from the ceiling and not supported by the floor shall comply with Section 806.4 and shall not be limited.
4. The 10-percent limit shall not apply to curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar combustible decorative materials used as window coverings.
CFC § 806.2 High relevance — show source text
806.2 Obstruction of means of egress. The required width of any portion of a means of egress shall not be obstructed by decorative vegetation. Natural cut trees shall not be located within an exit, corridor, or a lobby or vestibule.

806.3 Open flame. Candles and open flames shall not be used on or near decorative vegetation. Natural cut trees shall be kept a distance from heat vents and any open flame or heat-producing devices not less than the height of the tree.

806.4 Electrical fixtures and wiring. The use of unlisted electrical wiring and lighting on natural vegetation, including natural cut trees, shall be prohibited.

SECTION 807—DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND ARTIFICIAL DECORATIVE VEGETATION IN NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS

807.1 General. The following requirements shall apply to all occupancies:
1. Furnishings or decorative materials of an explosive or highly flammable character shall not be used.
2. Fire-retardant coatings in existing buildings shall be maintained so as to retain the effectiveness of the treatment under service conditions encountered in actual use.
3. Furnishings or other objects shall not be placed to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress therefrom or visibility thereof.
4. The permissible amount of noncombustible decorative materials shall not be limited.
807.2 Combustible decorative materials. In Groups A, B, E, I, M and R-1 and in dormitories in Group R-2, curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and other similar combustible decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall comply with Section 807.3 and shall not exceed 10 percent of the specific wall or ceiling area to which such materials are attached.

8-10 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

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INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

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 to be interior finish, shall comply with Section 803 and shall not be considered decorative materials or furnishings.

Exceptions:
1. In auditoriums in Group A, the permissible amount of curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar combustible decorative material suspended from walls or ceilings shall not exceed 75 percent of the aggregate wall area where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, and where the material is installed in accordance with Section 803.15 of the California Building Code.
2. In Group R-2 dormitories, within sleeping units and dwelling units, the permissible amount of curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall not exceed 50 percent of the aggregate wall areas where the building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.
3. In Group B and M occupancies, the amount of combustible fabric partitions suspended from the ceiling and not supported by the floor shall comply with Section 807.3 and shall not be limited.
4. The 10-percent limit shall not apply to curtains, draperies, fabric hangings and similar combustible decorative materials used as window coverings.
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.08]. Decorative Materials.
CFC § 803.13 High relevance — show source text
1||X||||||||||||||||||||||| |Table 803.13|||X|||||||||||||||||||||| |804.1|||X|||||||||||||||||||||| |804.4|||X|||||||||||||||||||||| |804.4.1|||X|||||||||||||||||||||| |804.4.2|||X|||||||||||||||||||||| |804.4.3|||X|||||||||||||||||||||| |806.4|||X|||||||||||||||||||||| |806.6|||X||||||||||||||||||||||

The state agency does not adopt sections identified by the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.

2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE 8-1

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8-2 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

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8 INTERIOR FINISHES

User notes:

About this chapter: Chapter 8 contains the performance requirements for controlling fire growth and smoke propagation within buildings by restricting interior finish and decorative materials. The provisions of this chapter require materials used as interior finishes and decorations to meet certain flame spread index or flame propagation criteria and smoke development criteria based on the relative fire hazard associated with the occupancy. The performance of the material is evaluated based on test standards.

SECTION 801—SCOPE

801.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the use of materials used as interior finishes, trim and decorative materials.

[BSC-CG] See California Green Building Standards Code, Chapter 5, Division 5.5 for additional finish material pollutant control requirements.

SECTION 802—GENERAL

802.1 Interior wall and ceiling finish. The provisions of Section 803 shall limit the allowable fire performance and smoke development of interior wall and ceiling finish materials based on occupancy classification.

802.2 Interior floor finish. The provisions of Section 804 shall limit the allowable fire performance of interior floor finish materials based on occupancy classification.

[F] 802.3 Decorative materials and trim. Decorative materials and trim shall be restricted by combustibility, fire performance or flame propagation performance criteria in accordance with Section 806.

802.4 Applicability. For buildings in flood hazard areas as established in Section 1612.3, interior finishes, trim and decorative materials below the elevation required by Section 1612 shall be flood-damage-resistant materials.

