Fire-retardant Drapes and Curtains for your Home

Draperies, curtains and similar hanging fabrics and textiles used in public spaces schools, churches, senior housing, meeting halls, theaters, stages etc. are required by law in many states and cities to be certified as flame-retardant. Homeowners do not have such restrictions. However, do you know that home fires account for nearly 90% of all fire-related fatalities? One of the most flammable fire accelerators in any home are fabrics like upholstery, bed sheets, curtains and drapes that’s why it is worth investing in fire-retardant drapes for extra protection for your home and family.

All of the fire-retardant drapery fabrics by FactoryDirectDrapes.com are inherently fire-retardant (IFR) and meet NFPA 701: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This test measures the flammability of a fabric when it is exposed to specific sources of ignition.

Details of NFPA 701 are available here:
http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=701

Unlike fire-retardant fabrics (FR) which is treated with fire retarding chemicals and loses it’s fire-retardancy after washing, inherently fire retardant fabrics have fire retardant threads that’s woven in it. This means that it will remain sufficiently flame retardant for its lifetime even after repeated washings. Also, ANY drape fabric we carry can have an inherently fire-retardant standard or blackout/insulated lining attached to it. Custom widths and lengths ensure a perfect fit.

Visit FactoryDirectDrapes.com today for our wide selection of beautiful fire-retardant fabrics for your home in a variety of colors, fabrics and textures. From the fire retardant fabrics to the last stitch in sewing, your drapes and curtains are proudly 100% American Made!

Choosing 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. One of the most flammable fire accelerators in any home are fabrics like upholstery, bed sheets, curtains and drapes that’s why it is worth investing in fire retardant drapes to protect your homes and family.

All of the Fire-Retardant drapery fabrics by FactoryDirectDrapes.com are inherently fire-retardant (IFR). Unlike fire-retardant fabrics (FR) which is treated with fire retarding chemicals and loses it’s fire-retardancy after washing, inherently fire retardant fabrics have fire retardant threads that’s woven in it. This means that it will remain sufficiently flame retardant for its lifetime even after repeated washings.

Visit FactoryDirectDrapes.com and 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.

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/.