Section 28-701.2C8. INTERIOR FINISHES  


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  • SECTION BC 801
                                       GENERAL
        801.1  Scope.  Provisions  of  this  chapter  shall  govern the use of
      materials used as interior finishes, trim and decorative materials.
        801.1.1 Interior finishes. These provisions shall limit the  allowable
      flame  spread  and  smoke  development  based  on location and occupancy
      classification.
        Exceptions:
        1. Materials having a thickness less than 0.036 inch (0.91 mm) applied
      directly  to  a  non-combustible,  or   fire-retardant   treated   wood,
      substrate.
        2.   Exposed   portions  of  structural  members  complying  with  the
      requirements for buildings of Type IV construction in Section 602.4.
        801.1.2 Applicability in floor hazard areas. For  buildings  in  floor
      hazard  areas  as established in Appendix G, interior finishes, trim and
      decorative   materials   below   design   floor   elevation   shall   be
      flood-damage-resistant materials.
        801.2   Application.   Combustible   materials   complying   with  the
      requirements of this chapter shall be permitted to be used  as  finished
      for walls, ceilings, floor and other interior surfaces of buildings.
        801.2.1 Windows. Show windows in the first story of buildings shall be
      permitted to be of wood or of unprotected metal framing.
        801.2.2  Foam  plastics.  Foam  plastics shall not be used as interior
      finish or trim except as provided in Section 2603.7 or 2604.
                                    SECTION BC 802
                                     DEFINITIONS
        802.1 General. The following words and terms shall, for  the  purposes
      of  this  chapter  and as used elsewhere in this code, have the meanings
      shown herein.
        EXPANDED VINYL WALL COVERING. Wall  covering  consisting  of  a  woven
      textile  backing,  an  expanded vinyl base coat layer and a non-expanded
      vinyl skin coat. The expanded base coat layer  is  a  homogeneous  vinyl
      layer  that  contains  a  blowing  agent. During processing, the blowing
      agent decomposes, causing this layer to expand by forming closed  cells.
      The  total thickness of the wall covering is approximately 0.055 inch to
      0.070 inch (1.4 mm to 1.8 mm).
        FLAME RESISTANCE.  That  property  of  materials  or  combinations  of
      component materials that restrict the spread of flame in accordance with
      NFPA 701.
        FLAME SPREAD. The propagation of flame over a surface.
        FLAME  SPREAD INDEX. The numerical value assigned to a material tested
      in accordance with ASTM E 84.
        INTERIOR FINISH. Interior finish includes interior  wall  and  ceiling
      finish and interior floor finish.
        INTERIOR  FLOOR  FINISH.  the  exposed  floor  surfaces  of  buildings
      including covering applied over a finished  floor  or  stair,  including
      risers.
        INTERIOR  WALL  AND  CEILING  FINISH. The exposed interior surfaces of
      building including, but not limited  to:  fixed  of  movable  walls  and
      partitions,  columns;  ceiling;  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.
    
        SMOKE-DEVELOPED INDEX. The numerical  value  assigned  to  a  material
      tested in accordance with ASTM E 84.
        TRIM.  Picture  molds,  chair  rails,  baseboards, handrails, door and
      window frames and similar decorative or  protective  materials  used  in
      fixed applications.
                                    SECTION BC 803
                              WALL AND CEILING FINISHES
        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
      index.
        Class A: Flame spread 0-25.
        Class B: Flame spread 26-75.
        Class C: Flame spread 76-200.
        Exception: Materials, other than textiles, tested in  accordance  with
      Section 803.2.
        803.1.1  Smoke developed index. Smoke developed index shall range from
      0-450 with the following restrictions:
           Exits, corridors                        25
           Occupancy Group I                       50
           Rooms in which the net floor area per   100
           occupant is 10 square feet or less
        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
      NFPA 286 shall comply with Sections 803.2.1 and 803.2.2.
        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 Item 3.
