Flammability testing of curtains and drapes

Flammability testing of curtains and drapes

Considering test methods used to assess the fire resistance of curtains, drapes and window blinds.

While the term ‘curtain’ can be used in a variety of situations, it is defined for this purpose as a large piece of fabric hung up as a screen – often across a window. The term ‘drape’, although less common in the UK, is sometimes used instead of ‘curtain’. A curtain may be tested to see if it is likely to catch fire when exposed to a flame. This flammability testing can be used to assess whether or not it is ‘safe’, meaning that it is unlikely to cause a hazard or bring harm to the user in normal use, or under foreseeable misuse. A window blind is similar to a curtain. Window blinds may have a roller arrangement with a fabric wound round a reel.

Background

Fires inside buildings can be started due to ignition by smoker’s materials, naked flames such as candles, or other intense heat sources. Being a vertically suspended piece of material, flames can spread readily up and across a curtain. The ignitability of fabrics varies – some fabrics catch fire readily, whereas others do not. Fabrics which have no inherent resistance to ignition may be chemically treated to make them resist ignition. Fabrics which have been treated in this way are often described as ‘FR-treated’ – ‘FR’ standing for ‘Flame Retardant’. FR treatment is intended to improve resistance to ignition, and also, should ignition take place, reduce the rate at which a flame will spread across a surface.

UK specification

BS 5867-2:2008 – ‘Fabrics for curtains, drapes and window blinds – Part 2: Flammability requirements – Specification’ sets out levels of performance based on testing to particular methods. This specification describes three levels – types ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’. The requirements of Type A are the least severe, with the requirements of Type C being the most demanding. Each requirement type specifies a cleansing procedure to be used before the specimens are tested, in addition to the severity of the actual ignition test.

Regulatory framework in the UK

In the UK, there is no specific mandatory requirement that curtains supplied for domestic use are tested for flammability. Curtains are not included within the scope of the UK Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988.

The UK General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (which implement an EU Directive) require all products to be ‘safe’. Testing of products against standards is used by suppliers as evidence that the product is safe.
The non-domestic market for curtains is sometimes known as the ‘contract’ market. The fire safety of non-domestic buildings is controlled in the UK by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which imposes a duty on the operator of the building (such as a workplace, hotel, restaurant or hospital) to take responsibility for fire safety. Part of this responsibility includes the correct selection of curtains. Subject to a risk-assessment of the building and the activities that take place within it which might indicate otherwise, curtains that have passed the BS 5867-2:2008 Type B test are often regarded as suitable for non-domestic use.

Other standards

Readers may also be interested in the following European standards that are applicable to curtains and drapes:

BS EN 13772:2011 – ‘Textiles and textile products – Burning behaviour – Curtains and drapes – Measurement of flame spread of vertically oriented specimens with large ignition source’

BS EN 13773:2003 – ‘Textiles and textile products – Burning behaviour – Curtains and drapes – Classification scheme’

BS EN 1101:1996 – ‘Textiles and textile products – Burning behaviour – Curtains and drapes – Detailed procedure to determine the ignitability of vertically oriented specimens (small flame)’

BS EN 1102:1996 – ‘Textiles and textile products – Burning behaviour – Curtains and drapes – Detailed procedure to determine the flame spread of vertically oriented specimens’.

Young Yao 

Marketing development manager

Zhejiang Ruico Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (Stock No.873233)

Add: No.188, Liangshan Road, Linghu Town, Nanxun District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China 313018

Phone: +86 (572) 2903236

Fax: +86 (572) 2905222

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Website:www.ruicoglobal.com

Email: [email protected]