Polypropylene exterior siding

[forumadmin]

There is an ICC Acceptance Criteria (AC 366) and an ASTM Standard (D7254) for polypropylene exterior siding. The current codes (2006 I-Codes) do not address this product.
Would it be allowed to be installed on a:
IRC structure?
IBC structure?

*If your reaction is ‘YES’, please identify a product that meets either testing method.

[pswett]

Can someone supply the two documents that show the exceptions? It would be helpful to supply them as an attachment if we could.

[David Swan]

OK. Here are the links to both documents:

AC 366 http://www.icc-es.org/criteria/pdf_files/ac366.pdf
ASTM D7254 http://www.astm.org/Standards/D7254.htm
(gotta purchase this one to see in its entirety, but there is a description of the standard)

Evidently, there are several siding products made of this chemical recipe. We have been requested to submit this question to our membership and we wonder if it has already been applied without your knowing it.

Here’s a little bit of code tracking:
IBC
Chapter 14, section 1403.4 Fire resistance sends you to Chapter 7.
Chapter 7, section 703.2 Fire ratings APPLIES
section 704.4 Materials. APPLIES
Chapter 26, section 2603.5.4 Flame & Smoke ratings (ASTM E84) APPLIES
section 2603.5.5 Test Standard (NFPA 285) APPLIES
section 2603.5.6 Labeling APPLIES
section 2603.5.7 Ignition (NFPA 268) APPLIES

IRC section R702.1 General send you to R315
Section R315 Flame and smoke. (ASTM E84) APPLIES

[Armand]

Not to be nit picky, but doesn't IRC 702.1 refer to "interior" wall finishes?
Wouldn't the requirement for the smoke and flame spread of an exterior finish be different than an interior finish?
Section 703 doesn't mention anything about smoke and flame spread of exterior covering. Wouldn't this section be more appropriate?

Regardless, if it meets the ASTM standard, I would consider accepting it as an alternate material. After all, isn't it "green" when compared to PVC products?

Please tell me where in the IBC it requires ALL exterior walls to be fire resistance rated. Wouldn't the code sections quoted apply only to a wall that would be required to be rated because of type of construction or distance from property lines? Sections 2603.5.4 and 2603.5.5 would only be applicable to the exterior of a required fire resistant wall because of construction type or proximity to property lines.
So with that being said, I would consider polypropylene siding as an alternate material on a commercial building too.