Fire Code Compliance: Textiles
Here are the Highlights of the Fire Code as they relate to Drapes:
2.3.2.1.(1) Drapes, curtains, netting, and other similar or decorative materials, including textiles and films used in buildings, shall meet the requirements of CAN/ULC-S109, "Flame Tests of Flame-Resistant Fabrics and Films", when these materials are used in any:
(a) care and treatment occupancy and detention occupancy,
(b) lobby or exit,
(c) access to exit in assembly occupancies, and assembly occupancies with an occupant load of more than 100 persons, or
(d) open floor area in a business and personal services occupancy, mercantile occupancy or industrial occupancy exceeding 1500 m2, except when the floor area is divided into fire compartments not exceeding 1500 m2 in area and separated from the remainder of the floor area by a fire separation having a 1 h fire-resistance rating.
(2) Existing drapes, curtains, netting, and other similar or decorative materials, including textiles and films used in buildings which meet the requirements for a high degree of flame resistance as described in NOTE 4 of Test Method 27.1 of CAN2-4.2, "Textile Test Methods" are deemed to be in compliance with Sentence (1).
(3) For the purposes of Sentence (2),
"existing" means in place on November 21, 2007.
Flameproofing treatments
2.3.2.2. Flame retardant treatments shall be renewed as often as required to ensure that the material will pass the match flame test in NFPA 705, "Recommended Practice for a Field Flame Test for Textiles and Films". Click Here for NFPA 705 highlights
Excerpt from Fire Protection and Prevention Act. Click Here for the full text.
