The safety of your property and everyone in your place of business should be your top priority. Unfortunately, unexpected emergencies, particularly indoor fires, can be deadly and destroy everything you have worked hard for in a blink of an eye.
Among the many causes and contributors to uncontrollable indoor fires in commercial buildings are curtains. They are usually made of flammable materials and can spread one spark in a corner to the rest of the room. Thankfully, there are now curtains with fire-resistant and retardant properties
What Are Flame-Retardant Curtains? 
Fabric is usually considered fire-retardant if it passes a vertical flame test, like the NFPA 701. To conduct this test, the fabric is exposed to a small open flame source on a vertical plane for 12 seconds to measure its flammability.
Note that there is no entirely fireproof fabric. All fabric will burn when exposed to flame for long enough. However, some materials resist fire better than others, limiting the damage a fire can bring to your property.
How Can Flame-Retardant Curtains Benefit Your Business?
When you use fire-retardant curtains for your business, you become a responsible owner by protecting everyone’s safety. These items are made of fabric that is much harder to catch on fire, which means that the flames trying to jump to the curtain will be stopped from spreading to other flammable objects.
When fire-resistant curtains catch on fire, they’ll emit much less fire. Plus, if your property has multiple floors, you reduce the risk of the fire engulfing the lower part of your facility. This gives you, your employees, and your customers more time to escape.
What Are the Common Myths About Fire-Resistant Curtains?
Many business owners might not be familiar with these types of curtains. Others might not also prioritise using them due to misinformation. To know the truth about fire-resistant curtains, here are the common myths surrounding them:
Myth #1: Fire-Resistant Curtains Are Rough
It’s a common misconception that fabrics have to be rougher to resist flames. They can also resemble cotton, linen, wool, and even silk. In fact, it can be hard to tell the difference between curtains made of fire-resistant materials and other fabrics because they can be incredibly soft, delicate, light, and pleasant to the touch.
Myth #2: Fire-Resistant Curtains Are Not Stylish
If you are concerned about your curtains affecting the overall look of your property, there’s actually no need to worry. Flame-retardant curtains come in different designs and colours, so they can still add beauty to your space. While their fabric’s fluid-proof coating contains an FR additive, the percentage is so minute that it doesn’t compromise the curtain’s texture.
Myth #3: Fire-Resistant Curtains Are Bad for Your Health
Thanks to modern technology, flame-retardant curtains are extremely safe. Almost all fire-resistant fabrics are made from inherently FR yarns. Besides using safe chemicals, they have FR additives that are Oeko-Tex compliant. Some safety apparel like firemen uniforms is even made from this type of fabric.
Conclusion
Curtains might seem like a small detail in your commercial property, but they actually have a significant impact, especially on your overall safety. For this reason, it’s best to choose the type that gives you peace of mind and keeps you and everyone else in your place of business protected. To stock up on flame-retardant curtains, be sure to work with the right supplier.
At Direct Fabrics, we are a leading British supplier of flame-retardant curtains for schools, hotels, care homes, and more. All our curtains are made to measure and can be delivered to you in three weeks or less. Browse our collection or request a quick quote today!