If you are putting artificial greenery into a hotel, restaurant, office, or event space, someone will eventually ask what it is made of and what happens when flame touches it. This guide explains what the two most-cited standards actually are, what Ontario's Fire Code says, and what documentation to request from any supplier, ours included. It is general information, not code advice: acceptance of any material in any specific building is decided by the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) and your project's own code consultants.
What is CAN/ULC-S109?
CAN/ULC-S109 — the “Standard for Flame Tests of Flame-Resistant Fabrics and Films” — is a Canadian standard published by ULC Standards, part of UL Solutions Canada and accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. Its scope, per the Standards Council's record, covers flame-resistant fabrics and plastic films intended for use as “tents, awnings, draperies, or decorations.” The current third edition, CAN/ULC-S109-14, was published in September 2014, and the standard's own bulletin notes that flame resistance “can be inherent to the material or achieved through chemical treatment.”
The standard comprises two test methods, per a technical comparison by Element Materials Technology: a Small Flame test (a 90 × 250 mm specimen exposed to a burner flame for 12 seconds) and a Large Flame cabinet test run behind a closed glass door. Element also states that for stand-alone fabrics in Canada, CAN/ULC-S109 is required by the National Building Code of Canada.
What is NFPA 701, and does it apply in Canada?
NFPA 701, the “Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films,” is a US standard published by the National Fire Protection Association. It also uses two test methods; per Element Materials Technology, its large cabinet test runs with the door open where the Canadian test's is closed. In the United States, per the same Element analysis, NFPA 701 is cited by codes including the International Building Code and NFPA 101 — US model codes, not Canadian ones.
Suppliers reference NFPA 701 constantly, because much commercial foliage is made for the US market. Treat the reference carefully: Element cautions that data from each test “should not be used in any type of comparison with the other” — an NFPA 701 result is not evidence of a CAN/ULC-S109 result, and vice versa. If a supplier's paperwork is NFPA 701 only, that is a question for your code consultant and AHJ, not a substitute answer.
What does the Ontario Fire Code require for decorative materials?
Ontario's Fire Code, Division B, Article 2.3.2.1(1), requires that “drapes, curtains, netting and other similar or decorative materials, including textiles and films used in buildings, shall meet the requirements of CAN/ULC-S109.” Per the same section, the article applies in care and detention occupancies, lobbies and exits, access to exits within assembly occupancies, and open floor areas exceeding 1,500 m² not subdivided into one-hour fire compartments. That is Ontario's code specifically; other provinces adopt their own fire codes, often modelled on the National Fire Code of Canada, with differing article numbers and triggers — confirm the code in force, and its interpretation, with your local AHJ.
What is the difference between inherently flame-retardant and treated foliage?
Flame resistance can be built into the material itself — usually called inherently flame retardant, or IFR — or applied afterwards as a topical treatment. The clearest official signal that topical treatments are not permanent comes from Ontario's Fire Code, Article 2.3.2.2: “Flame retardant treatments shall be renewed as often as required to ensure that the material will pass the match flame test in NFPA 705.” A treated product therefore carries an ongoing maintenance obligation: ask who renews the treatment, on what schedule, and how renewal is evidenced.
Suppliers of IFR foliage make strong claims for their approach: Autograph Foliages, a US wholesaler, advertises inherent fire-retardant foliage with what it describes as lifetime protection and claims testing to standards including CAN/ULC-S109, while Silks Are Forever claims its IFR plants meet NFPA 701. These are supplier claims as published on their own sites, not independently verified test results — which is why the documentation request below matters more than the adjective.
What documentation should you request from a supplier?
Request a test report or certificate to the relevant standard for the actual product being supplied — the same material and construction, ideally traceable to the batch — not a report for a different line from the same factory. Where flame resistance comes from a topical treatment, request evidence of when it was applied and how renewal is handled. And keep the paperwork with the installation: the Canadian Gift & Tableware Association's exhibitor fire-regulation guidance for Toronto trade shows — event guidance rather than statute — advises keeping flame-proofing documentation available on site for the fire marshal's inspection, noting this avoids on-site fire-testing — the paper has to be producible where the product is.
