Neolith Approved by NYC OTCR for Exterior Wall Cladding

Published: August 4, 2025

Neolith has received an Acceptance Letter from the New York City Office of Technical Certification and Research (OTCR), confirming Neolith as a non-combustible surface approved for use as exterior wall cladding under the 2022 New York City Construction Code.

This recognition positions Neolith as an alternative material that meets or exceeds the code’s requirements for quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and overall safety. The OTCR’s role is essential in New York City, where materials and assemblies that fall outside standard prescriptive code requirements must undergo rigorous technical evaluation to ensure they provide equivalent or superior performance.

According to the OTCR Acceptance Letter, Neolith satisfies the non-combustibility requirement for exterior cladding, making it an ideal choice for demanding projects where enhanced fire safety and code compliance are paramount. This recognition underscores the brand’s ongoing commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance surfaces that prioritize safety without compromising design.

Neolith’s fire safety credentials extend beyond this latest certification. In 2017, Neolith cladding panels installed with the Neolith Strongfix ventilated facade system successfully passed NFPA 285 testing, confirming the system’s ability to limit vertical and horizontal flame propagation on multi-story facades. More recently, Neolith panels have been incorporated into additional ventilated facade wall assemblies that achieved NFPA 285 compliance, further demonstrating the material’s versatility and reliability in meeting stringent fire performance requirements. 

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The use of Neolith panels as exterior cladding has been validated across a range of rainscreen configurations, whether installed over concrete, structural insulated sheathing or metal-stud substrates among others.

Both NFPA 285 testing and OTCR approval demonstrate compliance with applicable building codes and contribute to ensuring life safety. Together, these certifications confirm that Neolith is a highly reliable solution for exterior building envelopes where fire performance is a critical priority. 

With its non-combustible nature, exceptional durability and proven performance in certified facade systems, Neolith offers an ideal solution for architects and builders seeking to deliver safer, more resilient facades in even the most demanding urban environments.

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