Types

• Carbon Fiber
  Thin carbon filaments bundled into tows and fabrics that reinforce polymer matrices, used for strengthening concrete and masonry and for high-performance structural parts.
• Fiber Cement
  Portland cement matrix reinforced with cellulose or other non-asbestos fibers, formed into siding, panels, planks, and backer boards.
• Fiberglass
  Composite of glass fibers in a thermoset resin, used for door skins, window frames, tubs, tanks, and pipe.
• High-Pressure Laminate
  Layered sheet of resin-impregnated kraft paper and decorative paper, pressed into a hard surfacing for countertops, casework, and wall panels.
• Linoleum
  Oxidized linseed oil binder with rosin, wood flour, and limestone on a jute backing, supplied as sheet and tile flooring.
• Wood-Plastic Composite
  Wood fiber or flour blended with thermoplastic and extruded into decking, railing, cladding, and trim profiles.

Code reference

Always verify the adopted code edition and local amendments for the project jurisdiction.

Governing editions

Composite cladding

• IBC 2024, Section 1402.5: Types I to IV with combustible exterior wall coverings must show vertical and lateral flame propagation performance: 1402.5.2 metal composite material (MCM), 1402.5.4 high-pressure decorative laminate (HPL), 1402.5.1 water-resistive barriers, 1402.5.3 EIFS, 1402.5.5 foam plastic per Section 2603; compliance methods in Section 1402.8

Interior floor finish

• IBC 2024, Section 804.1: floor finish requirements; traditional finishes such as linoleum are excepted (Linoleum)

Fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcement

• IBC 2024, Section 1901.2.1: GFRP-reinforced concrete per ASTM D7957 and ACI 440.11, only where fire-resistance ratings are not required and only in SDC A
• IBC 2024, Section 1901.10: GFRP per ACI CODE-440.11-22; not permitted where the fire rating is above zero, not allowed in seismic force-resisting systems in SDC B to F, permitted in non-seismic members in SDC A, B, and C

Referenced standards

Sources

• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 14 exterior walls, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/14/exterior-walls
• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 19 concrete, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/19/concrete