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Commercial Grade Wallpaper: Type II Specs & Where to Use It

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Modern interior with a large wall mural of a city map and a wooden reception desk.

Commercial grade wallpaper is a heavy, durable wallcovering built for high-traffic and public spaces, classified under U.S. Federal Specification CCC-W-408D by category — with Type II being the main specification for most commercial interiors. Unlike residential papers, it's held to defined standards for durability, washability, and fire performance. At EazzyWalls, we produce Type II wallpaper to order in our Florida-based facility, so this guide explains what the specification actually means, how the categories differ, and where each material belongs - written for designers, architects, and facilities buyers who need the specs, not marketing.

If you're specifying wallpaper for a hotel, restaurant, office, or any public interior, the material category matters as much as the pattern. Here's how it breaks down. You can browse our full commercial wallpaper range as you read.

Spec Note

Two specifications do most of the work on a commercial project: the wallcovering category (Type I, II, or III, which describes weight and durability) and the fire rating (Class A / Class 1 to ASTM E84, which most commercial codes require). Our Traditional Type II wallpaper meets both — it's Class A / Class 1 fire rated (ASTM E84) and printed with GREENGUARD Gold certified inks. Our peel & stick wallpaper is also E84 Class A fire rated, so a fire-rated wallcovering doesn't have to mean a paste-installed one.

What Is Commercial Grade Wallpaper?

Commercial grade wallpaper is a wall covering manufactured to meet the durability and performance demands of public and high-traffic interiors — hotels, restaurants, offices, healthcare, retail, and hospitality spaces. It is heavier and more robust than typical residential wallpaper, and it's designed to be washable and to hold up to repeated contact, cleaning, and years of use. Available in smooth and textured finishes, it spans everything from clean modern commercial wallpaper to more luxury, tactile looks.

In North America, commercial wallcoverings are classified under U.S. Federal Specification CCC-W-408D, which tests them against 16 performance characteristics — including washability, scrubbability, abrasion resistance, and tear strength — and sorts them by weight and durability into Type I, Type II, and Type III. Alongside that category, commercial projects almost always require a fire-performance rating — typically Class A (also written Class 1) tested to ASTM E84, which measures flame spread and smoke development. When a designer or contractor asks for "commercial grade," they usually mean a material that satisfies both: the right durability category and the required fire rating.

What Is Type II Wallpaper?

The three types of commercial wallcovering are distinguished mainly by weight and durability, measured in ounces per linear yard:

  • Type I — light-duty commercial grade vinyl wallcovering, typically 19 oz or less per linear yard. Suited to areas with limited wear such as private offices, hotel rooms, ceilings, and low-contact walls.
  • Type II — medium-weight, typically 20-32 oz per linear yard, and the most widely specified category for commercial interiors. It's built for high-traffic areas like corridors, lobbies, dining rooms, and guest rooms, balancing durability with broad usability.
  • Type III — the heaviest category, typically 33 oz or more per linear yard, specified for the most demanding environments such as hospital corridors and elevator banks, where maximum abrasion and impact resistance are needed.

Type II is the category most commercial projects call for, which is why it's the specification we produce. Our Traditional Type II wallpaper is a paste-installed, commercial-grade material, Class A / Class 1 fire rated (ASTM E84), and printed with water-based, GREENGUARD Gold certified inks in the USA. Because it's a paste-installed wallcovering, it requires a smooth wall surface for a clean, lasting installation. It's made to order in Davie, Florida, and samples are available so you can confirm color and finish before specifying.

Here are the core specifications of our Traditional Type II wallcovering:

  • Construction — embossed vinyl face with a polyester/pulp non-woven backing; the backing contains 50% post-consumer recycled content.
  • Weight & thickness — 20 oz (457 g/m²), 18 mil.
  • Finish — available in multiple textured options and a smooth satin finish.
  • Roll size — 24" wide, in custom lengths timmed to fit the project. Custom width available on request.
  • Type II performance — 20 oz weight, within the Type II band, passing the WA-101 Type II criteria.
  • Fire — ASTM E84 tunnel test, Class A pass.
  • Mold & mildew — passes ASTM G21, with built-in mold and mildew inhibitors.
  • Material health — free from formaldehyde and heavy metals, low-VOC, phthalate-free, Prop 65 compliant, and NSF-342 certified.

