Understanding fire ratings for wall and ceiling linings: Specifying natural timber panels for beauty, performance and compliance
In recent years, the National Construction Code’s stricter regime for fire safety has had the effect of restricting the use of timber materials for certain building applications, including timber veneer panels and plywood for wall and ceiling linings. Accordingly, designers and specifiers are taking a cautious approach when specifying fire-rated products. However, compliance should not come at the cost of the beauty and performance that real wood options can offer.