802.5 Application. Combustible materials shall be permitted to be used as finish for walls, ceilings, floors and other interior surfaces of buildings.

802.6 Windows. Show windows in the exterior walls of the first story above grade plane shall be permitted to be of wood or of unprotected metal framing.

802.7 Foam plastics. Foam plastics shall not be used as interior finish except as provided in Section 803.4. Foam plastics shall not be used as interior trim except as provided in Section 806.6.1 or 2604.2. This section shall apply both to exposed foam plastics and to foam plastics used in conjunction with a textile or vinyl facing or cover.

SECTION 803—WALL AND CEILING FINISHES
CFC § 2-38 High relevance — show source text
INTAKE AND RELEASE AREAS. A temporary holding suite where detained and/or incarcerated individuals are received and processed into a facility or are released from the facility. The suite may contain holding cells, sobering and safety cells, medical examination space, inter- view rooms, property storage and staff work areas.

[BE] INTENDED TO BE OCCUPIED AS A RESIDENCE. This refers to a dwelling unit or sleeping unit that can or will be used all or part of the time as the occupant’s place of abode.

[BE] INTERIOR EXIT RAMP. An exit component that serves to meet one or more means of egress design requirements, such as required number of exits or exit access travel distance, and provides for a protected path of egress travel to the exit discharge or public

way.

[BE] INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY. An exit component that serves to meet one or more means of egress design requirements, such as required number of exits or exit access travel distance, and provides for a protected path of egress travel to the exit discharge or public

way.

[BF] INTERIOR FINISH. Interior finish includes interior wall and ceiling finish and interior floor finish.

[BF] INTERIOR FLOOR FINISH. The exposed floor surfaces of buildings including coverings applied over a finished floor or stair, including risers.

[BF] INTERIOR FLOOR-WALL BASE. Interior floor finish trim used to provide a functional or decorative border at the intersection of walls and floors.

[BF] INTERIOR SURFACES. Surfaces other than weather exposed surfaces.

[BF] 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.

[BS] INTERLAYMENT. A layer of felt or nonbituminous saturated felt not less than 18 inches (457 mm) wide, shingled between each course of a wood-shake roof covering.

INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF ACCESSIBILITY. The symbol adopted by Rehabilitation International’s 11th World Congress for the purpose of indicating that buildings and facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities.

[BS] INTERMODAL SHIPPING CONTAINER. A six-sided steel unit originally constructed as a general cargo container used for the transport of goods and materials.

2-38 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

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DEFINITIONS

[BF] INTUMESCENT FIRE-RESISTIVE MATERIALS. A liquid mixture applied to substrates by brush, roller, spray or trowel that expands into a protective insulating layer to provide fire-resistive protection of the substrates when exposed to flame or intense heat.

IRREGULAR STRUCTURE. [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC, OSHPD 1, 1R, 2, 4 & 5] A structure designed as having one or more plan or vertical irreg- ularities per ASCE 7 Section 12.3.
CFC § 2-25 High relevance — show source text
way.

[BE] INTERIOR EXIT STAIRWAY. An exit component that serves to meet one or more means of egress design requirements, such as required number of exits or exit access travel distance, and provides for a protected path of egress travel to the exit discharge or public

way.

[BG] INTERIOR FINISH. Interior finish includes interior wall and ceiling finish and interior floor finish.

2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE 2-25

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DEFINITIONS

[BG] INTERIOR FLOOR-WALL BASE. Interior floor finish trim used to provide a functional or decorative border at the intersection of walls and floors.

[BG] 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.

IRRITANT. A chemical which is not corrosive, but which causes a reversible inflammatory effect on living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact. A chemical is a skin irritant if, when tested on the intact skin of albino rabbits by the methods of CPSC 16 CFR Part 1500.41 for an exposure of four or more hours or by other appropriate techniques, it results in an empirical score of 5 or more. A chemical is classified as an eye irritant if so determined under the procedure listed in CPSC 16 CFR Part 1500.42 or other approved techniques.

[A] JURISDICTION. The governmental unit that has adopted this code.

KEY BOX. A secure device with a lock operable only by a fire department master key, and containing building entry keys and other keys that may be required for access in an emergency.

