jar546
CBO
Question:
Is it permissible for a contractor to employ wood with a field-applied fire-retardant coating for constructing non-bearing interior partitions in a Type IIB construction building undergoing tenant renovation, given that the coating has an ASTM E84 listing and a flame spread rating of 25 or less, to meet the requirement for fire-retardant-treated wood?
Answer:
Buildings classified as Type IIB typically necessitate the use of noncombustible materials for building elements. However, the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) in Section 603.1 outlines specific instances where combustible materials may be used in Type I or II construction.
According to Section 603.1, Item 1.1, fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) is permissible for nonbearing partitions with a fire-resistance rating of up to 2 hours. Therefore, FRTW is suitable for the nonbearing interior partitions in this tenant renovation project.
However, it's crucial to note that for wood to qualify as FRT, it must be treated with chemicals through a pressure process or equivalent method during its manufacture, as specified in Section 2303.2. Section 2303.2.2 clarifies that alternative manufacturing methods must ensure permanent protection to all wood surfaces. Surface applications like paints, coatings, stains, or similar treatments do not meet these criteria. These surface treatments are not permanent and can be compromised by abrasion, degradation, and potential flaking or peeling due to differing expansion coefficients between the materials. The code recognition for FRTW is based on tests (including full scale, large scale, and small scale) conducted on pressure impregnated lumber and plywood. Therefore, using a fire-retardant-treated coating would not be acceptable in this context.
Is it permissible for a contractor to employ wood with a field-applied fire-retardant coating for constructing non-bearing interior partitions in a Type IIB construction building undergoing tenant renovation, given that the coating has an ASTM E84 listing and a flame spread rating of 25 or less, to meet the requirement for fire-retardant-treated wood?
Answer:
Buildings classified as Type IIB typically necessitate the use of noncombustible materials for building elements. However, the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) in Section 603.1 outlines specific instances where combustible materials may be used in Type I or II construction.
According to Section 603.1, Item 1.1, fire-retardant-treated wood (FRTW) is permissible for nonbearing partitions with a fire-resistance rating of up to 2 hours. Therefore, FRTW is suitable for the nonbearing interior partitions in this tenant renovation project.
However, it's crucial to note that for wood to qualify as FRT, it must be treated with chemicals through a pressure process or equivalent method during its manufacture, as specified in Section 2303.2. Section 2303.2.2 clarifies that alternative manufacturing methods must ensure permanent protection to all wood surfaces. Surface applications like paints, coatings, stains, or similar treatments do not meet these criteria. These surface treatments are not permanent and can be compromised by abrasion, degradation, and potential flaking or peeling due to differing expansion coefficients between the materials. The code recognition for FRTW is based on tests (including full scale, large scale, and small scale) conducted on pressure impregnated lumber and plywood. Therefore, using a fire-retardant-treated coating would not be acceptable in this context.
