Do curtains have to be fire retardant?
All fabrics, curtains, drapes and similar features should either be non-combustible* or be of durably or inherently flame-retardant fabric. Drapes and curtains should not be provided across escape routes or exits.
Are blackout curtains a fire hazard?
EH&S strongly recommends that all blackout curtains purchased be Inherently Flame Resistant. Flameproofed curtains require documentation from manufacturer that such curtains are flameproofed as per NFPA 701. These curtains must also be tested every year, up to 3 years, to ascertain that they are still flameproof.
What are flame retardant curtains?
Flame retardant curtains are specially designed to protect households and buildings from smoke and heat on the event of a fire. A regular feature in commercial and public buildings, like schools and hospitals, flame retardant curtains are also gaining popularity in household use.
Can blinds catch on fire?
Unless stated, all blinds and curtains are flammable and will catch in the event of a fire. Therefore, if you are shopping for new blinds, you may need to check that the materials are flame resistant.
What are fire retardant curtains?
Inherently permanent flame retardant fire resistant. That means the actual flame retardant curtain fibers the curtain is made of are flame retardant. Other companies offer fabrics that have been treated but that treatment eventually wears off.
How do you make curtains fire resistant?
Mix 9 oz. of borax with 4 oz. of boric acid in hot water for a highly resistant solution. Spray onto the fabric.
Are cotton curtains flammable?
Untreated natural fibers such as cotton, linen and silk burn more readily than wool, which is more difficult to ignite and burns with a low flame velocity. Heavy, tight weave fabrics will burn more slowly than loose weave, light fabrics of the same material. The surface texture of the fabric also affects flammability.
Are vertical blinds fire retardant?
Our fabrics used to make roller, blackout or vertical have a special coating to make them resistant to fire. Fabrics in general have this requirement but aluminium slats are always compliant with building FR standard and moreover certain curtains or even wooden blinds can be made FR on special request.
How do you make fabric fire resistant?
Do you have to have fire retardant curtains?
Curtains, blinds and soft furnishings in non-domestic spaces are required to be fire retardant. Don’t get caught out. All of our curtains, blinds and soft furnishings comply to UK fire resistant regulations. We have an in-house team of experts to assist you.
What are fire safety regulations for curtains and drapes?
This works in conjunction with the government specifics for public spaces. Per DCLG (department for communities and local government) fire risk assessment guides, curtains and drapes should be compliant to – BS 5867-2: Specification for fabrics for curtains and drapes. Flammability requirements.
What are the fire retardant standards for Europe?
Fire retardant Curtains Standard for Europe M1 France B1 Germany When working in the European marketplace the fire retardant codes for France and Germany are M1 and B1 respectivly. These flame retardant standards are similar to the United Kingdom BS5867. The main difference is teh M1 standard is a very high level of flame retardancy.
Why are window drapes considered flame retardant?
When left untreated, fabrics for curtains, drapes and window blinds are highly ignitable due to their vertical suspension. Materials that are treated to prevent this are often described as ‘FR’ or ‘FR-treated’, ‘FR’ meaning flame retardant.