Whether you are looking for fabrics for your offices, your first consideration might solely be about the aesthetics or ease of maintenance of your purchase. You might not even consider fire safety, which is true with most buyers out there, whether they were buying for private or commercial use.
However, the RRFSO, the 2005 Fire Safety Order, requires adherence to certain regulations for the safety of everyone involved. Flame-retardant fabrics can stem the spread of flames should such an incident occur.
That said, there are various types of flame retardant fabrics, some safer than others. In this article, we will talk about these various fabrics to help you pick the right solution for commercial needs:
What are the different types of flame retardant fabrics?
Generally, you will find two main types of flame retardant fabrics.
The first type is inherent fabrics. These fabrics are created using a material that has been artificially modified to be flame-retardant. Because this property is woven right into the material itself, it will stay this way its entire lifespan. The most significant advantage of the material is that you will not have to invest in any more fabrics after this. It will always meet legal requirements, keeping your business out of hot water.
The second and only other type of flame-retardant fabric out there is coated fabrics. As you may have guessed, this type of fabric is treated to reduce flammability. Although there are a lot of coated fabrics to pick from, the coating will wear out over time. These types of fabrics should not be washed either, as the property might diminish even faster.
Which flame retardant fabrics are safer?
Regardless of which type of flame retardant fabrics you purchase for your offices and the likes, knowing which ones are safe for use is vital to your and your employees’ wellbeing.
To know which fabrics to avoid, you must know what kind of flame-retarding chemicals were used. For instance, chemicals that contain Bromine are a cause for concern because, if used in areas where there are children, the chemical can hinder proper neurological development. You may also want to avoid Chlorinated Tris because it is known to be cancer-causing. Finally, Phosphorus flame retardants are known to cause various allergic reactions, especially when the dust has settled on the fabric for long periods.
The right type of fabric should minimise danger to your employees while meeting the required levels of fire safety imposed on businesses by FIRA.
Conclusion
Fire is a serious hazard in restaurants, hotels, and so on. It is not much of a hazard in other places that do not work with fire. Regardless, safety must always be a priority, no matter the case.
In terms of fire safety, the knowledge in this article can help you purchase not only fabrics but essentially any furniture. That said when purchasing flame retardant fabrics and more, do work with the supplier closely. Let them know of your needs, and they will help you understand which options you can pick to meet your goals.
Direct fabrics is a fabric supplier in the UK for hotels, schools, and many other businesses. We offer quality products to meet great demands. If you are looking for flame retardant fabrics for your commercial needs, check out what we have to offer.