Textured Commercial Wallpaper: Canvas & Grasscloth

EazzyWalls commercial grade Type II wallpaper is available in textured options that add depth and a tactile, high-end feel — a popular direction for modern commercial wallpaper in hospitality and office design. We offer two textures as standard, with additional textures available on request:

  • Canvas — a fine, woven canvas texture that reads like natural fabric and softens print glare, well suited to feature walls and refined, luxury commercial interiors.
  • Grasscloth — a coarser woven look inspired by natural grasscloth, adding organic, textural character while keeping full Type II performance (our Faux Grasscloth is also our PVC-free option).
Unprinted Traditional Type II commercial-grade canvas texture wallpaper material

Canvas texture

Unprinted faux grasscloth Type II commercial wallpaper texture material

Grasscloth texture

Because texture reads differently in person than on a screen, we recommend ordering a sample of any textured commercial wallpaper before specifying. Explore textured designs in our faux grasscloth and full commercial wallpaper collections.

What is the Best Wallpaper for High-Traffic & Commercial Areas?

For high-traffic and commercial areas, Type II wallcovering is the specification to look for. Its medium weight and washable surface are made for the repeated contact and regular cleaning these spaces see, and its Class A / Class 1 fire rating (ASTM E84) meets the fire-performance requirements common in commercial building codes. Typical applications include:

  • Hotels — corridors, lobbies, elevator banks, and guest rooms, where durability and fire rating are both required. See our hotel wallpaper range.
  • Restaurants and cafes — dining rooms, bars, and feature walls that need a washable, hard-wearing surface. Browse restaurant wallpaper.
  • Offices and workplaces — reception areas, conference rooms, and shared corridors. Check our office wallpaper collection.
  • Retail, hospitality, and public spaces — anywhere walls face steady contact and need to clean up well over time.

The right pattern still matters, but on a commercial project the material specification comes first: confirm the Type II category and the Class A / Class 1 fire rating before the design conversation. EazzyWalsl Type II wallcovering is installed with a heavy-duty adhesive over a primed, smooth wall and seamed with a double-cut method at the 1" roll overlap; full wall-prep, installation, and care guidance ship with every order. For volume and trade projects, our trade program supports designers and facilities buyers directly.

Peel & Stick vs Traditional Type II

These are different materials for different jobs, and choosing correctly depends on the space and how permanent the install needs to be.

  • Traditional Type II is the right specification for commercial and high-traffic environments. It's paste-installed, commercial-grade, Class A / Class 1 fire rated (ASTM E84), and printed with GREENGUARD Gold certified inks. It requires a smooth wall and is intended as a durable, permanent installation for the applications above.
  • Peel & Stick (Smooth Vinyl or Canvas) is a removable, self-adhesive material suited to residential rooms, rentals, quick-change installs, and commercial spaces that need a fire-rated wallcovering without a permanent, paste-hung install. Our peel & stick is E84 Class A fire rated, so it can be used in commercial hallways and public spaces where that rating is required. What it isn't is a Type II wallcovering: it's lighter (6.0 mil canvas-embossed vinyl) and self-adhesive rather than paste-installed, so for the heaviest-wear, permanent installs, Type II remains the more durable specification. Browse our peel and stick wallpaper.

EazzyWalls Traditional Type II and our peel & stick wallcoverings are E84 Class A fire rated, so both suit code-driven commercial spaces. Specify Traditional Type II when the project calls for maximum, permanent durability; choose peel & stick when you want a fire-rated finish that installs without paste and removes cleanly. All of our wallpaper rolls are made to order in Davie, Florida with water-based, GREENGUARD Gold certified inks, and samples are available for every design so you can verify the material and color before you commit.

