Flame-proofing softgoods
- Thread startertrwenger
- Start date
MPowers
Well-Known Member
First, as one of my jobs is safety inspections, a little thing that always bugs me, there is no such thing as "Flame Proof" or "Fire Proof". The correct term is flame or fire RETARDANT. Everything will burn under the right circumstances, even steel, ever been shown the survival tip of starting a camp fire with steel wool and a 9v battery?
The life of Flame proofing is a very wide range. It depends on the base material, the chemicals used, the method of application, the apmospheric conditions the treated meterial has encountered, etc. All that said, for most cotton stage curtain material, 5 to 10 years is concidered average. So in your case they are rather certain to be in need. However, first, check with your local AHJ and see if there is a speciffic regulation/code in your jurisdiction that requires retreating at speciffic intervals. That might determine your needed action without further ado. Second, some jursisdictions still allow the AHJ to make a field burn test to determine your need to retreat or not, many do not and IIRC, NFPA no longer endorses the field burn test.
Heres a link to a page that explains a lot. US Flame Retardancy Regulations, Fire Retardant Fabrics
A couple of possible places to check pricing for treatment are:
Turning Star Flame Retardants and Fire Safety Specialists
Stage Curtains & Stage Curtain Restoration: Theatrical Rigging, Fabrication
Now, Some additional thoughts. The average life of a cotton stage curtain if well kept, is roughly 20 years, Polyester about 25. Many stay in use longer but how good they look is a matter of opinion. With that in mind, ballance the age and condition of your goods and determine if re-treating them at this point is cost effective or if it is time to buy new. If buy new is the decision, consider the following. Treated Cotton goods are ultimately the absolute best looking, plushest etc. BUT under most conditions, 90% of the population can't see any difference. Polyester goods are IFR, that is, Inherently Flame Resistent for the life of the fabric and never need retreating. Polyester is mechanically stronger and more durable, thus the slightly longer life expectancy. Cotton goods cannot be spot cleaned with water as this leaches out the chemicals and almost always leaves a bad stain. Polyester can be user cleaned or washed with water, particularly good for middle and highschools with the ever ubiquitous "Cafetorium" where food stuffs are in close proximity to the curtains. On the other hand, Polyester is, in most cases, about 10%-15% more expensive for a similar fabric weight.
Hope this helps.
The life of Flame proofing is a very wide range. It depends on the base material, the chemicals used, the method of application, the apmospheric conditions the treated meterial has encountered, etc. All that said, for most cotton stage curtain material, 5 to 10 years is concidered average. So in your case they are rather certain to be in need. However, first, check with your local AHJ and see if there is a speciffic regulation/code in your jurisdiction that requires retreating at speciffic intervals. That might determine your needed action without further ado. Second, some jursisdictions still allow the AHJ to make a field burn test to determine your need to retreat or not, many do not and IIRC, NFPA no longer endorses the field burn test.
Heres a link to a page that explains a lot. US Flame Retardancy Regulations, Fire Retardant Fabrics
A couple of possible places to check pricing for treatment are:
Turning Star Flame Retardants and Fire Safety Specialists
Stage Curtains & Stage Curtain Restoration: Theatrical Rigging, Fabrication
Now, Some additional thoughts. The average life of a cotton stage curtain if well kept, is roughly 20 years, Polyester about 25. Many stay in use longer but how good they look is a matter of opinion. With that in mind, ballance the age and condition of your goods and determine if re-treating them at this point is cost effective or if it is time to buy new. If buy new is the decision, consider the following. Treated Cotton goods are ultimately the absolute best looking, plushest etc. BUT under most conditions, 90% of the population can't see any difference. Polyester goods are IFR, that is, Inherently Flame Resistent for the life of the fabric and never need retreating. Polyester is mechanically stronger and more durable, thus the slightly longer life expectancy. Cotton goods cannot be spot cleaned with water as this leaches out the chemicals and almost always leaves a bad stain. Polyester can be user cleaned or washed with water, particularly good for middle and highschools with the ever ubiquitous "Cafetorium" where food stuffs are in close proximity to the curtains. On the other hand, Polyester is, in most cases, about 10%-15% more expensive for a similar fabric weight.
Hope this helps.
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Another company that can do this is north of you is Stage Curtains & Stage Curtain Restoration: Theatrical Rigging, Fabrication. They specialize in fire code compliance. Everything they do is properly tagged and you get a cert that does not look like it was made in MS Paint for everything. We also found them to be the cheapest out of all the companies we had bid out. They are a 4 hour drive from you.
And that's wheat I get when I start a post and come back to it awhile later! Well, plus two for Reynold's.
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MPowers
Well-Known Member
One thing I should have pointed out is that re-treating does NOT extend the life of the goods, it only renews the flame retardant properties. So for the OP's curtains, re-treating will give him 12 year old curtains, cleaned and better looking but still 12 years old with roughly 8 years of normal life left. Cost effective???? Just depends on what the costs of treating are (with shipping or onsite expenses) vs: the cost of new with the new life span to consider. Also depends on what condition the existing goods are in.
