What Is Contract Approved Wallpaper?

If you are choosing wallpaper for a hotel, restaurant, office, clinic or the common areas of an apartment building, you will see the phrase contract approved again and again. In the design trade, "contract" simply means commercial. A contract approved wallcovering is one the manufacturer has approved for commercial use.

What contract approved means

Commercial spaces have stricter requirements than homes. Building codes and inspectors look at how a wall finish behaves in a fire, and owners need finishes that hold up to heavy traffic and regular cleaning. A contract approved wallcovering has been tested to commercial standards and approved by the manufacturer for that kind of use.

Fire rating: Class A

The most important number for most commercial projects is the fire rating. Wallcoverings are tested under ASTM E84, which measures how quickly flame spreads across the surface and how much smoke it produces.

• Class A is the highest rating, with a flame spread index of 0 to 25.
• Most commercial building codes require Class A for corridors, lobbies and other exit routes.

On every product page at Broadway Wallpaper, you will find the flammability class and, where the manufacturer publishes them, the flame and smoke numbers.

Durability: Type I and Type II vinyl

For high-traffic commercial spaces, vinyl wallcoverings are graded by durability:

• Type I vinyl is lighter duty, for areas with moderate traffic such as offices, guest rooms and conference rooms.
• Type II vinyl is heavier duty and scrubbable, for corridors, lobbies, restaurants and healthcare spaces where walls take bumps and frequent cleaning.

Thibaut's Type II vinyls, such as Santorini, Canary Trellis and Buffalo Check, combine designer patterns with that heavy-duty performance.

Not just vinyl

Contract approved does not always mean vinyl. Many non-woven prints and natural wallcoverings are also approved for commercial use. They are a good fit where walls see less wear:

• Non-woven prints are washable and easy to install and remove, a good choice for guest rooms, offices and dining rooms.
• Grasscloth and natural weaves bring warmth and texture to lobbies, reception areas and feature walls, away from heavy contact.

Contract approved wallpaper at home

The same qualities that make a wallcovering work in a hotel make it work in the hardest-working rooms of a house: kitchens, mudrooms, kids' rooms, entryways and bathrooms. If you want a pattern that can take some wear, starting with a contract approved paper is a smart move.

Shop contract approved wallpaper

Browse our Contract Approved Wallpaper collection, with designer papers from Thibaut and Anna French. Designers and specifiers: contact us for product documentation for your project, and order samples to see color and texture in your space before you buy.