15-12-020 Performance standards.

   The requirements of this section shall constitute the minimum functional performance standards for fire protection purposes. Such requirements shall not be deemed to decrease or waive any requirements of this Code with respect to safe load capacity, durability or other specified requirements.

(Prior code §  65-1.1)

15-12-030 Use of combustibles.

   All materials and forms of construction that develop the fire resistance required by this Code shall be acceptable for fireproofing and construction purposes, except that all structural components shall be non-combustible in wall and roof assemblies of Type I, II and III buildings and in all floor and roof/ceiling assemblies of Type I and II buildings. The requirement regarding non-combustibility of two-hour rated assemblies shall not apply to interior walls and floors in construction Types III-A, III-B and IV-A.

(Prior code §  65-1.2; Amend Coun. J. 10-2-95, p. 8040; Amend Coun. J. 5-17-00, p. 32653, § 4)

15-12-040 Definitions.

   (a)   “Combustible material” means a material which will ignite when heated to a temperature at or below 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.

   (b)   “Fire resistance”, as applied to building materials and construction, means the ability to withstand fire or give protection from it for given periods under prescribed test conditions.

   (c)   “Fire-resistive rating” means the degree of fire resistance of a fabricated unit or assembly of units of construction, determined by the standard fire test expressed in hours or fractions of an hour.

   (d)   “Flame-spread rating” means the degree of flame resistance of materials used for interior finish and trim or for decorative purposes determined by the rate of flame spread in the standard tunnel test.

   (e)   “Noncombustible material” means a material which will not ignite when heated to a temperature of 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.

   (f)   “Fire-retardant-treated wood” means lumber or plywood that has a Class 1 rating when tested in accordance with ASTM E-84, UL 723, or NFPA 255 for a period of 30 minutes and which, at no time during the period of the test, shows evidence of significant progressive combustion or experiences progress of the flame front more than 10 1/2 feet beyond the centerline line of burner. Each piece of fire-retardant-treated wood shall be identified at two-foot intervals by a label or a stamp of an approved agency acceptable to the building commissioner and the fire prevention bureau having an inspection service, and further by the marking of a continuous double line between the labels or stamps. Where fire-retardant-treated wood is to be subject to sustained high humidity or exposed to the weather, it shall be further identified to indicate there is no increase in listed fire hazard classification when subjected to “The Standard Rain Test” (ASTM D-2898-81).

(Prior code § 65-2; Amend Coun. J. 6-14-95, p. 2832; Amend Coun. J. 3-5-03, p. 104990, § 43; Amend Coun. J. 11-13-07, p. 14999, Art. II, § 1)

15-12-050 Accepted engineering practice.

   Recognized Authoritative Agencies. The applicable test procedures of the following agencies are recognized as accepted engineering practice with respect to fire- resistive qualities of materials and assemblies:

   American Standards Association (ASA);

   American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM);

   National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU);

   National Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce (NBS);

   National Fire Protection Association (NFPA);

   Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (UL).

(Prior code §  65-3)

15-12-060 Fire tests for building materials and construction.

   (a)   Test Procedure. Where fire-resistive ratings of building materials and construction are required in this Code, such fire-resistive ratings shall be determined by the test procedures and conditions of acceptance prescribed in the following documents:

   Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, ASTM Designation: E119-1958.

   Fire-retardant wood ASTM E-84 (30 minutes) and ASTM 1-2898 (exposure to weather).

   (b)   Approved Materials and Construction.

      (1)   Materials and construction listed in either of the following documents for specific fire-resistant ratings shall be acceptable as meeting the requirements of this Code:

      Fire Endurance of Open-Web Steel-Joist Floors with Concrete Slabs and Gypsum Ceilings – USDC – NBS – Building Materials and Structures, Report 141 – issued August 23, 1954. Combustible Contents in Buildings – USDC – NBS – Building Materials and Structures, Report 149 – issued July 25, 1957.

      Fire-Resistance and Sound-Insulation Ratings for Walls, Partitions, and Floors – USDC – NBS – Technical Report on Building Materials 44.

      National Building Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, 1955 Edition, Appendix A and December 1957 Amendments to the 1955 Edition of the National Building Code.

      Fire-resistance ratings as listed in the Fire Resistance Design Manual, Tenth Edition, as published by the Gypsum Association, are incorporated by reference and may be referred to as herein listed.

      (2)   Nothing in this section shall preclude the use of other materials and construction meeting the required test standards.

(Prior code §  65-4; Amend Coun. J. 8-7-85, p. 18993)