National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code 101
This document reviews the flammability requirements for resilient flooring products in accordance with the recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code 101.

The following sections of the code are referenced:

Supplement 5: Fire Tests for Life Safety Code Users:

Interior Floor Finish - Floor coverings are required to be tested in accordance with NFPA 253, Standard Method of Test for Critical Radiant Flux of Flooring Covering Systems Using a radiant Heat Energy Source (ASTM E 648). This testing scenario was specifically developed to address floor finish concerns. It evaluates the tendency of a floor covering material to propagate flame across its surface in a relationship to a given energy source over a period of time. The Code recognizes two classes of interior floor finishes:

Class I, minimum critical radiant flux value of 0.45 watts per square centimeter, and

Class II with a minimum value of 0.22 watts per square centimeter.

All of Johnsonite's floor installed products (i.e., rubber tiles (except Terra-Turf), all stair treads and nosings, and resilient mouldings) meet and exceed the Class I requirements of the Code.

Interior Wall and Ceiling Finish - Wall and Ceiling materials are required to be tested in accordance with NFPA 255, Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (Steiner Tunnel Test) (ASTM E-84). The Code attempts to limit the relative rate of flame propagation and smoke development on wall and ceiling surfaces.

(Note: This requirement only applies to products installed on wall and ceiling surfaces. Due to the widespread misunderstanding of this requirement, the federal government (GSA) (DOD), AIA and other specification-generating groups are eliminating any reference to this requirement in regard to Interior Floor Finish materials since it is not applicable.)

The Code provides three classifications based on the Flame Spread Index (FSI) and Smoke Developed Index (SDI):

Class A FSI 0-25 SDI 0-450
Class B FSI 26-75 SDI 0-450
Class C FSI 76-200 SDI 0-450

Incidental and Trim Finish - Wall and Ceiling materials which represent 10 percent or less of the total wall and ceiling surface area can have a Class C rating when tested to NFPA 255 and can be installed with Class A and B materials without reducing the classification of the total space.

Johnsonite Resilient Wall Base and Resilient Mouldings, which are wall mounted, meet the requirements of a Class C rating and typically represent less than 10 percent of the total wall and ceiling surface area; therefore, meet the requirements for Incidental and Trim Finish.

Revision 4, Released August, 1999

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