Technical Guide

Fire Rating Guide for Natural Wallcoverings

Understanding fire performance standards for natural wallcoverings — ASTM E84 (US), EN 13501 (EU), GB 8624 (China) and BS 476 (UK). When FR treatment is required and how it affects your specification.

Updated: May 2026By: Grasscloths Team6 min read

Natural wallcoverings are not inherently fire-rated to commercial standards. Untreated grasscloth and sisal typically achieve ASTM E84 Class C (flame spread index 76–200). To meet Class A (FSI ≤ 25), fire-retardant (FR) treatment must be applied during manufacturing. FR treatment adds 10–15% to unit cost and 5–7 days to production lead time. Always specify the required fire standard upfront.

Fire Rating Standards Compared

Standard	Region	Test Method	Key Metric	Common Requirement
ASTM E84	United States	Steiner Tunnel Test	Flame Spread Index (FSI)	Class A (FSI ≤ 25) for commercial; Class C (FSI ≤ 200) for residential
NFPA 286	United States	Room Corner Test	Flashover, heat release	Required when wallcovering exceeds 10% of wall area in some codes
EN 13501-1	Europe	SBI (Single Burning Item)	FIGRA, THR, smoke	B-s1,d0 for commercial; D-s2,d2 for residential
GB 8624	China	Cone calorimeter + ignitability	Classification A–F	Class B1 (flame retardant) for public buildings
BS 476 Part 7	United Kingdom	Surface Spread of Flame	Class 1–4	Class 1 for most commercial interiors

Natural Wallcovering Fire Performance

Without FR Treatment (Untreated)

Material	ASTM E84	EN 13501	GB 8624
Grasscloth	Class C (FSI 76–150)	D-s2,d2	Class B2
Sisal	Class C (FSI 60–120)	D-s1,d1	Class B2
Wood Veneer	Class C (FSI 100–200)	D-s2,d2	Class B2
Cork	Class C (FSI 80–150)	D-s1,d1	Class B2
Gold Foil	Class B (FSI 26–75)*	C-s1,d0*	Class B1*
Mica	Class C (FSI 50–100)	C-s1,d1	Class B1–B2

* Gold foil and mica may achieve higher ratings due to their mineral/metallic composition, but ratings depend on backing and specific construction.

With FR Treatment

Fire-retardant treatment is applied to the fiber and/or backing during manufacturing. After FR treatment, most natural wallcoverings achieve:

ASTM E84 Class A (FSI ≤ 25, SDI ≤ 450)
EN 13501 Class B-s1,d0
GB 8624 Class B1

Cost impact of FR treatment: Adds approximately 10–15% to unit cost and 5–7 working days to production lead time. FR treatment is applied at the factory during manufacturing — it cannot be applied effectively after installation. Always specify FR requirement before production begins.

When Is FR Treatment Required?

Always Required (ASTM E84 Class A)

Hotels and hospitality (guest rooms, lobbies, corridors)
Healthcare facilities
Educational buildings
High-rise commercial buildings (above 75 feet / 23 m)
Assembly occupancies (restaurants, theaters, convention centers)

Usually Not Required

Single-family residential
Low-rise commercial offices (check local code)
Feature walls covering less than 10% of room wall area (IBC exception)

Check Local Code

Fire code requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction, building type, occupancy classification and sprinkler status. Always verify with your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) before specifying. We provide fire test certificates from accredited laboratories (e.g., Intertek, UL) upon request.

How to Specify Fire-Rated Natural Wallcoverings

Identify the required standard — ASTM E84, EN 13501, GB 8624 or BS 476
Specify the class — e.g., "ASTM E84 Class A" or "EN 13501 B-s1,d0"
State FR treatment requirement in your specification document
Request the fire test certificate from the supplier before production
Verify the certificate matches your specific product (material, backing, FR treatment batch)

Need Fire Test Certificates?

We provide ASTM E84, EN 13501 and GB 8624 fire test reports from accredited laboratories. Request the specific certificate for your project.

Request Fire Certificates