Understanding the fire code requirements for a particular product can often be challenging and confusing. Every State adopts their own fire code and in fact so to does every municipality. In an effort to help our clients answer the question of whether or not a particular State will require them to use fire retardant foliage, we asked the following question of the Office of State Fire Marshall for each State.
We are an importer of inherently fire retardant artificial foliages based in Minneapolis, MN. We constantly get asked by our clients whether or not they are required to use fire retardant foliages. Can you provide me with some clarification on whether fire retardant foliage is required in your State?
Below is a listing of all the States. Click on the State in which the artificial plants will be installed to see how they answered the question above. We have attempted to collect as much information as possible about whether fire retardant foliage will be required. There are many factors used in determining a ruling including occupancy type, sprinklers, code interpretation, etc., and although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, we make no guarantees of any kind and strongly suggest clients contact the State and the local municipality directly for complete fire code information.
Alabama
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Alabama Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Alaska
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Alaska Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Arizona
The State of Arizona has adopted International Fire Code (2003 Edition) which states in Section 804.4 that artificial decorative vegetation shall be flame resistant or flame retardant. Such flame resistance or flame retardant shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Office of State Fire Marshal
Arkansas
The Arkansas Fire Prevention Code is based on Chapter 8 of the 2000 Edition of the International Fire Code. The 2000 International Fire Code, Section 804.4 states that artificial decorative vegetation shall be flame resistant or flame retardant. Such flame resistance or flame retardants shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Office of State Fire Marshal
California
The SFM has the authority in drinking and dining establishments, places
of public assembly and schools, to require decorative materials and fabrics
(curtains, drapes, drops, hangings and tents, awnings or other fabric enclosures)
be made from a nonflammable material, or treated with approved flame retardant
chemicals. That authority has expanded over the years to include other decorative
materials such as artificial plants, Christmas trees, and trade show display
equipment.
—State Fire Marshal Website
Colorado
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Colorado Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Connecticut
The Connecticut State Fire Safety Code (CSFSC) Part V section 10.15 ‘Combustible Vegetation’ in 10.15.3 ‘Provisions for Flame Resistance and Fire Retardants’ addresses that artificial vegetation shall be labeled or otherwise identified or certified by the manufacturer as being flame retardant or flame resistive.
—Office of State Fire Marshal
Delaware
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Florida
The State of Florida has adopted the 2003 edition of NFPA 101, for application statewide. The requirements for decorations and furnishings that do not meet the definition of “Interior Finish” must comply with the provisions of Section 10.3 ‘Contents and Furnishings’.
—Bureau of Fire Prevention, Florida Division of State Fire Marshal
Georgia
Section 10.3.1 of the Georgia State Fire Code states the use of decorative materials (vegetative and non-vegetative) and furnishings in proposed (new) and existing buildings shall be regulated as set forth by Sections 805, 806, 807, and 808 of the International Fire Code (IFC), as adopted by Chapter 120-3-3 of the Rules and Regulations of the Safety Fire Commissioner. Section 806.2 of the 2006 IFC states artificial decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Office of State Fire Marshal
Hawaii
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Hawaii Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Idaho
The International Fire and Building Codes 2006 edition is a minimum standard for the State of Idaho. Various occupancies have different requirements to the extent of fire rated interior finishes and “decorations”.
Section 806.2 Artificial vegetation. Artificial decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
Again as these codes simply state yes artificial decorative vegetation, plants, foliages, etc… are required to be fire retardant in Idaho.
—Office of State Fire Marshal
Illinois
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Indiana
Section 804.4 IFC 2003 Edition
Artificial decorative vegetation shall be flame resistant or flame retardant. Such flame resistance or flame retardant shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Legal and Code Services, Department of Homeland Security
Iowa
Iowa is currently adopting the International Fire Code (IFC) 2006 edition as the baseline for the State Fire Code.
IFC Section 806 states that artificial vegetation must meet the requirements of NFPA 701. The Iowa fire code applies to all buildings in the State except 1 and 2 family dwellings.
The same would apply to the healthcare occupancies in the State regulated under CMS (Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services) regulations. They have adopted the 2000 Life Safety Code which also states that interior finish shall meet NFPA 701.
—Fire Prevention Bureau, State Fire Marshal Division
Kansas
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Kentucky
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Kentucky Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Louisiana
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Maine
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Maine Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Maryland
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Massachusetts
Per the Massachusetts State Fire Code decorations as defined as all materials such as scenery, plastic shields, streamers, and also cloth, cotton batting, straw, vines, leaves, trees and moss used for decorative effect, bamboo and other wood fibers, cardboard and other paper products that pass the NFPA 701 test are in compliance.
