Fire Retardant Treatment for Fabrics
Ref / Click HereCCCRCSESEQFAFSFINICTISOHSOPPREPSSUPTNGTRVS- NFG019
Issue/Revision Date / 01/03/2011 / Review Date / 08/05/2015 / Version / 3.0
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Background
This Note for Inspecting Officers provides guidance on the standards that are considered appropriate in respect to Fire Retardant Treatment for Fabrics.
The Note aims to set general principles and to provide the reader with information as to which approved document or technical standard is considered by this Authority to be appropriate.
Information
A wide variety of treatments are available to make fabrics more fire retardant. It is not possible to list these in detail. Specific instructions may be obtained from the manufacturer of a particular treatment solution.
Types of Treatment
Where fire retardance is sought, the following types of material can be used: -
• A non-combustible material
• An inherently fire retardant material.
• Material which has been permanently treated (also known as durably fire retardant material).
• Material which has been temporarily treated (also known as non-durably fire retardant material).
Materials, which need treatment, are best modified during of the manufacturing process. If a treatment is carried out later: -
• a suitable treatment for the type and use of the material should be adopted;
• the instructions from the manufacturer of the treatment should be closely followed; and
• re-treatment will be necessary because the fire retardance may degrade due to storage, handling, atmospheric conditions, soiling, deep cleaning.
• A record should be kept of maintenance and the material should be labelled.
Test Evidence
Where the Fire & Rescue Authority has recommended, or required, that materials should be fire retardant, written evidence will be required to show that the material is either: -
1. non-combustible; or
2. inherently fire retardant; and/or
3. whether it is durably or non-durably fire retardant.
If the material has been treated after manufacture, full details of the treatment and the operative's competence to carry out the treatment should be presented.
When a non-durably fire retardant treatment has been used, a formal programme for re-treatment every six months (or after laundering) should be adopted.
Further information is available from the West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service - Fire Safety Technical Library through the Fire Safety Support Team at our Headquarters.
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