Interpretation #7386
Published August 22, 2014
Original Request
- Code Version
- 2010
- Code
- BUILDING
- Code Description
- Building
- Chapter
- 9
- Section
- 903.2.7
- Topic
- Mattresses as upholstered furniture
Question
Is it intended to include mattresses as upholstered furniture?
Answer Published 08/22/2014 at 9:00 AM
No. The common definition
of "upholstered" and the IBC commentary
only extends to furniture such as
chairs and sofas. No mention of the
term "mattress" is used in common
uphholstered furniture definitions or
within the IBC commentary. The term is,
however, included in the 2012 IBC
section 903.2.7, along with an area limitation of 5,000
square feet. So, there was a
conscious decision to include the term
for the 2012 code cycle in this code
section. That would imply mattresses
were not included in the scope of the
2009 base IBC language.
of "upholstered" and the IBC commentary
only extends to furniture such as
chairs and sofas. No mention of the
term "mattress" is used in common
uphholstered furniture definitions or
within the IBC commentary. The term is,
however, included in the 2012 IBC
section 903.2.7, along with an area limitation of 5,000
square feet. So, there was a
conscious decision to include the term
for the 2012 code cycle in this code
section. That would imply mattresses
were not included in the scope of the
2009 base IBC language.
Commentary
Note: In addition, the term "furniture"
does not include "mattresses" within
the National Fire Incident Reporting
System. Mattresses are tracked
separately from furniture as an object
of fire orgin as the hazard is
different. It appears the code has
adopted this same approach and
consisders furniture and mattresses to
be two different hazards.