Fire-retardant Drapes for your Home

While all commercial spaces need to meet strict fire codes, homeowners don’t have such restrictions. Common sites requiring fire-retardant window treatments include any public domains such as schools, colleges, senior housing, theaters and stages, meeting halls, churches etc. However, with the holidays around the corner, your fireplaces, candles and Christmas lights will start getting some use and many people feel safer having their draperies in fire-retardant fabrics.

In the U.S., the most widely followed standard to determine fire resistance in drape and curtain fabric is the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) 701 standard. Under NFPA 701, drapery fabric is tested by burning a small sample and measuring the flame, char length and flaming residue. If a fabric is not sufficiently flame resistant to meet a standard, the fabric is labeled Non Flame Retardant (NFR). Fabrics that meet a self-extinguishing standard are categorized as Flame Retardant (FR), Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR), or Durably Flame Retardant (DFR).

Flame Retardant (FR) type of fabric is woven with threads such that, initially, the fabric did not meet fire code. In order to meet fire code, the fabric was treated with a flame retarding chemical so that the end product does meet code.

Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR) type of fabric is woven with threads (fiber or filament) that yield a product that meets fire code without any further treatment or finishing such as monoacrylic fiber. Additionally, the safe expectation is that the fabric will remain sufficiently flame retardant for its lifetime even after repeated washings.

Durably Flame Retardant (DFR) type of fabric is woven with threads that are flame resistant but not enough. Instead of adding a FR chemical to stick to the surface of the thread, however, the manufacturer adds an FR compound that chemically binds with the fiber composition. The FR chemical not only is bound to the fabric chemically but is not water soluble and, therefore, cannot be removed from the fabric by washing (except in a special chemical bath).

Beware of buying fire-retardant drapes and curtains that are chemically treated. The fire retardancy on those will disappear when they are cleaned.

All of the Fire-Retardant drapery fabrics by FactoryDirectDrapes.com are inherently fire-retardant (IFR). Choose from our wide selection of beautiful fire-retardant fabrics in a variety of colors, patterns, textures, lined, unlined and sheers. Also, ANY drape fabric we carry can have an inherently fire-retardant lining attached to it. Consider flame-retardancy before choosing your fabric especially if it's for a nursery or bedroom.

For more information on drapery fabric flame retardancy regulations, please visit the National Fire Protection Association website at http://www.nfpa.org/.