Fire-Retardant Fabric Supplier Malaysia
Fire-retardant, or FR, fabric is made or treated so that it resists ignition and stops burning once the flame is taken away. Hospitals, clinics, hotels, cinemas, offices and other public buildings are often required to use it for curtains, cubicle screens and upholstery, and the requirement is set by the project specification and the local fire authority rather than by the supplier.
There are two ways to get there. Inherently fire-retardant fabric is woven from fibres, such as modified polyester, whose resistance is part of the fibre and lasts for the life of the fabric through repeated washing. Treated fabric has a fire-retardant finish applied after weaving; it can meet the same tests but may lose performance with washing, so aftercare matters.
Performance is proved by testing to a named standard. BS 5867 is widely used for curtains and drapes, and NFPA 701 is common on American-specified projects. Always check which standard a collection has been tested to, and ask for the test report before specifying it for a contract project. JOTEX Medical supplies curtain fabrics for healthcare and hospitality settings. The collections listed below have a fire-retardant standard recorded on their specification. For anything not listed, ask the JOTEX team.
Fire-Retardant Fabric: common questions
What is BS 5867?
BS 5867 is the British standard for the flammability of curtains and drapes. Part 2 sets three performance levels, Type A, B and C, and Type B is the level most often specified for curtains in hospitals, hotels and other public buildings.
What is the difference between inherently fire-retardant and FR-treated fabric?
Inherently fire-retardant fabric is woven from fibres whose resistance is built into the fibre, so it lasts for the life of the fabric. FR-treated fabric has a finish applied after weaving, which can lose effect with washing, so follow the care instructions and check whether re-treatment is needed.
Do I need fire-retardant curtains for my project in Malaysia?
Public buildings such as hospitals, hotels, cinemas and offices often do. The requirement comes from the project specification, the fire safety consultant and the local fire authority, so confirm the exact standard with them before choosing a fabric, and ask for the fabric's test report.