What Determines a Wall Pad to be Class A Fire Retardant

Posted on January 04, 2019 by Customer Service

Sports injuries resulting in concussions and broken bones is a fear for every coach, gym owner, and parent. Wall Pads are designed to reduce the risk of potential injuries occurring by safely absorbing impact. AK Athletic Equipment has been manufacturing protective padding commonly found in basketball gyms, timeout rooms, playgrounds, jiu-jitsu academies, and residential homes for over 25 years. 

AK Athletics has mastered how to keep quality and safety as the number one priority while providing you with an affordable cost. Key components of Class A wall safety pads are the shock absorbency, flame spread, and smoke development.  Regulations have been set by the following organizations to maintain safety standards:

• The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
• International Code Council (ICC)

Gyms and play areas have created safeguards to protect athletes and students. G-max value and Head Injury Criterion (HIC) measurements will determine the safety of the surface. G-max is the measurement of shock-attenuation, while HIC is the likelihood of a head injury occurring from contact.

• ASTM F2440: Standard Specification for Indoor Wall/Feature Padding; Measures the minimal compliance for shock absorbance by G-Max and HIC.
  

To be classified as Class A Fire Retardant, each wall pad must meet safety hazard codes and regulations. 

• ASTM E84: Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials; Values the rate at which flames will spread over the pad and the development of smoke being produced.

• NFPA 101: Life Safety Code; Established to minimize the danger from smoke, heat, and toxic gases produced during a fire.

• NFPA 286: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Evaluating; The contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth; This code sets the standard for fire growth of a room under specified exposure. Also, known as the “room corner” test.

• NFPA 701: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films; Test the vinyl material for flame spread under a specified condition.

AK Athletics offers Class A Fire Rated FlameSafe wood-backed wall pads that are easy to install with the 1” lip at the top and bottom. You can contact your local code compliance enforcement office to determine which style of wall pads will accommodate you.

For any additional information that you may need, please contact our sales team at sales@akathletics.com / 800-431-4372.

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