        1. During the 40 kW 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 total smoke released throughout the NFPA  286  test  shall  not
      exceed 1,000 m{2}.
        803.2.2  Toxicity.  Interior  wall  or  ceiling  finishes,  other than
      textiles,  upon  exposure  to  fire,  shall  not  produce  products   of
      decomposition   or   combustion   that   are  more  toxic  in  point  of
      concentration than those given off by wood or paper when decomposing  or
      burning under comparable conditions.
        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
      fire blocked 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 of 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 fire
      blocked 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  qualified tests were made with the material
      suspended or furred out from the noncombustible backing.
        803.5 Interior finish requirements based on occupancy 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 that textiles,  tested
      in  accordance  with  NFPA  286  and  meeting the acceptance criteria of
      Sections 803.2.1 and 803.2.2, shall be permitted  to  be  used  where  a
      Class A classification in accordance with ASTM E 84 is required.
                                      TABLE 803.5
            INTERIOR WALL AND CEILING FINISH REQUIREMENTS BY OCCUPANCY{k}
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         SPRINKLERED                  NONSPRINKLERED
                 -------------------------------------------------------------
                  Vertical    Exit              Vertical    Exit
                   exits     access    Rooms     exits     access    Rooms
                  and exit  corridors   and     and exit  corridors   and
                   pass-      and     enclosed   pass-      and     enclosed
                  ageways    other     spaces   ageways    other     spaces
                   {a,b}    exitways     {c}     {a,b}    exitways     {c}
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      A-1&A-2       B         B         C         A        A{d}      B{e}
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      A-3{f}, A-4,    B         B         C         A        A{d}       C
      A-5
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      B, E, M, R-1    B         B         B         A        A          C
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      F               B         C         C         A        B          B
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      H               B         B        C{g}       A        A          B
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
      I-1             B         C         C         A        B          B
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      I-2             B         B       B{h,i}      A        A          B
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      I-3             A        A{j}       C         A        A          B
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      I-4             B         B       B{h,i}      A        A          B
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      R-2             B         B         C         A        A          C
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      R-3             C         C         C         C        C          C
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      S               B         C         C         A        B          C
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      U                    No restrictions               No restrictions
      ------------------------------------------------------------------------
      For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m{2}.
        a.   Class   C  interior  finish  materials  shall  be  permitted  for
      wainscotting or paneling of not more than 1,000 square feet  of  applied
      surface   area   in   the  grade  lobby  where  applied  directly  to  a
      noncombustible base or over furring strips applied to  a  noncombustible
      base and fireblocked as required by Section 803.4.1.
        b. In vertical exits of buildings less than three stories in height of
      other  than  Group  I-2,  Class  B  interior  finish  for nonsprinklered
      buildings and Class C interior finish for sprinklered buildings shall be
      permitted.
        c. Requirements for rooms and enclosed  spaces  shall  be  based  upon
      spaces  enclosed  by  partitions.  Where  a  fire-resistance  rating  is
      required for structural elements, the enclosing partitions shall  extend
      from  the  floor to the ceiling. Partitions that do not comply with this
      shall be considered enclosing spaces and the rooms  or  spaces  on  both
      sides   shall   be   considered   one.  In  determining  the  applicable
      requirements for rooms  and  enclosed  spaces,  the  specific  occupancy
      thereof   shall   be  the  governing  factor  regardless  of  the  group
      classification of the building or structure.
        d. Lobby areas in A-1, A-2 and A-3 occupancies shall not be less  than
      Class B materials.
        e.  Class  C interior finish materials shall be permitted in places of
      assembly with an occupant load of 300 person or less.
        f. For churches and  places  of  worship,  wood  used  for  ornamental
      purposes, trusses, paneling or chancel furnishing shall be permitted.
        g. Class B material required where building exceeds two stories.
        h.   Class   C   interior  finish  materials  shall  be  permitted  in
      administrative spaces.
        i. Class C interior finish materials shall be permitted in rooms  with
      a capacity of four persons or less.
        j.  Class B materials shall be permitted as wainscotting extending not
      more than 48 inches above the finished floor in exit access corridors.
        k. Finish materials as provided for in other sections of this code.
        l. Applies when the vertical  exits,  exit  passageways,  exit  access
      corridors  or exitways, or rooms and spaces are protected by a sprinkler
      system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.
