Firecode

[midgetgreen11]

Does anybody know what general firecode is towards the length of time in between "Fireproofing" Stage curtains. Our school has been open 8 years and the curtains have not been proofed. I feel like I heard someone say it's 5years but I'm not entirely sure.

We also don't fireproof our sets because we don't have the money, and I'm basically our Drama Club's Tech Director. Should I be on my Director's tail about these things?

[lieperjp]

Originally Posted by midgetgreen11

Does anybody know what general firecode is towards the length of time in between "Fireproofing" Stage curtains. Our school has been open 8 years and the curtains have not been proofed. I feel like I heard someone say it's 5years but I'm not entirely sure.

We also don't fireproof our sets because we don't have the money, and I'm basically our Drama Club's Tech Director. Should I be on my Director's tail about these things?

My church just recently purchased stage curtains, and the fire proofing is rated for 5 years. I don't know if it varies at all, though.

This is just an example. It may be different on your curtains.

[Footer]

Look on the tag on the soft good, call that company and ask them. As far as what you need to "fireproof", most places just require backpainting everything, and in some instances require actual fireproof solution to be applied to all surfaces, usually though you have to be using pyro to get to that level.

BUT. YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FIREMARSHAL, RULES ARE DIFFERENT ACCROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, DO NOT TAKE ANY ADVICE HERE FOR LAW, YOU MUST CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FIREMARSHAL.

Some places require a fire marshal inspection before every show opens, some don't. Just depends on the area and what type of suppression is available at the theatre.

[ReiRei]

Be careful when fireproofing a set, especially if you paint your stage. During my school's remount of Little Shop of Horrors we fireproofed the set because we had to move it, just in case, y'know. Anyways, now there are certain parts of the stage we can't paint over because of the substance we used on the set.

[sobenson]

NFPA 701: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films, is the federal standard, however your local Fire Department may have more strict rules, so definitely check with them. As for the length of the flame proofing, check with the original goods manufacturer. The goods may be inherently flame resistant so they may bee good for the life of the goods. If they are treated, such as some of mine, the substance that treated the goods would be what you need to check on. For example the stuff we used, Fire Block, is good indefinitely or 3 washes, and as I don't own a washer that can fit 672 sq.ft. of material I should never have to worry about re-treating them.

[mixmaster]

I'm 90% sure national code says soft good should be fireproofed every 5 years. I'm not aware of a code that requires fireproofing for sets and painted surfaces.
However, national code (NFPA 72) also gives local authority (your fire marshal or city inspector) the right to make any local rules he wants, so you MUST!!!! check with him/her. Beyond CODE concerns there is a manufacturer's tag that tells you how long the original fireproofing is good for, but that doesn't mean that subsequent fireproofing used the same materials or is good for as long. Records of each subsequent treatment should be maintained, including the life expectancy of the treatment.

[museav]

Just to emphasize the checking with local officials, it is usually their interpretation of the code, not yours, that really matters, so best to get their interpretation.

[derekleffew]

This document from RoseBrand may be helpful.

I have seen a Fire Marshal conduct a "match test" as follows: Cut a one inch square swatch of material from a seam or other unnoticed location. Hold a lit paper match to it for ten seconds. Once the flame is removed, the material must self-extinguish and not be able to sustain the flame on its own.

[midgetgreen11]

I figured it out by looking at the tag on our 4 travelers. They are inherently flame proof. The weird thing is that our main drape is a split-drape that opens sideways, and it has like this plastic material on the back of it.

Would this be our fire curtain, because we do not have one that drops? Shouldn't a fire curtain be something that drops automatically?

[Spikesgirl]

Ben - no, that wouldn't be a fire curtain. I think you need to have a talk with your TD or the head of your department as you should have one (a real one) in place legally. We had to have ours tested twice a year by the FM when I was back at the college. At the theater where I work now, it's pretty much up to us when we want to have it tested.