......... box of
muslin........ construct some flats.......can't find ... if the
muslin was fireproofed or not. I'm planning on spraying on some fireproofing solution after they are painted just to be safe, .......anyone has a recommendation for a particularly fireproofing product.......
David, First -
KUDOS TO YOU for not only being
safety conscious, but also for being proactive in dealing with this issue. Many of the schools in which I do
safety inspections, have no idea if the scenic units and materials they have are treated or that they even need to be.
A couple of things about flame treating. I don't mean to be pedantic but there is no such thing as "Flame Proof". Fabrics and scenic materials can be flame RESISTANT, but not flame PROOF.
Now, you can check yourself to see if the fabric was treated at the factory. Cut a strip from one
edge about 2" wide and 8"-10" long. Hold one end in a pair of pliers or vice grips or similar and allow the
swatch to hang down vertically. Use a match or a lighter and hold it under the lower end until the fabric catches fire. If it flares up and continues burning when the flame source is removed, it definitely was not treated. If it only chars or the flame dies out as soon as you take the flame source away, it probably was treated. And yes I said probably, you still do not have any documentation. So you probably do want to treat the fabric.
Spraying the scenery (or
soft goods such as
drapes) after it is built and painted is is the least effective way to treat your scenery. In addition you run the risk of altering the look of the paint job and there is usually a big mess from the spraying as a good portion of the product will simply run off the paint's finish coat especially if the paint is acrylic or latex. It is best to treat wood and
muslin before or during construction.
Rosco has a wide range of products for treating scenic materials
Rosco Flamex - rosco.com
For Cotton
muslin, before construction or painting, Roscoflamex NF - Natural Fiber Flame Retardant, is your best bet, It works best if the fabric is vat dipped. You can also brush it on after covering your
flat but before you paint. For this method you would also want to consider using Roscoflamex WD - Raw Wood Penetrating Flame Retardant, on the bare wood portions of the
unit.
Another way you might try is the paint additive, Roscoflamex PA - Paint Additive Flame Retardant. This is a chemical you add to the paint, usually the
base coat or prime coat. If you use the PA product, be aware that to be completely compliant, you will need to paint the back side of your scenery as well as the under sides of platforms.
When you look at the
Rosco web site, you will notice in the task bar at the top "Where To Buy" that will guide you to
Rosco dealers near you.
There are other products available and in Ca. you might find several other brands. All are similar and produce the desired results. I just happen to be very familiar with the
Rosco products, having used them for many years and now, as a
Rosco Dealer.
Hope this helps.