        803.6  Textiles.  Where  used  as  interior  wall  or  ceiling  finish
      materials,  textiles,  including  materials  having  woven or non-woven,
      napped, tufted,  looped  or  similar  surface,  shall  comply  with  the
      requirements of this section.
        803.6.1  Textile  wall  coverings. Textile wall 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  or  the  covering  shall  meet  the  criteria  of Section
      803.6.1.1 or 803.6.1.2 when tested in the manner  intended  for  use  in
      accordance  with  NFPA  265 using the product mounting system, including
      adhesive.
        803.6.1.1 Method A test protocol. During the Method A protocol,  flame
      shall  not  spread  to the ceiling during the 40 kW exposure. During the
      150 kW exposure, the textile wall covering shall comply with all of  the
      following:
        1.  Flame shall not spread to the outer extremity of the sample on the
      8-foot by 12-foot (2438 mm by 3658 mm) wall.
        2. The  specimen  shall  not  burn  to  the  outer  extremity  of  the
      2-foot-wide (610 mm) samples mounted in the corner of the room.
        3.  Burning droplets deemed capable of igniting textile wall coverings
      or that burn for 30 seconds or more shall not form.
        4. Flashover, as defined in NFPA 265, shall not occur.
        5. The maximum net instantaneous peak heat release rate, determined by
      subtracting the burner output from the maximum heat release  rate,  does
      not exceed 300 kW.
        803.6.1.2 Method B test protocol. During the Method B protocol, flames
      shall  not  spread to the ceiling at any time during the 40 kW exposure.
      During the 150 kW exposure, the textile wall covering shall comply  with
      the following:
        1.  Flame shall not spread to the outer extremity of the sample on the
      8-foot by 12-foot (2438 mm by 3658 mm) wall.
        2. Flashover, as defined in NFPA 265, shall not occur.
        803.6.2 Textile ceiling finish. Where used as a ceiling finish, carpet
      and similar textile materials shall have a Class A flame spread index in
      accordance with ASTM E 84 and be protected by automatic sprinklers.
        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 lay-in
      panel ceilings  in  buildings  or  structures  shall  conform  with  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. Acoustical ceilings that are
      to be suspended below floor or roof construction by means of  a  framing
      system shall consist of supporting hangers of minimum 1/4 inch (6.4  mm)
      diameter  steel  rods,  carrying  channels of minimum 1 1/2 inch (38 mm)
      deep cold-rolled steel weighing 0.457  pounds  per  linear  foot  (0.707
      kg/m),  and  a  supporting  grid  complying with Appendix R. Use of wire
      hangers shall not be permitted. Direct hung suspension systems shall not
      be permitted.
        Exception:  Acoustical  ceiling  systems  in  Groups   R-2   and   R-3
      occupancies shall be permitted to be installed in accordance with ASTM C
      635 and ASTM C 636 without modifications.
    
        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.
                                    SECTION BC 804
                                INTERIOR FLOOR FINISH
        804.1  General.  Interior  floor  finish  and floor covering materials
      shall comply with this section.
        804.2  Classification.  Interior  floor  finish  and  floor   covering
      materials  required  by Section 804.5.1 to be of Class I or II materials
      shall be classified in accordance  with  NFPA  253.  The  classification
      referred to herein corresponds to the classifications determined by NFPA
      253  as  follows:  Class  I, 0.45 watts/cm{2} or greater; Class II, 0.22
      watts/cm{2} or greater.
        804.3 Testing and identification. Floor covering  materials  shall  be
      tested  by an approved agency in accordance with 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  according  to  Section
      804.2.  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
      department upon request.
