Section 3280.204 - [Effective 3/17/2025] Kitchen cabinet protection(a) The exposed bottom and sides of combustible kitchen cabinets over cooking ranges to a horizontal distance of 6 inches from the outside edge of the cooking range must be protected with at least 5/16 inch thick gypsum board or equivalent limited combustible material. One-inch nominal framing members and trim are exempted from this requirement. The cabinet area over the cooking range or cooktops shall be protected by a metal hood (26-gauge sheet metal, or .017 stainless steel, or .024 aluminum, or .020 copper) with not less than a 3-inch eyebrow projecting horizontally from the front cabinet face. The 5/16-inch thick gypsum board or equivalent material which is above the top of the hood may be supported by the hood. A 3/8-inch enclosed air space shall be provided between the bottom surface of the cabinet and the gypsum board or equivalent material. The hood shall be at least as wide as the cooking range.(b) The 3-inch metal eyebrow required by paragraph (a) of this section will project from the front and rear cabinet faces when there is no adjacent surface behind the range, or the 5/16-inch thick gypsum board or equivalent material shall be extended to cover all exposed rear surfaces of the cabinet.(c)Alternative compliance. When all exposed surfaces along the bottoms and sides of combustible kitchen cabinets are protected as described in paragraph (a) of this section, the metal hood, the 5/16-inch thick gypsum board or equivalent material, and the 3/8-inch airspace required by paragraph (a) of this section can be omitted, provided that:(1) A microwave oven is installed between the cabinet and the range; and(2) The microwave oven is equivalent in fire protection to the metal range hood required by paragraph (a) of this section; and(3) The microwave oven is certified to be in conformance with Microwave Cooking Appliances, UL 923-2002 (incorporated by reference, see § 3280.4 ).(d) When a manufactured home is designed for the future installation of a cooking range, the metal hood and cabinet protection required by paragraph (a) of this section and the wall-surfacing protection behind the range required by § 3280.203 shall be installed in the factory.(e) Vertical clearance above cooking top. Ranges shall have a vertical clearance above the cooking top of not less than 24 inches to the bottom of combustible cabinets.(f) Range hood finish materials must be installed with at least 5/16 inch thick gypsum board or equivalent limited combustible material between the metal range hood and finish materials. Except for sealants and other trim materials 2 inches or less in width, finish materials shall have a flame spread rating not exceeding the Flame Spread Index of 200.49 FR 32008, Aug. 9, 1984, as amended at 78 FR 73982 , Dec. 9, 2013