The 411 on Fire Retardant Draperies

Fire retardant draperies are required by most State Fire Marshalls as well as by the NFPA 701 standards in certain government and housing settings. Such situations usually involve federally subsidized facilities like: HUD, senior resident housing, or public areas. If these laws and guidelines are not followed, citations and fines could be levied and subsides could be revoked. I hear you, “What does this mean to me, the average consumer?” Well, this means that the government understands how important fire retardant draperies are in protecting people and property. Let’s examine the different qualities of retardants and the different options of fabrics made from fire retardant materials.

First, be sure to only buy fire-retardant drapery fabrics that are inherently flame-resistant or fireproof fabrics. This means the fiber itself will not sustain or continue to flame. For example, draperies constructed with mod-acrylic material would be an excellent choice. You absolutely do not want to waste money buying a drapery fabric that has been artificially treated or one subjected to a chemical in order to make it fire-retardant. Usually, this type of treatment can easily be inadvertently lost after only one or two cleanings as it literally washes out the drapery.

Fire-retardant draperies also have great use in other ways as well. For example, many fire-retardant fabrics provide thick, rich, elegant draperies. This type of drapery tends to wear well because of its durability. Also, these fabrics often come in a great selection of weaves, patterns, and textures. For timeless, elegant styles and superior quality, choose the only website where you can buy direct from the factory and save hundreds of dollars per window, saving you 50 to 80% off per window!