The flammabiity of curtains and other fabric items

[Stephen Tashiro]

Many furniture designs (such as canopy beds, futons, sofas) incorporate fabrics. How should one go about determining the flammability of the fabrics?

I would hope that there are some standards for the flammability of curtains and drapes. I recall reading articles that criticized the extreme flammability of certain children's clothes, but I don't know if these resulted in any regulations that require the disclosure of the flammability of a fabric. It wouldn't be good to make a canopy bed with curtains sewn from material at the latest fabric store and then have the whole thing go whoof! in a few seconds.

[Dan Hintz]

This pamphlet has some useful facts to get you started:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/publications/ncr174.pdf

Some info on the FFA:
http://www.apparelsearch.com/flammable_fabrics_act.htm

If you want real testing, you'll need to send it to a lab, such as this:
http://www.vteclabs.com/flammability.htm

[Brian Tymchak]

I've heard that clothing (or fabric in general) can be treated with a boric acid mixture to help it be more flame restardant. A quick google came up with this link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2086884_make-clothing-flame-retardant.html

You might want to call your local fire department and see if they have recommendations.

Brian

[Shawn Pixley]

Commercial and public buildings are required to have furnishings meeting certain flame spread ratings. To the best of my knowledge ther is no equivelant for residential.

If you want to have less flammable fabrics you may want to search for commercial upholsteries. The are also companies that will treat fabrics as well that would or could provide the equivalent ratings. This could be a difficult google search. I doubt the local fabric store would be much help here.

[Stephen Tashiro]

I've heard that clothing (or fabric in general) can be treated with a boric acid mixture to help it be more flame restardant. A quick google came up with this link:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2086884_make-clothing-flame-retardant.html

You might want to call your local fire department and see if they have recommendations.

Brian

That's a very interesting link. It seems like every five years or so, I read an article in a newspaper about how some local company is producing an environmentally friendly water based fire retardant. However, I can never find a place to buy such a fire retardant.