Fire-Rated Interior Materials for Hotels: A Simple Guide

A hotel is a sleeping building. Guests are often asleep, in an unfamiliar place, and may need to find an exit in the dark. For this reason, hotel fire rules are strict about the materials inside rooms and corridors.

What matters most in a hotel fire?

The two biggest dangers are smoke and loss of visibility. Fire codes therefore look at two things in finishes: how much a material adds to a fire, and how much smoke it gives off.

What does B-s1,d0 mean?

This European fire class has three parts.

B: the material adds only a little to a fire.
s1: the lowest smoke band.
d0: no burning drops that could fall onto beds, curtains or carpets.

What did BIOMEBOARD™ score?

A 16 mm Type F board was tested by Spectro Analytical Labs (Eurofins) and reached B-s1,d0. Selected results:

Smoke growth rate: 1.14 (limit for s1 is 30)
Total smoke: 28.6 square metres (limit 50)
No flaming droplets
A separate small-flame test: the flame stopped at 30 to 40 mm, well short of the 150 mm fail line, with no burning drips

Where can it be used in a hotel?

The result is relevant for items such as headboards, wardrobe carcasses, corridor panelling, reception joinery and back-of-house partitions. Always confirm with your fire consultant, because:

The test covers a 16 mm Type F board. Other thicknesses and the raw Type R surface are not tested yet.
A fire class for a board is not the same as a fire resistance rating for a wall or door.
Sprinklers, fire doors and compartments remain the main life safety systems.

What about bathrooms?

Not recommended. BIOMEBOARD™ swells in water (7.4% after 24 hours) and is meant for dry interior areas. Use another material for wet zones.

What documents should you request?

The full fire test report
Board thickness and surface type tested
How the board was mounted in the test Ask any supplier the same questions.

Questions for your design team

Which thickness and surface does the test cover?
How was the board mounted in the test?
Does the finished item, with its laminate or paint, keep the same result?
What does the local fire authority require?

Where else does a hotel need fire care?

Think about curtains, carpets, bedding, wall coverings and ceiling finishes too. A safe board is only one part of a safe room.

FAQs

Is B-s1,d0 the highest fire rating?

No. Class A is for non-combustible products. B is a strong class for interior boards.

Why does low smoke matter in hotels?

Smoke hides exits and makes breathing hard.

Can BIOMEBOARD™ be used in hotel bathrooms?

No.

Is the fire rating independent?

Yes, it comes from a third-party lab, on a sample we supplied.

Does a fire-rated board replace sprinklers?

Never.

Is a low smoke rating required for hotels?

Rules differ by city and brand. Ask your fire consultant what applies to your building.

Need the report for your hotel project? Request it.