Current UK regulations require our furniture and furnishings meet what is known as the ‘match test’ under fire safety standards. The match test is designed to replicate a match or small flame igniting the cover fabric on upholstered furniture. The test material is placed tightly against a flammable ... read more
Building codes specify the number of hours a structure must withstand a given temperature, based on a variety of characteristics of the building in question. There are three key considerations when creating a fire protection plan: life safety, fire suppression, and protection of the structure. ... read more
Although the U.S. and the EU banned the manufacturing of certain types of PBDEs (polybrominated diphenylethers) by 2004, Britain's progress on the regulation front is much slower and PBDEs have yet to be completely phased out. PBDEs have gained a prominent place in the hierarchy of most toxic orga... read more
There are three main ways that a fabric may become fire retardant (FR): First, the fabric may itself consist of, and be woven from, yarns which are inherently fire retardant e.g. wool. This is the best solution as the drape and natural feel of the fabric is unaffected. Second, and most commonly... read more
Considerations Around Fabric Flammability Fabric flammability is an important issue to consider, especially for drapery that will be used in a public space such as a school, theatre or special event venue, since federal regulations require that drapery fabrics used in such spaces be certified as fir... read more