A practical guide to NFPA 701 documentation for artificial hedges and living walls: what the test describes, what it does not prove, and what your venue or authority having jurisdiction may need to review.
Commercial lobby living wall
A test report is evidence, not automatic project approval. The venue, fire marshal, building official, or other authority having jurisdiction decides what documentation is required and whether the submitted product and installation are acceptable.
The safest way to specify artificial greenery is to separate the result of a laboratory test from the approval of a finished project.
Both may appear in product discussions, but they address different scopes. The project requirement—not marketing language—should determine which documentation you submit.
| Document | What it addresses | How to use it | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFPA 701 | Flame propagation of certain textiles and films under specified test conditions. | Use the exact report when the venue or project reviewer requests NFPA 701 documentation for the proposed material. | Do not describe the product as fireproof or treat the report as universal approval. |
| UL 94 | Flammability testing of plastic materials used in parts, devices, and appliances. | Use it when the component specification or reviewer specifically requests UL 94 information. | Do not substitute it for an NFPA 701 request without written reviewer acceptance. |
| Project approval | The complete proposed product, support, mounting, location, and applicable code or venue requirement. | Submit the exact documents and installation description before ordering when approval is critical. | Do not infer approval from a badge, product nickname, or unrelated report. |
This sequence reduces late substitutions, rejected submittals, and confusion between a tested material and the final installed assembly.
Get the venue or reviewer’s written requirement, including the requested standard and any report-age or lab requirements.
Choose the exact foliage, backing, frame, and intended application. Generic terms such as “fire-rated greenery” are not enough.
Confirm that the report identifies the proposed product or configuration rather than a visually similar substitute.
Send the documentation and installation description to the reviewer before final ordering when approval is a project condition.
Recheck coverage if the foliage, support, backing, adhesive, finish, dimensions, or mounting approach changes.
The goal is traceability: the reviewer should be able to connect the report to the exact product and proposed installation.
Product name, SKU or configuration, foliage type, backing or support, and the supplier contact.
The relevant report or certificate, including the test method, specimen description, laboratory, date, and report identifier when available.
Location, dimensions, support system, substrate, attachment approach, nearby heat sources, and whether the work is temporary or permanent.
Written acceptance, requested revisions, or conditions from the venue or authority having jurisdiction before installation.
Keep education, product selection, and document requests separate so the exact requirement follows the exact product.
Review Geranium Street product categories with documentation available for applicable configurations.
Send the product, venue, location, dimensions, and reviewer requirement so the correct documents can be matched.
Access cut sheets, planning information, completed projects, and product-support routes for commercial work.
These answers are intentionally narrow. Project-specific acceptance always belongs to the reviewer responsible for that project.
No. NFPA 701 test results describe flame-propagation behavior under specified test conditions. They do not make a product fireproof or guarantee approval for every project.
No. Documentation is available only for applicable products and configurations. Confirm the exact product before relying on a report.
The venue, fire marshal, building official, or other authority having jurisdiction decides what is required and whether the submitted documentation is acceptable for the project.
No. They are different test standards with different scopes. Use the test documentation specifically requested by the project reviewer rather than treating one standard as an automatic substitute for another.
No. Fire testing and outdoor durability are separate questions. Outdoor use should be evaluated using the exact product’s UV, weather-exposure, mounting, and maintenance information.
Send the exact product, venue, dimensions, location, and reviewer requirement. Geranium Street will identify the applicable documentation or tell you when the requested coverage is not available.