[A] LABELED. Equipment, materials or products to which have been affixed a label, seal, symbol or other identifying mark of a nationally recognized testing laboratory, approved agency or other organization concerned with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection of the production of such labeled items and whose labeling indicates either that the equipment, material or product meets identified standards or has been tested and found suitable for a specified purpose.

LABORATORY. [SFM] A room, building or area where the use and storage of hazardous materials are utilized for testing, analysis, instruc- tion, research or developmental activities.

LABORATORY SUITE. [SFM] A laboratory suite is a Group L occupancy space within a building or structure, which may include multiple laboratories, offices, storage, equipment rooms or similar support functions, where the aggregate quantities of hazardous materials stored and used do not exceed the quantities set forth in the California Building Code Table 453.7.3.1 (see the California Building Code Section 453).

LABORATORY SUITE. A fire-rated enclosed laboratory area that will provide one or more laboratory spaces, within a Group B educational occupancy, that are permitted to include ancillary uses such as offices, bathrooms and corridors that are contiguous with the laboratory area, and are constructed in accordance with Chapter 38.

LANDSCAPED ROOF. An area over a roof assembly incorporating planters, vegetation, hardscaping or other similar decorative appurtenances that are not part of the roof assembly.
CFC § 5.5 High relevance — show source text
[BSC-CG] See California Green Building Standards Code, Chapter 5, Division 5.5 for additional finish material pollutant control requirements.

SECTION 802—GENERAL

802.1 Interior wall and ceiling finish. The provisions of Section 803 shall limit the allowable fire performance and smoke development of interior wall and ceiling finish materials based on occupancy classification.

802.2 Interior floor finish. The provisions of Section 804 shall limit the allowable fire performance of interior floor finish materials based on occupancy classification.

[F] 802.3 Decorative materials and trim. Decorative materials and trim shall be restricted by combustibility, fire performance or flame propagation performance criteria in accordance with Section 806.

802.4 Applicability. For buildings in flood hazard areas as established in Section 1612.3, interior finishes, trim and decorative materials below the elevation required by Section 1612 shall be flood-damage-resistant materials.

802.5 Application. Combustible materials shall be permitted to be used as finish for walls, ceilings, floors and other interior surfaces of buildings.

802.6 Windows. Show windows in the exterior walls of the first story above grade plane shall be permitted to be of wood or of unprotected metal framing.

802.7 Foam plastics. Foam plastics shall not be used as interior finish except as provided in Section 803.4. Foam plastics shall not be used as interior trim except as provided in Section 806.6.1 or 2604.2. This section shall apply both to exposed foam plastics and to foam plastics used in conjunction with a textile or vinyl facing or cover.

SECTION 803—WALL AND CEILING FINISHES

803.1 General. Interior wall and ceiling finish materials shall be classified for fire performance and smoke development in accordance with Section 803.1.1 or 803.1.2, except as shown in Sections 803.1.3 through 803.15. 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 comply with Section 803.1.1.1. Materials complying with Section 803.1.1.1 shall be considered to also comply with the requirements of Class A.

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 finish materials 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.
CFC § 8-4 High relevance — show source text
8-4 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

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INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

803.4 Fire-retardant coatings. 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.

803.5 Textile wall coverings. 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.
CFC § 804.3.3 High relevance — show source text
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, interior 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-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 804.3.3.3.

2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE 8-7

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

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 restrained shall be noncombustible. Carpet or other floor covering materials may be used in areas protected by an automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Carpet 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 padding 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 classification of the material based on the limits set forth above.
CFC § 2.1 High relevance — show source text
b**|Corridors and enclosure
for exit access stairways
and ramps|Rooms and
enclosed
spacesc|Interior exit stair-
ways and ramps and
exit passagewaysa, b|Corridors and
enclosure for exit
access stairways and
ramps|Rooms and
enclosed
spacesc| |A-1 and 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, R-4|B|Cm|C|A|Bm|C| |F|C|C|C|B|C|C| |H_, L_|B|B|Cg|A|A|B| |I-1|B|C|C|A|B|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-2.1|B|C|C|A|B|B| |R-3_, R-3.1_|C|C|C|C|C|C| |S|C|C|C|B|B|C| |U|No Restrictions|No Restrictions|No Restrictions|No Restrictions|No Restrictions|No Restrictions|

8-4 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

803.4 Fire-retardant coatings. 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.

803.5 Textile wall coverings. 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:
CFC § 808.1 High relevance — show source text
Exception: When the aggregate area of murals, signs or similar decorative objects occupies less than 10 percent of the floor or wall area, this requirement may be waived by the fire chief. 3. Theater, motion picture and television stage settings with or without horizontal projections and simulated caves or caverns shall have a maximum heat-release rate of 100 kilowatts when tested in accordance with UL 1975.

