Flame Retardant Standards

Draperies and event fabrics for public venues like theatres and convention centres are required by local legislation to meet specific Flame Retardant standards. Standards and certification requirements vary internationally and regionally. In order to provide the maximum safety level for our worldwide customers, ShowTex conducts a variety of Flame Retardant standard tests for all fabrics.

• Flame Retardant Standards overview

• ShowTex fabrics are FR with certificate

• Abbreviations we use on this website

Flame Retardant standards overview

• In Europe and Australia, the most accepted standards in the industry are the French, German and British standards. Recently, also the European EN 13773 standard for curtains is becoming more common.
• In the US, NFPA 701 is accepted in almost all states.
• In most of Asia, the EU standards are common, combined with the Chinese standard.

Although standards and testing procedures differ for each country and are difficult to compare, the industry has formed an unofficial consensus about their ranking. This ranking only reflects the difficulty level of passing a specific test, without categorizing the value of the test itself. Our research and development department applies for multiple tests for each fabric, based on their expertise of the tests available.

These are the most used FR standards, ordered by geographical location, since the parameters of the test methods vary greatly and are difficult to compare:

You will note that fabrics on this website often have more than one certification. If a standard is not mentioned with a specific fabric, it’s possible the fabric did not pass certification testing, is in the process of being tested or hasn’t been deemed necessary for the test.

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ShowTex fabrics are flame retardant with certificate

Due to the changing nature of safety requirements and industry standards, the Flame Retardant Standard certification of all our fabrics is subject to change.

Fabric components affected by REACH guidelines are also subject to change. REACH is a new European Community Regulation on chemicals and their safe use (EC 1907/2006). It deals with the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances.

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The following terms are used on this website:

• Flame Retardant (FR)
  These fabrics are treated with a chemical fire retardant after weaving, using an immersion process. As the treatment is only topical, the flame retardancy will diminish over time, especially with repeated washing or dry cleaning. Most flameproofing agents are water-soluble and may also break down through exposure to moisture or humidity. For continued safety, FR draperies should be tested periodically, as retreatment may be necessary.
   
• Inherently Flame Retardant (IFR)
  This type of fabric is woven from flame-retardant fibres that retain their protective properties throughout the lifetime of the fabric. Unlike chemically treated materials, the flame retardancy of IFR curtains does not wash out or diminish over time. Our IFR Polyester and Trevira CS textiles are made from fibres and yarns with built-in safety. The flame resistance is inherent to the core of the material itself.
   
• Non-combustible
  These fabrics offer the highest level of fire safety. They do not ignite, burn, or contribute to flame spread, even under extreme heat. Made from mineral-based fibres, these materials meet strict FR standards, ideal for use in escape routes, public buildings, and high-risk areas.
   
• Not Flame Retardant (NFR)
  The fabric has either not been tested or has failed to meet recognised flame retardancy standards. Some NFR fabrics can be treated with a flame-retardant spray to reduce flammability, but this depends on the fibre content. In certain cases, small quantities or specific applications may still be permitted, depending on local fire regulations. Always check with the authorities before use.

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