Title: Interpretation of portions of Section 807 of 675 IAC 22-2.4, the 2008 Indiana Fire Code, as applied to Class 1 structures classified as "E" occupancies under the rules of the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission in effect on October 25, 2011.

Date: October 25, 2011

Purpose: This interpretation is intended to assist educators, educational administrators, design professionals, contractors, building owners, and the general public by providing a clarification of the application, intent, and meaning of specific portions of Section 807 of the 2008 Indiana Fire Code to Class 1 structures classified as "E" occupancies under the rules of the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission as in effect on October 25, 2011, in order to protect the safety of students, staff, the public, and firefighters.

Interpretation: The State Fire Marshal interprets the below portions of Section 807 of the 2008 Indiana Fire Code as follows:

"807.1 General requirements. In occupancies in Groups A, E, I and R-1 and dormitories in Group R-2, curtains, draperies, hangings and other decorative materials suspended from walls or ceilings shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 in accordance with Section 806.2 or be noncombustible."

For corridors, this requires all decorative materials that are suspended from walls or ceilings to be either "combustible", which means they must meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 in accordance with Section 806.2, or be "noncombustible". The amount of combustible decorative materials shall not exceed 10 percent of the aggregate area of walls and ceilings in a single corridor. The aggregate area of the walls and ceilings in a single corridor is measured by the square footage of the combined 2 walls and associated ceiling of the corridor unit. The linear distance of the walls within the corridor unit is double the linear distance of whichever wall has the first turn. This linear measurement is without regard to openings or offsets in either of the 2 walls.

For classrooms, this section requires all decorative materials that are suspended from walls or ceilings to be either "combustible", which means they must meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 in accordance with Section 806.2, or be noncombustible. The amount of combustible decorative materials shall not exceed 10 percent of the aggregate area of walls and ceilings within a single classroom, as provided in Section 807.1.2. The aggregate area of walls and ceilings is measured by the square footage of each wall plus the square footage of the entire ceiling. The linear distance of each wall is measured to the first turn of that wall. This linear measurement is without regard to openings or offsets in either of the 2 walls. This section does not impose restrictions on the quantity of artwork or teaching materials, including materials created by students as part of course work, such as homework assignments, test papers, and subject specific projects. However, these materials shall not be of an explosive or highly flammable character. In addition, these materials shall not impair fire-retardant coatings in existing buildings and shall not be placed to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress therefrom, or visibility thereof.

"807.4.3.2 Artwork. Artwork and teaching materials shall be limited on the walls of corridors to not more than 20 percent of the wall area."

For corridors, this section does impose restrictions on the quantity of artwork and teaching materials, including materials created by students as part of course work, such as homework assignments, test papers, and subject specific projects that may be placed on the walls of corridors. It limits the total amount of such materials so that they shall not exceed 20 percent of the wall area. The "wall area" is the square footage of the combined 2 walls in that single corridor. The linear distance of the walls within the single corridor is double the linear distance of whichever wall has the first turn. This linear measurement is without regard to openings or offsets in either of the 2 walls. Artwork and teaching materials may be made of any material that is not explosive or highly flammable. However, these materials shall not impair fire-retardant coatings in existing buildings and shall not be placed to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress therefrom, or visibility thereof.

This limitation on materials on the walls of corridors is to ensure that, in the event of a fire, the safe passage out of the building through the corridors is stringently protected.

For classrooms, this section does not apply to classrooms. However, these materials shall not be of an explosive or highly flammable character.