The NFPA 286 Contribution of Wall and Ceiling Interior Finish to Room Fire Growth test is a standard of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that measures flammability characteristics of wall and ceiling materials for building interiors. This test method is also referred to as the “room corner” test since the ignition source is placed in the corner of a room-sized test chamber.
The scope of testing involves adhering large-scale test specimens to three walls as well as the ceiling of the test room. A gas flame located in one corner of the test room is ignited and test specimens are evaluated for flame propagation. The test is concluded after a 15-minute burn period, and the pass or fail rating of the test specimen is determined by flame spread, flashover, peak heat release, and smoke release.
This test is similar to NFPA 265 Room Corner Flammability test as it measures flammability characteristics of wall materials for building interiors but they differ in that the NFPA 265 Room Corner Flammability test does not reach the ceiling. The NFPA 265 Room Corner Flammability test is also intended only for textile, wallcovering, or expanded vinyl wallcovering materials, while the NFPA 286 can be used for other materials.