FLAME SPREAD

FLAME SPREAD Certification Program

Capital Testing's accredited flame spread certification program is designed to help manufacturers and builders comply with strict building code requirements, as well as provide an extra layer of fire safety assurance to customers and building code officials.  Capital Testing proudly supports companies dedicated to performing more than the bare minimum to demonstrate the safety of their products.


In the long run, the cost of certification can be far less than conducting a single flame spread test and hoping that report is accepted as proof of compliance.  Consider the all-too-common example of a building code official rejecting this test report: maybe the test was performed too long ago, or it doesn't match the exact product installed, as it's incorrectly being used to represent compliance of an entire product line.  Now you are scrambling to find a lab that can expedite testing of your product, and if the material was already installed, it may need to be ripped out.  Beyond the cost of a project delay or potential cancellation, what is the cost of lost reputation and reduced customer confidence?


Certification gives you peace of mind that your entire range of products comply with the applicable flame spread requirements.  It also allows you to advertise and label your products as certified by an accredited certification agency, giving architects, building code officials, and your customers peace of mind as well. 


Make it easier for customers to have the confidence they need to choose your products.  Contact us for a quote for certification today.     

FLAME SPREAD CERTIFICATION PROCESS

Certification begins with a discussion. A Capital Testing representative reviews your certification request, and then requests details on your product line(s) and target markets.  The foundation of the certification program is built around this discussion: the type of product and how and where it is installed will directly inform the kind of testing and compliance needed.  For instance, products installed on the interior walls and ceilings in the United States require flame spread testing per ASTM E84.  For the same products sold into Canada, CAN/ULC S102 or S102.2 testing is needed instead.  For flooring products, the program may require ASTM E648 critical radiant flux testing. 


Once the type of testing is confirmed, Capital Testing works with you to arrange an on-site inspection of your production facility.  The inspection includes sampling of product for initial qualification testing and a full review of your production and quality control processes and procedures.  If all testing passes and all non-conformances identified during the inspection are resolved, certification is issued and you are approved to mark your products as Capital Testing certified! Capital Testing then inspects the facility annually and conducts semi-annual testing on the product(s) to verify continued compliance.


Capital Testing offers flame spread certification services to manufacturing facilities all across the U.S. and Canada, and select countries internationally.

Products and TEST standards

A wide range of products need to demonstrate flame spread compliance, including:


  • wallcoverings
  • ceiling tiles
  • flooring
  • cabinets
  • partitions
  • insulation
  • paints and coatings
  • adhesives
  • caulks and sealants
  • acoustic panels and site fabricated stretch fabric systems
  • wood products
  • plastics and wood-plastic composites
  • textiles


Different flame spread-based compliance tests are required for different products and their intended use, with options such as ASTM E84, ASTM E2768, ASTM E648, ASTM E162, and CAN/ULC S102 and CAN/ULC S102.2.  Capital Testing's flame spread certification program can be customized to accommodate any of these products and test methods, and our experts are available any time to discuss your product-specific requirements. 

Building Codes and other specifications

Flame spread compliance requirements are included in a variety of domestic and international building codes and standards.  Below is a non-exhaustive list of some of these requirements, with notes on what products are covered by the requirement. 

manufactured home construction and safety standards

24 CfR Part 3280

Section 203

Section 203 of this federal specification for manufactured homes covers the flame spread limitations and fire protection requirements for interior-finish material used in this type of construction.  The section includes ASTM E84 and E162 test requirements for materials such as interior finishes of walls, columns, partitions, and ceilings, as well as kitchen cabinet doors, countertops, and backsplashes in different applications.

2024 International building code (IBC)


Section 803 wall and ceiling finishes


section 804 interior floor finish

 The International Building Code (IBC) establishes minimum requirements for building systems using prescriptive and performance-related provisions.  While not an enforceable code itself, it is typically adopted in the U.S. at the state and local levels "as written" unless there are locality-specific revisions needed. From a practical standpoint, this means the IBC's content often becomes the rule-of-law when it comes to building requirements in the U.S. 

Section 803 of the IBC governs fire performance requirements of interior wall and ceiling finish materials.  These materials must be tested and classified for fire performance and smoke development in accordance with NFPA 286, or ASTM E84 or UL 723.  Capital Testing's certification program uses ASTM E84 as the default method for complying with this specification. 

Section 803.1.2 lists the class designations, which are based on the flame spread and smoke developed indices (FSI and SDI, respectively) reported in E84 tests:

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

Products must meet one of the above classes depending on the type of building, location within the building, and other factors.

Section 804 governs interior floor finish and floor covering materials, and states these products must be classified in accordance with ASTM E648 or NFPA 253.  Capital Testing's certification program defaults to ASTM E648 for complying with this specification.    Classifications are based on the critical radiant flux value obtained through E648 testing:

Class I = ≥0.45 watts/cm2
Class 2 = ≥0.22 watts/cm2

Similar to Section 803, these products must meet one of the above classes depending on various factors, including building type and location within the building.

2020 National Building Code of Canada (NBC)


Referenced throughout

The NBC was developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) as an objective-based national model code that sets out technical provisions for the design and construction of new buildings, as well as alterations, change of use, and demolition of existing buildings.  Like the IBC in the U.S., the NBC itself is not law, but it is often adopted as law by provincial and territorial governments "as-is," or with modifications to suit local needs.

"Flame-spread rating" is referenced over 200 times in the NBC, reflecting its importance in the Canadian code.  This rating pertains to the test result obtained from CAN/ULC S102 and S102.2 testing.  S102 and S102.2 are tested in the same Steiner tunnel apparatus as ASTM E84, but with a modified test process and configuration. 

If you make a building material, there's a good chance it has NBC flame spread requirements associated with it.  Examples of some of these materials include interior wall and ceiling finishes; foamed plastic insulation; fire retardant treated wood; combustible windows, glazing, and skylights; gypsum; combustible insulation; combustible piping materials; combustible plumbing fixtures; and exterior cladding. 

Contact us at experts@capitaltesting.org with any questions, or to request a quote!

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