—Office of State Fire Marshal Download Document
Michigan
The Bureau of Fire Services fire safety rules adopt the NFPA codes and the 1997 Life Safety Code (LSC), NFPA 101. Section 6-6 ‘Furnishings, Contents, Decorations and Treated Finishes’ of the LSC requires loosely hanging furnishing and decorations to be flame resistant as demonstrated by complying with NFPA 701. The Bureau of Fire Services has applied this requirement to large foliage plants.
—Bureau of Fire Services
Minnesota
The Minnesota State Fire Code (MSFC) requires artificial foliage to comply
with NFPA 701. This comes from section 806.2.
—Office of State Fire Marshal
Mississippi
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Mississippi Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Missouri
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Missouri Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Montana
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Montana Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Nebraska
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Nebraska Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Nevada
Nevada is in the process of adopting the International Fire Code 2006 edition as the main document of the State minimum Fire Code.
The fire code simply states in Section 806.2 ‘Artificial vegetation’ that artificial decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
Again as these codes simply state yes artificial decorative vegetation, plants, foliages, etc…are required to be fire retardant in Nevada.
—Nevada State Fire Marshal Division
New Hampshire
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the New Hampshire Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
New Jersey
The New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, Section F-306.1 requires that all decorative
materials including artificial foliage, be either non-combustible or flame
resistant in accordance with both the small and large scale tests of NFPA
701, 1995 edition. Documentation should be provided with the products to
indicate that they meet or exceed the requirements of both of these tests.
—Fire Safety Code Inspections, Bureau of Fire Code Enforcement
New Mexico
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the New Mexico Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
New York
In Chapter 8, Section 804.4 of the New York State Fire Code, it states artificial decorative vegetation shall be flame resistant or flame retardant. Such flame retardance shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Office of State Fire Marshal Website
New York City
In Chapter 8, Section 804.4 of the New York City Fire Code, it states artificial decorative vegetation, including artificial trees, shall be flame resistance or flame retardance shall be certified by a testing laboratory, or by the manufacturer in an approved manner. Documentation of such certification shall be submitted to the department upon request and as required by the rules.
—Office of State Fire Marshal Download Document
North Carolina
Section 806.2 of the NC State Fire Code states: "Artificial vegetation shall meet the flame propogation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propogation criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by manufacturer's in an approved manner".
—Office of State Fire Marshal
North Dakota
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the North Dakota Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Ohio
806.2 Artificial vegetation. Artificial decorative vegetation shall meet
the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 as listed in rule
1301:7-7-45 of the Administrative Code. Meeting the flame propagation performance
criteria of NFPA 701 as listed in rule 1301:7-7-45 of the Administrative
Code shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved
manner.
—Code Enforcement Bureau, Division of State Fire Marshal
Oklahoma
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Oklahoma Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Oregon
The Oregon Fire Code (OFC), Section 806.2 addresses the use of artificial vegetation, stating “Artificial decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.”
—Office of State Fire Marshal
Pennsylvania
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Rhode Island
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Rhode Island Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
South Carolina
The State of South Carolina has adopted the International Fire Code (2006 Edition) which states in Section 806.2 that artificial decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Office of State Fire Marshal Download Document
South Dakota
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the South Dakota Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Tennessee
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Tennessee Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Texas
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Texas Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Utah
The State of Utah enforces the 2006 International Fire Code statewide. Any
requirements for artificial foliage required in the IFC would be enforced
statewide. Section 806.2 of the International Fire Code (2006 Edition) states artificial decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal
Vermont
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Vermont Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Virginia
The Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) incorporates by reference the International Fire Code (IFC) 2003 edition.
Section 804.4 ‘Artificial Vegetation’ states that artificial decorative vegetation shall be fire resistant or flame retardant. Such flame retardants shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Office of State Fire Marshal
Washington
IFC 2006 Section 806.2 'Artificial vegetation'
Artificial decorative vegetation shall meet the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701. Meeting the flame propagation performance criteria of NFPA 701 shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Office of State Fire Marshall
Washington D.C. (District of Columbia)
IFC 2000 Chapter 8 Section 804 'Decorative Vegetation'
804.4 'Artificial Vegetation' states artificial decorative vegetation shall be flame resistant or flame retardant. Such flame resistance or flame retardants shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.
—Fire Prevention Division
West Virginia
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the West Virginia Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Wisconsin
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Wisconsin Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
Wyoming
We are attempting to collect this information. We encourage you to contact
the Wyoming Office of the State Fire Marshall for more details.
