The International Code Council (ICC) recently voted to uphold the 2012 requirements for NFPA 285 testing in exteriors with combustible weather (including air and vapor) barriers, thus facilitating the development of fire resistant materials. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 285 fire test is a large scale wall assembly test used to determine the potential for flame spread from one story of a building to another through the exterior wall. As an assembly test, (see image below) products cannot be accepted as having “passed” the NFPA 285 test by themselves, they can only be considered as having acceptance in an assembly. What the NFPA 285 test demonstrates is that the industry is striving to prevent a fire from starting in the first place when combustible components are used within wall assemblies of buildings that are required to be of non-combustible construction.
As NFPA 285 is an assembly test, simply offering a fire resistant component does not provide a complete solution. Recognizing this, Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing (CCW) has partnered with insulation and cladding manufacturers to test a number of wall assemblies to NFPA 285. CCW has been working on this for several years and as a result, has three distinct membrane air barrier products which are approved in a great variety of NFPA 285 tested wall assemblies. Reference the link below for specific CCW products and NFPA 285 tested wall assemblies that can be incorporated into the building design to ensure fire code compliance is achieved.
http://fireresistccw.businesscatalyst.com/PDF/FR_whitepaper.pdf
Contact the air and vapor barrier experts at Carlisle Coatings & Waterproofing for project specific questions, details and applications guidance. They may be reached at 888-229-2199 or [email protected].