NFPA 285: A Look at 2015 IBC Exemptions

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285 is a wall assembly fire test referenced by the International Building Code (IBC). This test requirement applies to Non-Combustible Construction, Types I, II, III, and IV. The use of this testing requirement is outlined in Chapters 14 and 26 of IBC, with exceptions added in the 2015 version of IBC.

Two other fire tests are referenced in Chapters 14 and 26 as well: ASTM E84 "Test Methods for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials" and ASTM E1354 "Standard Test Method for Heat and Visible Smoke Release Rates for Materials and Products Using an Oxygen Consumption Calorimeter".

Several CCM products in the category of Water Resistive Barriers and Plastic Foam Insulation meet the exceptions in 2015 IBC, which means they would not trigger the need for an NFPA 285 test, but keep in mind that many CCM products have passed this assembly test with many other product combinations.

Examples of products which would meet the exemption for Chapter 14 in 2015 IBC are R2+ SHEATHE, which is a foil-faced Polyisocyanurate wall board, and R2+ MATTE, which is a Class A Coated Glass Faced Polyisocyanurate wall board.

Examples of products which would meet the exemption for Chapter 26 in 2015 IBC are Barrithane VP, a fluid-applied, vapor-permeable membrane at 20-mil and 40-mil cured thickness and 705FR-A, a rubberized asphalt composite membrane. Both of these products meet the ASTM E84 thresholds of ≤25 Flame Spread and ≤450 Smoke Development and ASTM E1354 threshold of 50 kW/m2.

So for your next wall assembly, verify that your product meets the exemption or choose a product which has passed NFPA 285 testing for your specific wall assembly. Contact Craig Tyler at [email protected] with further questions.