Peel & Stick Wall Murals Fire Rated for Commercial Hallways

EazzyWalls peel & stick wall murals are E84 Class A fire rated, the same flame-spread and smoke-development classification most commercial building codes require for hallways and public spaces. That means you can use a removable, self-adhesive mural in a corridor, lobby, office, or other commercial area that calls for a Class A wallcovering, without moving to a paste-installed product.

Here's what makes our peel & stick suitable for those spaces:

  • E84 Class A fire rated — passes the ASTM E84 tunnel test for flame spread and smoke development, the rating commercial hallways typically require.
  • 6.0 mil canvas-embossed vinyl — a matte, semi-rigid film with a high-tack, removable (HTR) adhesive that grips firmly yet comes away cleanly.
  • Compliant materials — REACH and RoHS compliant and Prop 65 compliant, printed with GREENGUARD Gold certified inks.
  • Removable — installs without paste and removes cleanly, which suits leased commercial spaces and anywhere you may want to rebrand or refresh later.

One distinction to keep clear: fire rating and wallcovering category are two different specs. Class A describes fire performance; Type II describes weight and durability under CCC-W-408D. Our peel & stick wallpaper is Class A fire rated but is not a Type II wallcovering, so for the heaviest-wear, permanent installs, Traditional Type II is still the more durable choice — while peel & stick gives you a fire-rated, removable option for hallways and commercial walls. If a project spec lists a required rating, confirm it against both, and our trade program can help match the right material to the code.

Specifying for a Commercial Project?

Traditional Type II wallpaper — Class A / Class 1 fire rated (ASTM E84), GREENGUARD Gold certified inks, made to order in the USA. Samples available for every design.

Browse Commercial Wallpaper
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Type II commercial wallpaper?

Type II is the medium-weight category of commercial wallcovering under U.S. Federal Specification CCC-W-408D, and the specification most commercial interiors call for. It's built for high-traffic areas such as corridors, lobbies, and dining rooms, balancing durability with broad usability. Our Traditional Type II is paste-installed, Class A / Class 1 fire rated (ASTM E84), and printed with GREENGUARD Gold certified inks. Browse it in our commercial wallpaper collection.

What is the difference between Type I and Type II wallpaper?

The difference is weight and durability. Type I is a lighter-weight commercial wallcovering suited to low-contact areas like private offices and ceilings, while Type II is medium-weight and built for high-traffic spaces such as corridors, lobbies, and guest rooms. A third category, Type III, is the heaviest, for the most demanding environments. Type II is the standard specification for most commercial projects.

What is commercial grade wallpaper?

Commercial grade wallpaper is a wall covering made to meet the durability and performance demands of public, high-traffic interiors like hotels, restaurants, and offices. It's heavier and more washable than residential wallpaper, categorized by weight under U.S. Federal Specification CCC-W-408D (Type I, II, or III), and usually required to carry a Class A / Class 1 fire rating (ASTM E84). "Commercial grade" generally means a material that meets both the durability category and the fire rating a project requires.

What is the most durable type of wallpaper?

The most durable wallpaper is commercial-grade wallcovering, and specifically Type II and Type III under U.S. Federal Specification CCC-W-408D. These are tested for abrasion resistance, scrubbability, and tear strength, so they hold up to years of contact and cleaning far better than residential paper or standard peel and stick. Type II (20-32 oz per linear yard) covers most high-traffic spaces Our Traditional Type II is also Class A / Class 1 fire rated (ASTM E84). Browse it in our commercial wallpaper collection.

Are peel and stick wall murals fire rated enough for commercial hallways?

Yes. Our peel and stick murals are E84 Class A fire rated — the same flame-spread and smoke-development classification most commercial building codes require for hallways and public spaces — so you can use a removable, self-adhesive mural in a corridor, lobby, or office that calls for a Class A wallcovering, without a paste-installed product. The material is a 6.0 mil canvas-embossed vinyl with a high-tack removable adhesive, and it's REACH, RoHS, and Prop 65 compliant. Note that Class A describes fire performance, not the Type II durability category, so for the heaviest-wear permanent installs, Traditional Type II remains the more durable choice. Browse our peel and stick wallpaper.