Finish & Furniture Selection

ID 234 Chapter 9

What is Regulated by Codes:

• Walls & Ceilings– Class A, B, C (flame spread/smoke)

• Floors– Class I & II

• Furnishings finishes– Check test used, but generally follow either floor or wall

ratings for that space

How to Select MaterialsFloor & Ceiling

• Class A: Flame spread 0-25, Smoke development 0-450

• Class B: Flame spread 26-75, Smoke development 0-450

• Class C: Flame spread 76-200, Smoke development 0-450

• Achieved using the Steiner Tunnel Tests

• Note: Flame spread index (FSI) indicates speed at which a fire may spread across the surface of a material. The lower the number, the slower the fire will spread. FSI is determined test results.

Remember: Class A,B,C refer to wall & ceiling treatments

How to Select MaterialsWalls

• Class I: CRF: minimum of 0.45 watts per square centimeter

• Class I: CRF: minimum of 0.22 watts per square centimeter

• Achieved using the Radiant Panel Tests

• CRF: critical radiant flux– Measured in watts per square centimeter– Higher value = more heat energy it takes to ignite the finish (more

resistant to flame spread)

How to Select Materials

Furniture & Finishes

Types of tests:

How to Select Materials

Furniture & Finishes

What the tests mean:

Finishes can receive either a pass/fail or class rating, depending on the test

Project – Specific Concerns

Example: Restaurant waiting area upholstery

Example: Restaurant waiting area upholstery

Testing: Wyzenbeek Published : 95,000+Tensile Strength Weft : 351Tensile Strength Warp : 330Seam Slippage Weft : 94.8Seam Slippage Warp : 84.8NFPA 260 (UFAC) : Class IMace Snag : L-4.5 W-3.5Lightfastness 40 hrs : 5CAL 117 : PassColorfastness Wet : 4Colorfastness Dry : 4.5Brush Pill : 3

Other Restrictions:• 10% Rule: decorative material & trim kept to a maximum of 10% of wall & ceiling area can

have a lower rating• Thickness Rule: wallcovering more than .036” thick is to be treated as interior finish• Furring Strips: cannot exceed a thickness of 1.75” when finishes are applied directly to

them, and space in between must be filled with fire-rated material• Sprinkler Rule: automatic sprinkler system = lower finish class ratings are sometimes

allowed, or finishes with not rating at all• Means of Egress: all exits & path of travel to and from exits must be clear of furnishings,

decorations, or other objects• Structural Building Elements: certain exposed building structural members are required

to be enclosed, depending on their material and spacing (refer to ‘structural’ section of the codes)

• Foam Plastics: if used as wall or ceiling finishes, they must: follow 10% rule, pass multiple tests (Steiner Tunnel Test & Room Corner Test), and be of a certain thickness & density

• Light-Transmitting Plastics: must comply with a separate ‘plastics’ section of the codes• Insulation: when used within a rated assembly, must also be rated – when used on a surface

(acoustical) must meet minimum flame spread & smoke density ratings• Safety Glass: refer to ‘glass and glazing’ section of the codes

Accessibility of Materials

Exercise 6

Identify the following: (see handout)

• Occupancy Classification for the building

•Exit: • Material Classification• Example Floor

Covering that meets testing requirements

• Exit Access• Material Classification• Example Upholstery

that meets testing requirements

• Other Area (Bathroom):• Material Classification• Example Wall Covering

that meets testing requirements

Classification Material to Specify

Required Tests Example Material Specs (attach images on a separate sheet)

Tests Performed Results

Exit Floor Covering

Exit AccessUpholstery

Other AreaWall Covering

Occupancy Classification

Exit *

Exit Access *

Other Area *

Exercise 6ID 234 Name:

* Identify with color or another key the location of this area on the floor plan