What is flame retardant fabric?
Flame retardant fabric is where if a fabric is set fire to, it is not going to burn quickly and transfer to other things in the room. Any type of accommodation will have to meet British standards on flame retardancy, so it is an important thing to take into consideration for any establishment that deals in accommodation.
Flame retardant fabric explained
Watch our Soft Furnishings Specialist Millie explain exactly what flame retardant fabrics are. In this video, she also conducts a flame test, showing you what happens when non and flame retardant fabric catches fire.
Different types of flame retardant fabrics
Inherently flame retardant
‘Inherently flame retardant’ means fabrics that are woven with naturally flame-resistant fibres and meet the fire standards without having to be treated with other chemicals.
Durable flame retardant
‘Durable flame retardant’ means that the fabric has been manufactured with a flame-retardant finish and will withstand several cleanings before it needs to be retreated to conform to Fire Standards.
Non-durable flame retardant
‘Non-durable flame retardant’ relates to fabrics that have been treated to take longer to ignite. However, these fabrics are dry clean only as if they are put in liquid the material will need to be treated again to meet flammability requirements.
Cannot be made fire retardant
‘Cannot be made fire retardant’ signifies that the fabric, for example, metallic or certain synthetic fabrics, can’t be treated to adhere to fire standards and cannot be used in residential accommodation.
How is fabric made flame retardant?
Flame retardant fabric can be made in two ways. The first way is to take regular fabric and treat it. The second is for it to be made specifically flame retardant, referred to as inherently flame retardant. The fibres used to create this are permanently flame retardant, meaning that because of the chemical structure of the polyester fibre it is not possible for external influences to affect them. This often means it is a better solution to the risk of fire than anything that may have been made and then coated with an additional flame protection finish.
Fabric that has been coated can often wear off quickly with age or washing, meaning it must be replaced or checked upon to ensure it is still meeting requirements. Fabrics being created in a flame retardant way in the first instance means there is no expiry date as such, so this means that they last much longer than something that is made and treated afterward. However, there are instances in which designers may want a specific fabric to fit their desired room scheme. This may not be made in a flame-retardant fabric, so the designer will have to request the fabric be treated with a flame protective finish. This may well be more expensive, but if the designer is set on a certain look or fabric then that is the best way to meet the design requirements, as well as meeting fire regulations.
Why we use flame retardant fabrics
Bridge always uses flame retardant fabric for our contract curtains, blinds and soft furnishings. This means our customers have peace of mind that the curtains they choose will meet safety regulations and fire hazards are significantly reduced.
Looking for flame retardant curtains and soft furnishings? Contact us today to discuss your project with one of our soft furnishings specialists.
