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Flame Retardant Finish - General Specifications
Flame Retardant fabric finishing process is unequaled in the industry and imparts a wonderful "Soft Touch" finish to your fabric. The highest quality flame retardants are used to treat your fabric and the chemicals are non-toxic and
environmentally safe. Our exclusive, propriety application techniques help maintain the natural beauty and softness of your fabric.
FIBER CONTENT The content of a fabric is the most important factor in determining its suitability for a Flame Retardant Fabric Finish. There are three categories of fiber content:
1. NATURAL FIBERS - In general, natural fiber fabrics are the "Best Choice when choosing a fabric to be flame retarded. Natural fibers (cotton, silk, linen, wool, etc.) absorb the flame retardant readily and can be treated to meet the most stringent flammability standards. 2. SYNTHETIC FIBERS - Synthetic fibers are more difficult to treat for flame retardancy. Acrylics, acetates, nylons, and polypropylene fabrics are not recommended for drapery use. These fibers are Non-Absorbent, which causes the chemical to remain on the surface of the fabric. These fabrics can be treated with a flame retardant backing for upholstery use. *EXCEPTIONS: POLYESTER and RAYON are two synthetic fabrics that USUALLY RESPOND WELL to Flame Retardant Treatment. 100% Polyester may be treated with a washable Flame Retardant fabric finish. Rayon is a man-made cellulosic fiber similar to cotton.) 3. BLENDS - Most of the fabrics we treat are Blends of two or more fibers. The more natural the fiber in the blend, the better results can be expected. Higher concentrations of synthetic fibers make it necessary to add more chemical to meet the flammability standard. Some blends cannot be treated to meet a vertical test. *A NOTE ABOUT FIBER "CONTENT": Acrylic backings and stain protection are rarely, if ever, listed as part of a fabric's "content". The presence of either of these components increases fabric flammability and can substantially affect test results. WEAVE / CONSTRUCTION The weave or construction of a fabric is another important factor in determining its suitability for finishing. It is important to understand that flame proofing is a wet finish process - the fabric is moistened with a water-based flame retardant solution. Fabrics respond to the treatment much as they would to being moistened with pure water. The following fabric weaves require special attention:
NOTE: During our pre-process evaluation, we make note of these conditions, conduct screening tests, and notify you if it appears there could be a problem with your fabric. FLAMMABILITY STANDARDS: When ordering, please specify the correct flammability test on your purchase order. (This information is available from you local fire marshal). Upholstery codes generally require less stringent testing (and therefore less chemical add-on) than drapery codes. STANDARDS If no flammability code is specified, we will attempt to treat your fabric to one of the following flammability standards:
*These codes are widely accepted by fire departments and municipalities across the nation. Some locations, notably Boston, New York, California, and Massachusetts have their own testing requirements. (call for more information) TESTING We test every fabric before issuing a certificate. In most cases, there is no additional charge for this service. If independent laboratory testing is required, an extra charge will apply. CERTIFICATION A certificate of flame retardancy is issued for all flame retarded fabrics. Fabrics treated by SBI have met every conceivable test standard. A few of the tests our process has met include:
NOTE: California technical bulletin 117 section E, in its current form, is often considered insufficient for commercial interior fabric use. HAND AND APPEARANCE Before a certificate of flame retardancy can be issued, a sufficient quantity of flame retardant must be applied to the fabric for it to meet the flammability code. In most cases, the treatment does not adversely affect the hand and appearance of the goods. However, acrylics, nylons, and certain fabric blends require higher levels of chemical add on to pass the test. If the fabric is woven tightly, this can lead to stiffness. If the fabric is relatively non-absorbent, there is no place for the chemical to go so it may be visible in some form on the fabric. We will be happy to discuss you fabric selection s in advance. Also, we can treat samples of your material for your evaluation and approval before processing your order. Additional Stain Protection (Flame and Stain) is strongly recommended on all:
CLEANING AND CARE Flame retardant chemicals are water soluble. Fabrics should be dry cleaned only in an "uncharged" system containing no water. Fabric should be evaluated for flammability after each cleaning. Flame retardant will be partially or completely removed by washing.
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