803.1 General. Interior wall and ceiling finishes shall be classified in accordance with ASTM E 84. Such interior finish materials shall be grouped in the following classes in accordance with their flame spread and smoke-developed indexes.

Class A: Flame spread 0-25; smoke-developed 0-450.

Class B: Flame spread 26-75; smoke- developed 0-450.

Class C: Flame spread 76-200; smoke-developed 0-450.

Exception: Materials, other than textiles, tested in accordance with Section 803.2.

803.2. Interior wall or ceiling finishes other than textiles. Interior wall or ceiling finishes, other than textiles, shall be permitted to be tested in accordance with NFPA 286. Finishes tested in accordance with NFPA286 shall comply with Section 803.2.1.

803.2.1 Acceptance criteria. During the 40 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with Item 1. During the 160 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with Item 2. During the entire test, the interior finish shall comply with Items 3 and 4.

1.During the 40kW exposure, flames shall not spread to the ceiling.

2. During the 160 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with the following:

2.1. Flame shall not spread to the outer extremity of the sample on any wall or ceiling.

2.2. Flashover, as defined in NFPA 286, shall not occur.

3. The peak rate of heat release throughout the NFPA 286 test shall not exceed 800 kW.

4. The total smoke released throughout the NFPA 286 test shall not exceed 1,000 m2.

803.3 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.

803.4 Application. Where these materials are applied on walls, ceilings or structural elements required to have a fire-resistance rating or to be of noncombustible construction, they shall comply with the provisions of this section.

803.4.1 Direct attachment and furred construction. Where walls and ceilings are required by any provision in this code to be of fire-resistance-rated or noncombustible construction, the interior finish material shall be applied directly against such construction or to furring strips not exceeding 1.75 inches (44 mm) applied directly against such surfaces. The intervening spaces between such furring strips shall be filled with inorganic or Class A material or shall be fireblocked at a maximum of 8 feet (2438 mm) in any direction in accordance with Section 717.

803.4.2 Set-out construction. Where walls and ceilings are required to be of fire-resistance-rated or noncombustible construction and walls are set out or ceilings are dropped distances greater than specified in Section 803.4.1, Class A finish materials shall be used except where interior finish materials are protected on both sides by an automatic sprinkler system or attached to noncombustible backing or furring strips installed as specified in Section 803.4.1. The hangers and assembly members of such dropped ceilings that are below the main ceiling line shall be of noncombustible materials, except that in Type III and V construction, fire-retardant-treated wood shall be permitted. The construction of each set-out wall shall be of fire-resistance-rated construction as required elsewhere in this code.

803.4.3 Heavy timber construction. Wall and ceiling finishes of all classes as permitted in this chapter that are installed directly against the wood decking or planking of Type IV construction or to wood furring strips applied directly to the wood decking or planking shall be fireblocked as specified in Section 803.4.1.

803.4.4 Materials. An interior wall or ceiling finish that is not more than 0.25 inch (6.4 mm) thick shall be applied directly against a noncombustible backing.

Exceptions:

1. Class A materials.

2. Materials where the qualifying tests were made with the material suspended or furred out from the noncombustible backing.

803.5 Interior finish requirements based on group. Interior wall and ceiling finish shall have a flame spread index not greater than that specified in Table 803.5 for the group and location designated. Interior wall and ceiling finish materials, other than textiles, tested in accordance with NFPA 286 and meeting the acceptance criteria of Section 803.2.1, shall be permitted to be used where a Class A classification in accordance with ASTM E 84 is required.

803.6 Textiles. Where used as interior wall or ceiling finish materials, textiles, including materials having woven or nonwoven, napped, tufted, looped or similar surface and carpet and similar textile materials, shall comply with the requirements of Section 803.6.1, 803.6.2 or 803.6.3.

803.6.1 Surface burning characteristic test. Textile wall and ceiling coverings shall have a Class A flame spread index in accordance with ASTM E 84 and be protected by automatic sprinklers installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.

803.6.2 Room corner test, textiles. Textile wall coverings shall meet the criteria of Section 803.6.2.1 when tested in the manner intended for use in accordance with the Method B protocol of NFPA 265 using the product-mounting system, including adhesive.

803.6.2.1 Method B test protocol. During the 40 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with Item 1. During the 150 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with Item 2. During the entire test, the interior finish shall comply with Item 3.

1. During the 40 kW exposure, flames shall not spread to the ceiling.

2. During the 150 kW exposure, the interior finish shall comply with the following:

2.1. Flame shall not spread to the outer extremities of the samples on the 8-foot by 12-foot (203 mm by 305 mm) walls.

2.2. Flashover, as described in NFPA 265, shall not occur.

3. The total smoke released throughout the NFPA 265 test shall not exceed 1000 m2.

803.6.3 Room corner test, ceiling and wall finish. Textile wall and ceiling coverings shall meet the criteria of Section 803.2.1 when tested in the manner intended for use in accordance with NFPA 286 using the product-mounting system, including adhesive.

803.7 Expanded vinyl wall coverings. Expanded vinyl wall coverings shall comply with the requirements for textile wall and ceiling materials and their use shall comply with Section 803.6.

Exception: Expanded vinyl wall or ceiling coverings complying with Section 803.2 shall not be required to comply with Section 803.1 or 803.6.

803.8 Insulation. Thermal and acoustical insulation shall comply with Section 719.

803.9 Acoustical ceiling systems. The quality, design, fabrication and erection of metal suspension systems for acoustical tile and layin panel ceilings in buildings or structures shall conform with generally accepted engineering practice, the provisions of this chapter and other applicable requirements of this code.

803.9.1 Materials and installation. Acoustical materials complying with the interior finish requirements of Section 803 shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and applicable provisions for applying interior finish.

803.9.1.1 Suspended acoustical ceilings. Suspended acoustical ceiling systems shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of ASTM C 635 and ASTM C 636.

803.9.1.2 Fire-resistance-rated construction. Acoustical ceiling systems that are part of fire-resistance-rated construction shall be installed in the same manner used in the assembly tested and shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 7.