When your building enforces a strict fire code, every piece of outdoor furniture must be a deliberate choice, not an afterthought. The short answer to your question is: yes, select pieces in our urban outdoor collection are engineered with fire-retardant properties, and we are fully transparent about which ones—and to what standard.
First, let’s clarify what “fire-retardant” means in the context of urban outdoor furniture. It does not mean the furniture is non-combustible. Instead, it means the materials have been chemically treated or inherently formulated to resist ignition, slow flame spread, and self-extinguish when the heat source is removed. This is critical for complying with fire codes, especially in high-rise balconies, rooftop terraces, and courtyard spaces where evacuation routes may be compromised by smoke or flames.
Our collection includes several fire-retardant options. The Urban Ember Series features a powder-coated aluminum frame with a woven seat fabric that meets NFPA 701 (a standard for flame propagation in textiles) and CAL TB 117-2013 (a strict California flammability test for upholstered furniture). The foam inside the seat cushions is a high-resilience, combustion-modified polyurethane that passes the open-flame test without requiring a barrier cloth.
The Metro Apex Lounge and Skyline Modular Seating use a similar frame system but with an outer shell made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that has an added flame-retardant additive rated UL 94 V-0, meaning it stops burning within 10 seconds on a vertical test. These pieces are ideal for balconies with limited evacuation paths.
We also offer a line of fire-retardant tabletops and planters—the CoreSafe Series—using a fiberglass-reinforced composite with a Class A fire rating (ASTM E84), making them suitable for shared corridors where building codes require low flame-spread surfaces.
For strict compliance, we always verify against your building’s specific fire code. Many municipal codes adopt the International Fire Code (IFC), which often requires furniture on balconies to be “non-flammable” or “self-extinguishing.” Our fire-retardant pieces meet IFC Section 806.4, but we recommend reviewing the exact language—if your code mandates “non-combustible” (like metal or concrete), we can also supply that, though those are typically less comfortable.
To make an informed decision, request our material specification sheets for each piece. They list the exact test standards passed, the date of certification, and the maintenance procedures to ensure the fire-retardant properties remain intact. For instance, harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive scrubbing can degrade the protective treatment over time. We provide a recommended cleaning protocol that preserves the rating.
Finally, note that even fire-retardant furniture requires proper placement. Keep at least 24 inches away from open flames, grill stations, or electrical outlets. We can also provide a layout service that aligns with your building’s egress diagrams.
If you share your building’s specific code section (e.g., “NFPA 1 § 12.5” or “NYC Fire Code § FC 807”), our engineering team will cross-match our inventory to your exact requirement within 48 hours. We have done this for over 200 residential towers in downtown Chicago and San Francisco, and we treat fire safety as the highest priority—above aesthetics or cost.
In summary: yes, we have fire-retardant urban outdoor furniture. And we go a step further by providing proof, maintenance guidance, and code-matching support, so your building’s fire marshal will approve your terrace design with confidence.