        804.4  Application. Combustible materials installed in or on floors of
      buildings  of  Type  I  or  II  construction  shall  conform  with   the
      requirements of Sections 804.4.1 through 804.4.4
        Exception:   Stages  and  platforms  constructed  in  accordance  with
      Sections 410.3 and 410.4, respectively.
        804.4.1 Sub-floor construction.  Floor  sleepers,  bucks  and  nailing
      blocks  shall  not  be  constructed of combustible materials, unless the
      space between  the  fire-resistance-rated  floor  construction  and  the
      flooring is either solidly filled with approved noncombustible materials
      or  fireblocked  in  accordance with Section 717, and provided that such
      open spaces shall not extend under or through  permanent  partitions  or
      walls.
        804.4.2  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  approved
      fire-resistance-rated  construction  or  directly  to  a  wood  subfloor
      attached to sleepers as provided for in Section 804.4.1.
        804.4.3 Insulating boards. Combustible insulating boards not more than
      0.5-inch (12.7 mm) thick and covered with approved finished flooring are
      permitted, where attached directly to a noncombustible floor assembly or
      to wood subflooring attached to sleepers  as  provided  for  in  Section
      804.4.1.
        804.4.4  Carpet-type  floor coverings. Carpet-type floor coverings are
      permitted where  cemented  directly  to  the  top  surface  of  approved
      fire-resistance-rated  construction  or  directly  to  a  wood  subfloor
      attached to sleepers as provided for in Section 804.4.1.
        804.5 Interior floor  finish  limitations.  In  buildings  and  spaces
      classified in Occupancy Group H and in all exits and exit passageways of
      any   Occupancy  Group,  floor  finishes  shall  be  of  non-combustible
      materials.
        Exception: Interior floor finish may be of  combustible  materials  in
      the  following spaces. Carpet-type materials must be able to withstand a
      minimum critical radiant flux as specified in Section 804.5.1.
        1. Buildings of Type VB Construction.
    
        2. Interior stairs in buildings of Types III, IV and V Construction in
      Occupancy Groups B, F, M or S-2, when the buildings are two  stories  in
      height or less.
        3. Interior stairs in buildings of Types III, IV and V Construction in
      Occupancy  Group  R-2  and  R-3  when the buildings are three stories in
      height or less.
        4. Interior stairs in buildings of Types III, IV and V Construction in
      Occupancy Group R-2 when occupied by three families or less.
        804.5.1 Minimum critical radiant flux. Interior floor  finishes  shall
      not  be  less  than Class I in Occupancy Groups I-2 and I-3 and not less
      than Class II in Occupancy Groups A, B, E, H, I-4, M, R-1, R-2 and S. In
      all other Occupancy Groups, the interior floor finish shall comply  with
      the DOC FF-1 "pill test" (CPSC 16 CFR, Part 1630).
                                    SECTION BC 805
                                DECORATIONS AND TRIM
        805.1  Decorations. All decorations shall comply with the requirements
      of the New York City Fire Code.
        805.2 Reserved.
        805.3 Trim. Material used as interior trim shall have minimum Class  C
      flame  spread  as required by Section 803.1 and smoke-developed index as
      required by Section 803.1.1. Combustible trim, excluding  handrails  and
      guardrails, shall not exceed 10 percent of the aggregate wall or ceiling
      area in which it is located.
        805.4  Foam  plastic  as  trim.  Foam  plastic  used  as trim shall be
      permitted in Group R-3 occupancies, within individual dwelling units  of
      Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies, and where approved in accordance with the
      special  provisions of Section 2603.8. Foam plastics used as trim in any
      occupancy shall comply with the requirements of Section 2604.2.
        805.5  Pyroxylin  plastic.  Imitation  leather   or   other   material
      consisting  of  or  coated  with a pyroxylin or similarly hazardous base
      shall not be used in Group A occupancies.