NFPA 285 Compliance
Article
Tyvek® materials meet NFPA 285 exterior wall standards
All DuPont™ Tyvek® air and water barriers designed for commercial construction have been tested and shown to meet NFPA 285, the National Fire Protection Association fire performance standard for vertical wall assemblies.
Tyvek® materials tested
All Tyvek® air and water barrier system products have been tested and proven compliant in a variety of wall assemblies incorporating a variety of typical sheathings, framing studs, exterior insulations, and cladding types. They are:
- DuPont™ Tyvek® CommercialWrap®
- DuPont™ Tyvek® CommercialWrap® D
- DuPont™ Tyvek® Fluid Applied WB
As part of a two-story burn test to determine the flammability characteristics of exterior, non-load-bearing wall assemblies, each Tyvek® air and water barrier was part of an assembly that passed NFPA 285 testing.
The wall assemblies were tested and shown to resist flame propagation vertically or laterally beyond an acceptable distance from the flame source, on or within the wall assembly.
Understanding NFPA 285
In 1998, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) established the NFPA 285 “Standard Fire Test Method for Evaluation of Fire Propagation Characteristics of Exterior Non-Load-Bearing Wall Assemblies Containing Combustible Components.”
NFPA 285 provides a determination of vertical fire performance for exterior wall assemblies, which is verified by actual testing. It is intended to help builders reduce the potential for upward spread of fire through wall.
The requirement for a weather-resistive barrier is as follows:
WRB (Weather-Resistive Barrier) Code Requirement: 1403.5 Vertical and Lateral Flame Propagation – Exterior walls on buildings of Type I, II, III, or IV construction that are greater than 40 feet (12.192m) in height above grade plane, and contain a combustible water-resistive barrier, shall be tested in accordance with, and comply with the acceptance criteria of NFPA 285.
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