Building Code Glossary
Flammable Material: Building Code Definition
How the IBC 2009, IFC 2009 define flammable material, where the wording differs, and which chapters depend on the term.
On this page
Last updated September 7, 2026 · Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The [ICC code library](https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes) publishes the current model text and the [ICC adoption maps](https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/code-adoption-maps/) show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Direct answer
Flammable material is a defined term in the International Building Code (IBC) 2009, in Use and Occupancy Classification. The code's own words are: “A material capable of being readily ignited from common sources of heat or at a temperature of 600°F (316°C) or less.” The IFC 2009 carries the same definition word for word, so the term means the same thing in each. The term is used in 12 chapters of this corpus, most often in Hazardous Materials-general Provisions (IFC 2009), General Requirements (IFC 2009), Industrial Ovens (IFC 2009). These pages transcribe the 2009 model text; verify the definition against the edition and amendments your authority having jurisdiction has adopted. Record the jurisdiction, the adopted edition, the application date and any local amendment that rewrites the definition before you use it on a live project, because a term redefined by amendment changes every requirement that depends on it.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-09-07.
What does this term mean?
Flammable Material — IBC 2009, Use and Occupancy Classification:
A material capable of being readily ignited from common sources of heat or at a temperature of 600°F (316°C) or less.
What must be verified before using this guidance?
Two of the I-Codes in this corpus define Flammable Material, in identical words.
| Code | Where it is defined | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| IBC 2009 | Use and Occupancy Classification | A material capable of being readily ignited from common sources of heat or at a temperature of 600°F (316°C) or less. |
| IFC 2009 | Definitions | A material capable of being readily ignited from common sources of heat or at a temperature of 600°F (316°C) or less. |
Where flammable material is used in the code
The term appears in 12 chapters of the 2009 I-Codes hosted here. The chapters that lean on it hardest are the ones to read next.
| Chapter | Code | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Hazardous Materials-general Provisions | IFC 2009 | 3 |
| General Requirements | IFC 2009 | 2 |
| Industrial Ovens | IFC 2009 | 2 |
| Interior Finish, Decorative Materials and Furnishings | IFC 2009 | 2 |
| Definitions | IBC 2009 | 1 |
| Safeguards During Construction | IBC 2009 | 1 |
| Special Detailed Requirements Based on Use and Occupancy | IBC 2009 | 1 |
| Use and Occupancy Classification | IBC 2009 | 1 |
| Definitions | IFC 2009 | 1 |
| Fire Safety During Construction and Demolition | IFC 2009 | 1 |
| Flammable Finishes | IFC 2009 | 1 |
| Manufacture of Organic Coatings | IFC 2009 | 1 |
The term in use
How the code actually writes about flammable material, quoted from the 2009 text hosted here:
The amount of nitrocellulose or other flammable material brought into the area shall not be more than the amount required for a batch.
Flammable Material: what to open, and in what order
Every row is a document this term depends on. The ICC code library and the ICC adoption maps cover the middle rows.
| Check | Where | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Read the definition in the adopted IBC | Use and Occupancy Classification | |
| Read the definition in the adopted IFC | Definitions | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Hazardous Materials-general Provisions (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | General Requirements (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Industrial Ovens (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Interior Finish, Decorative Materials and Furnishings (IFC 2009) | |
| Local amendment to any of the above | Jurisdiction's amendment list |
A research aid, not a code determination. The authority having jurisdiction decides which edition and which amendments apply.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all glossary guidance
- Corrosive: Building Code Definition
- Hazardous Materials: Building Code Definition
- Combustible Liquid: Building Code Definition
- Handling: Building Code Definition
Sources and method
Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The ICC code library publishes the current model text and the ICC adoption maps show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What is the code definition of flammable material?
The International Building Code (IBC) 2009 defines it in Use and Occupancy Classification as: “A material capable of being readily ignited from common sources of heat or at a temperature of 600°F (316°C) or less.” The 2009 model text is reproduced here; the definition that binds your project is the one in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, as amended locally.
Which parts of the code depend on flammable material?
In this corpus the term is used across 12 chapters, led by Hazardous Materials-general Provisions in the IFC 2009. Those are the sections whose scope moves if the definition is amended locally, so read them together with Chapter 2 rather than on their own.
What is the definition of flammable material?
In the 2009 I-Codes hosted here it is a defined term rather than a description. The IBC 2009 states, in Use and Occupancy Classification: “A material capable of being readily ignited from common sources of heat or at a temperature of 600°F (316°C) or less.” It is defined in IBC 2009, IFC 2009. Because it is a defined term, whatever the adopted edition says it means is what every section using it means — so check Chapter 2 of that edition and any local amendment before relying on this wording.
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