How to Evaluate Fire-Retardant Coatings for Code Compliance and Safety
When it comes to the use of fire-retardant coatings for building materials, all products are not created equal. Model building codes, like the International Building Code® (IBC), International Fire Code® (IFC), and the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), state codes, and local (city) codes may include requirements for specific uses of fire-retardant coatings. Therefore, fire-retardant-coated building materials must be evaluated to ensure they comply with the applicable code requirements for their intended use.
There are numerous proprietary fire-retardant coatings on the market, most of which are qualified for specific uses and applications to specific substrates to meet specific standards and/or code requirements. Manufacturers and applicators of fire-retardant coatings may make various claims of compliance without providing evidence of how the products were qualified through testing in accordance with the applicable standard(s) prescribed by the code(s).
Since the flammability of building materials is a life safety issue, it is very important to examine the suitability of fire-retardant coatings by thoroughly reviewing all substantiating data, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Is the fire-retardant coating suitable for the intended application? The coating needs to be evaluated for application to the intended substrate, and the coated substrate needs to comply with provisions of the applicable code(s).
- Has the fire-retardant coating (and/or coated substrate) been tested in accordance with the code-prescribed standard(s) relevant to the intended use?
- Have the fire-retardant coating and coated substrates or assemblies been tested by an accredited testing laboratory?
- Is the manufacturer or applicator of the fire-retardant coating able to provide relevant test data and independent verification (in the form of an Evaluation Report or Listing Report) acceptable to the code official that approves installation of the coating?
When considering the use of a fire-retardant coating, addressing these questions will allow you to:
- Ensure that the fire-retardant coating has been evaluated for the specific substrate intended for installation at the jobsite. There are many different substrates used in construction (e.g., various species of wood, paper-faced gypsum wallboards, spray-applied polyurethane foam plastic insulations, composite materials, various metals, concrete, etc.), and obviously, the performance of a fire-retardant coating will vary depending on the substrate.
- Ensure that the fire-retardant coating has been evaluated for the specific coating thickness (or application rate) for the intended installation at the jobsite. Different fire-retardant coating thicknesses (or application rates) may need to be used, each tailored for a specific substrate and location at the jobsite. Obviously, the fire-retardant coating minimum thickness (or minimum application rate) will need to be applied to achieve the performance level required by the code(s).
If the fire-retardant coating is a component of an assembly, the assembly needs to be tested in accordance with the applicable standard(s) required by the code(s). For example, fire-resistance-rated assemblies (walls, floor-ceilings, ceiling-roofs) are to be tested in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263.
Under the IBC, when exterior wall assemblies are intended for use in buildings required to be Type I or Type II construction, NFPA 285 testing of the assembly is required. Additionally, interior finishes in buildings are to be tested in accordance with ASTM E84, NFPA 286, or UL 723; and when a fire-retardant coating is used to achieve the desired interior finish classification, IFC Section 803.4 requires NFPA 703 testing of the coated substrate.
With regard to testing laboratories, they should be accredited in accordance with the applicable provisions of ISO 17025, and include in their scope of accreditation the standards used as the basis for testing. To ensure consistency and accuracy of test data, reports of testing should be issued by third-party testing laboratories that are accredited by organizations such as the International Accreditation Service (IAS). See www.iasonline.org.
Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) – the code officials that approve installations in their communities – must verify compliance with provisions of the applicable code(s). In doing so, they rely on test reports and evaluation reports issued by accredited agencies.
Evaluation Reports and Listing Reports, issued by evaluation agencies such as ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), accredited in accordance with ISO 17065, provide code officials with proof of continuous compliance with applicable Acceptance Criteria and/or standards, as well as the requirements of the International Codes. Such Evaluation or Listing Reports assist code officials in their approval process to ensure that fire-retardant-coated building materials are suitable for the intended use.
