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

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.

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).

Canvas texture

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, renter-friendly, self-adhesive material suited to residential rooms, rentals, and temporary or quick-change installs. It is not paste-installed and does not carry the Type II commercial fire rating, so it is not a substitute for Type II in spaces where that rating is required. Browse our peel and stick wallpaper for those uses.

In short: specify Traditional Type II when the project calls for commercial durability and a fire rating; choose peel & stick when you want a removable, residential-friendly finish. Once installed, Type II cleans up with mild soap and warm water and a non-abrasive sponge, which is what makes it practical for busy commercial spaces; our care guide covers approved cleaners for hospitals, childcare, and other demanding settings. When it's time to redecorate, Type II is removed panel by panel by peeling slowly at a low angle. 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.