SECTION 808—FURNISHINGS OTHER THAN UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE AND

MATTRESSES OR DECORATIVE MATERIALS IN NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS

808.1 Waste and linen containers in Group I-1, I-2 and I-3 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities. Waste and linen containers located in Group I-2, I-3 and R-2.1 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities shall comply with Section 304.3.6.

808.2 Signs. Foam plastic signs that are not affixed to interior building surfaces shall have a maximum heat release rate of 150 kW when tested in accordance with UL 1975, or when tested in accordance with NFPA 289 using the 20-kW ignition source.

Exception: Where the aggregate area of foam plastic signs is less than 10 percent of the floor area or wall area of the room or space in which the signs are located, whichever is less, subject to the approval of the fire code official.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.19(b) and (c) Housekeeping.

Every building or portion of a building governed by California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall be maintained in a neat orderly manner, free from any condition that would create a fire or life hazard or a condition which would add to or contribute to the rapid spread of fire. Provisions shall be made for the proper storage and disposal of waste materials and rubbish consistent with the following:

(b) All combustible waste material and rubbish shall be stored in approved containers or shall be stored in a manner approved by the enforcing agency as being consistent with standard fire prevention practices until such waste material and rubbish is removed from the premises or otherwise disposed of in a proper manner. (1) Containers with a capacity exceeding 5.33 cubic feet (40 gallons) (0.15 m [3] ) shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9, Section 304.3.

(2) Wastebaskets and linen containers in Group I-2 and I-3 occupancies shall comply with the provisions of California Code of Regu- lations, Title 24, Part 9, Section 808.

(c) Approved self-closing metal containers or listed disposal containers by an approved testing or listing agency shall be provided and maintained in all rooms or locations where oily rags, oily waste, paint rags or similar materials subject to spontaneous ignition are used, or are stored temporarily. Such containers shall be emptied daily.

808.3 Combustible lockers. Where lockers constructed of combustible materials are used, the lockers shall be considered to be interior finish and shall comply with Section 803.

Exception: Lockers constructed entirely of wood and noncombustible materials shall be permitted to be used wherever interior finish materials are required to meet a Class C classification in accordance with Section 803.1.2.
CFC § 803.1 Medium relevance — show source text
INTERIOR FINISH, DECORATIVE MATERIALS AND FURNISHINGS

SECTION 803—INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING FINISH IN EXISTING BUILDINGS

803.1 General. 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.

803.2 Stability. 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.

803.3 Interior finish requirements based on occupancy. 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.

Frequently asked questions

When is a panel considered interior finish instead of decorative?

If it is installed as a fixed or movable wall/partition, paneling, wall pad or crash pad applied structurally or for decoration/acoustics, the code treats it as interior finish and §803 applies.

Do window curtains count toward the 10% decorative material limit?

No — the CFC expressly states the 10 percent limit does not apply to window coverings; other rules (treatment/nonflammable requirements) still apply.

Can a material tested to NFPA 286 be treated as Class A?

Yes — materials meeting the NFPA 286 acceptance criteria in §803.1.1.1 are considered to comply with Class A performance.

Are very thin wall coverings exempt from testing?

Materials with thickness less than 0.036 inch (0.9 mm) applied directly to walls or ceilings are not required to be tested per §803.14.

What about decorative screens that are 1/8 inch thick?

Rigid combustible decorative screens up to 1/4 inch thick are addressed by specific SFM standards and have different framed/unframed acceptance criteria — see §803.5.1.2 / §803.5.1.3.

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Related in the CFC

What flame-spread and smoke development limits apply to interior wall and ceiling finishes in existing buildings?

When are fire‑retardant coatings permitted and how must they be maintained?

How must textile wall coverings be tested and classified?

Where to find occupancy/location limits and exceptions for finish classes (Table 803.3)

Wall and Ceiling Finish — Existing Buildings

California Fire Code