Building Codes

FR Wood and the International Building Code (IBC)

The International Building Code (IBC) defines the specifications for manufacturing and using fire-retardant-treated wood in construction. The code outlines the qualifications for fire retardant treatment, the testing required to confirm the protection, required strength adjustments and required fasteners for use.

The following excerpts are references for fire-retardant treated wood taken from the 2018 International Building Code:

Chapter 23 – Wood

Section 2303 Minimum Standards and Quality

Section 2303.2 Fire-retardant-treated wood
Fire-retardant-treated wood is any wood product that, when impregnated with chemicals by a pressure process or other means during manufacture, shall have, when tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723, a listed flame spread index of 25 or less. Additionally, the ASTM E84 or UL 723 test shall be continued for a 20-minute period and the flame front shall not progress and the flame front shall not progress more than 10 1/2 feet (3200 mm) beyond the centerline of the burners at any time during the test.

2303.2.1 Pressure process
For wood products impregnated with chemicals by a pressure process, the process shall be performed in closed vessels under pressures not less than 50 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) (345 kPa).

2303.2.2 Other means during manufacture
For wood products impregnated with chemicals by other means… the treatment shall be an integral part of the manufacturing process {and} shall provide permanent protection to all surfaces of the wood product. The use of paints, coating, stains or other surface treatments is not an approved method of protection as required in this section.

2303.2.3 Testing
Wood structural panels shall be tested with a ripped or cut longitudinal gap of 1/8 inch (3.2 mm).

2303.2.4 Labeling
Fire-retardant-treated lumber and wood structural panels shall be labeled. The label shall contain the following items:

1. The identification mark of an approved agency in accordance with Section 1703.5.
2. Identification of treating manufacturer.
3. The name of the fire-retardant treatment.
4. The species of wood treated.
5. Flame spread and smoke-developed index.
6. Method of drying after treatment.
7. Conformance with appropriate standards in accordance with Sections 2303.2.5 through 2303.2.8.
8. For fire-retardant-treated wood exposed to weather, damp or wet locations, include the words “No increase in the listed classification when subjected to the Standard Rain Test” (ASTM D2898).

2303.2.5 Strength adjustments
Design values for untreated lumber and wood structural panels, as specified in Section 2303.1, shall be adjusted for fire-retardant treated wood…

2303.2.5.1 Wood structural panels
The effect of treatment and… redrying after treatment, and exposure to high temperatures and high humidities on the flexure properties of fire-retardant-treated softwood plywood shall be determined in accordance with ASTM D5516. The test data developed by ASTM D5516 shall be used to develop adjustment factors, maximum loads and spans, or both, for untreated plywood design values in accordance with ASTM D6305. Each manufacturer shall publish the allowable maximum loads and spans for service as floor and roof sheathing for its treatment.

2303.2.5.2 Lumber
For each species of wood that is treated, the effects of the treatment… redrying after treatment and exposure to high temperatures and high humidities on the allowable design properties of fire-retardant-treated lumber shall be determined in accordance with ASTM D5664. The test data developed by ASTM D5664 shall be used to develop modification factors for use at or near room temperature and at elevated temperatures and humidity in accordance with ASTM D6841. Each manufacturer shall publish the modification factors for service at temperatures of not less than 80oF (27oC) and for roof framing. The roof framing modification factors shall take into consideration the climatological location.

2303.2.6 Exposure to weather, damp or wet locations
Where fire-retardant-treated wood is exposed to weather, or damp or wet locations, it shall be identified as “Exterior”; to indicate there is no increase in the listed flame spread index as defined in Section 2303.2 when subjected to ASTM D2898.

2303.2.7 Interior applications
Interior fire-retardant treated wood shall have moisture content of not over 28 percent when tested in accordance with ASTM D3201 procedures at 92-percent relative humidity. Interior fire retardant-treated wood shall be tested in accordance with Section 2303.2.5.1 or 2303.2.5.2. Interior fire-retardant treated wood designated as Type A shall be tested in accordance with the provisions of this section.

2303.2.8 Moisture content
Fire-retardant-treated wood shall be dried to a moisture content of 19 percent or less for lumber and 15 percent or less for wood structural panels before use. For wood kiln-dried after treatment (KDAT), the kiln temperatures shall not exceed those used in kiln drying the lumber and plywood submitted for the tests described in Section 2303.2.5.1 for plywood and 2303.2.5.2 for lumber.

2303.2.9 Type I and II construction applications
See Section 603.1 for limitations on the use of fire-retardant-treated wood in buildings of Type I or II construction.

Section 2304 General Construction Requirements

1. Testing in accordance with section 703.2 where the connection is part of the fire-resistance test
2. Engineering analysis that demonstrates the temperature rise at any portion of the connection is limited to an average temperature rise of 250oF (139oC) and a maximum rise of 325oF (181oC) for a time corresponding to the required fire-resistance rating of the structural element being connected. For the purposes of this analysis, the connection includes connectors, fasteners and portions of wood members included in the structural design of the connection.

2304.10.5 Connections and fasteners in contact with preservative-treated and fire-retardant-treated wood
Fasteners, including nuts and washers, and connectors in contact with… fire-retardant-treated wood shall be in accordance with Sections 2304.10.5.1 through 2304.10.5.4. The coating weights for zinc-coated fasteners shall be in accordance with ASTM A153. Stainless steel driven fasteners shall be in accordance with the material requirements of ASTM F1667

2304.10.5.3 Fasteners for fire-retardant-treated wood used in exterior applications or wet or damp locations
Fasteners, including nuts and washers, for fire-retardant-treated wood used in exterior applications or wet or damp locations shall be of hot-dipped zinc-coated galvanized steel, stainless steel, silicon bronze or copper. Staples shall be of stainless steel. Fasteners other than nails, staples, timber rivets, wood screws and lag screws shall be permitted to be of mechanically deposited zinc-coated steel with coating weights in accordance with ASTM B695, Class 55 minimum.

2304.10.5.4 Fasteners for fire-retardant-treated wood used in interior applications
Fasteners, including nuts and washers, for fire-retardant-treated wood used in interior locations shall be in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. In the absence of manufacturer’s recommendations, Section 2304.10.5.3 shall apply.