What if you could meet strict fire-performance requirements without giving up the look and workability of veneer core hardwood plywood?

That’s the idea behind FireBrand™: Columbia’s next-generation Class A fire-rated core. It was developed to help architects and fabricators meet top interior finish standards while still designing with the warmth and beauty of real wood.

FireBrand™ is built for the Class A standard used for interior wall and ceiling finishes. Its platforms are certified by ICC-ES and meet ASTM E-84 Class A requirements in Section 803 of the International Building Code, as well as CAN/ULC S102.18 Class A requirements.
 
Certified Class A Cores Available:

What Does “Fire-Rated” Really Mean?

There are two different Class A requirements for fire-retardant wood products. These standards are often confused but serve very different purposes.

IBC Section 2303.2 covers fire-retardant-treated wood used in structural applications—think roof trusses or framing components. These materials must meet the code’s full definition of Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood and pass an ASTM E2768 which is not required for decorative or non-structural applications.

This requirement is defined in IBC Section 803 and applies to wall and ceiling finishes. To qualify, a product must pass the ASTM E84 tunnel test with:

Because veneer-cored hardwood plywood is used decoratively, Columbia’s focus is on this interior finish Class A requirement—where beauty and safety must work together.

Not All Fire-Retardant Panels Are Verified the Same Way

Here’s an important detail many people miss: not every fire-retardant panel is tested and certified in the same way. Some manufacturers rely on developmental testing, which means they produced a sample, tested it under a specific set of manufacturing conditions, and that sample passed. Those test results can then be shown to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), who may accept the product or choose to ask for a certified product instead.