Designer Plants, which says its foliage is tested to NFPA 701 by an independent laboratory with reports available on request, states plainly that it makes no claim any product satisfies the requirements of any particular installation, and directs buyers to their building certifier, fire engineer, or AHJ. Treat that as the baseline for good supplier communication — and be wary of any supplier who answers a documentation question with an adjective.
Who decides whether a product is acceptable?
The local authority having jurisdiction — typically the fire department, fire marshal, or building official — together with your project's code consultants. Always. A test report is evidence, not permission; a marketing page is neither. The sound sequence: your code consultant identifies what the occupancy requires, the supplier documents the product, and the AHJ accepts or does not.
How does Eververda handle fire documentation?
Our catalogue includes a 3.3 × 3.3 ft large-format grass wall panel at $266.99 CAD, alongside standard panels such as the anti-UV boxwood fence panel at $127.99 CAD and quoted commercial pieces like the 9 ft commercial coconut palm at $2,787.99–$6,291.99 CAD. We do not hold or claim a fire rating on any of these ourselves. The questions in this article are the ones to put to every supplier, ours included: commercial orders above $3,000 CAD go through our quote process, and that is exactly where product-specific documentation questions get asked and answered in writing before anything ships. For anything under that threshold, email support@eververda.com with the product and the standard you are specifying to, and we will tell you what documentation the manufacturer can provide for that item.
Which questions matter most?
| Question to ask the supplier | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Can you provide a test report to CAN/ULC-S109 for this exact product? | Ontario's Fire Code cites CAN/ULC-S109 for decorative textiles and films in listed occupancies; a report for a different product line does not answer the question. |
| Is the flame resistance inherent to the material or a topical treatment? | Ontario's Fire Code (Art. 2.3.2.2) requires flame-retardant treatments to be renewed as often as required — a treated product carries an ongoing maintenance obligation. |
| If the claim is NFPA 701, what supports its use on this project? | NFPA 701 is a US standard; per Element Materials Technology, results under one standard should not stand in for the other. |
| Does the paperwork match the material actually shipping? | Inspection practice, as CanGift's event guidance shows, expects documentation for the material on site. |
| Will you answer these questions in writing during quoting? | Product-specific answers belong in the procurement record your code consultant and AHJ will review, not in a phone call nobody minuted. |
Frequently asked questions
What fire rating do artificial plants need in Canada?
There is no single national answer. Ontario's Fire Code cites CAN/ULC-S109 for decorative textiles and films in certain occupancies, other provinces adopt their own codes with differing triggers, and the local authority having jurisdiction decides what is acceptable. Start with your code consultant's read of your occupancy, then ask suppliers for matching documentation.
Is an NFPA 701 certificate accepted for Canadian projects?
Not automatically. NFPA 701 is a US standard cited by US model codes, and Element Materials Technology cautions that results under NFPA 701 and CAN/ULC-S109 should not be compared with each other. Whether such a report is acceptable for a specific Canadian installation is decided by the local authority having jurisdiction and your code consultants.
Does a fire-retardant label mean a product is certified?
No. A label or designation is a manufacturer's attribute of the product, and marketing-page claims — including named standards — are claims until backed by a test report for the actual material. Request the report, check it matches what ships, and remember acceptance rests with the local authority having jurisdiction, not the label.
How long does a topical flame-retardant treatment last?
Not indefinitely, by the code's own logic. Ontario's Fire Code requires flame-retardant treatments to be “renewed as often as required” so the material continues to pass the NFPA 705 match flame test — a requirement that only exists because treatments degrade. Specify who renews it, on what schedule, and what record proves it.
What paperwork should be on hand for a fire inspection?
Documentation for the material actually installed: a test report or certificate to the relevant standard, plus renewal evidence for any topical treatment. CanGift's Toronto trade-show guidance advises keeping flame-proofing documentation on site for the fire marshal, noting it avoids on-site fire-testing — event guidance, but a fair picture of inspectors' expectations.
Specifying a full space? See artificial trees for hotel lobbies and specifying artificial trees for a restaurant fit-out, or compare wall systems in artificial green walls vs living walls. Browse green walls and commercial artificial plants, or request a quote.
Sourced figures and supplier claims were checked on 29 August 2026 and are quoted as displayed at the source. Eververda prices are CAD and current as of 30 August 2026.