Fire Retardant Curtains Explained | BS 5867 Guide | Arcadia Textiles
Fire retardant curtains and blinds play an essential role in protecting commercial buildings by helping to reduce the spread of fire and allowing valuable time for occupants to evacuate safely. They are widely used in care homes, hospitals, hotels, schools, public buildings and many other commercial environments where fire safety is a priority.
At Arcadia Textiles, we manufacture made-to-measure fire retardant curtains and blinds in our West Yorkshire factory and provide nationwide survey and installation services. This guide explains the most common fire retardant standards and helps you understand which products may be suitable for your project.
Why Are Fire Retardant Curtains Important?
Unlike domestic curtains, commercial curtains and blinds are often required to meet recognised fire performance standards. Fire retardant fabrics are designed to resist ignition and slow the spread of flames, helping to improve safety within commercial premises.
Many organisations also require evidence that window furnishings comply with the appropriate standards for their type of building, making it important to choose products from an experienced commercial manufacturer.
What is BS 5867?
BS 5867 is the principal British Standard used for assessing the fire performance of curtain fabrics. It specifies how fabrics should perform when exposed to small ignition sources and is widely recognised throughout the commercial sector.
Many care homes, hotels, healthcare facilities, educational buildings and public premises specify curtains manufactured from fabrics that comply with BS 5867 Part 2.
BS 5867 Part 2 Type B
Type B fabrics are designed to resist ignition from small flame sources and are suitable for many commercial applications where a fire retardant curtain is required.
They are commonly used in:
- Care homes
- Hotels
- Schools
- Offices
- Public buildings
BS 5867 Part 2 Type C
Type C provides a higher level of fire performance than Type B and is often specified where greater resistance to flame spread is required.
The most appropriate specification will depend on the building type, project specification and local fire risk assessment.
Inherently Fire Retardant vs Treated Fabrics
Fire retardant fabrics generally fall into two categories.
Inherently Fire Retardant (IFR)
Inherently fire retardant fabrics are manufactured using fibres that possess permanent fire resistant properties. The fire retardant performance forms part of the fibre itself and does not rely upon a surface treatment.
Treated Fire Retardant Fabrics
Treated fabrics achieve their fire performance through a specialist fire retardant treatment applied during manufacture. Modern treated fabrics offer excellent performance when correctly maintained and used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Fire Retardant Blinds
Fire safety is equally important when specifying commercial blinds. Roller blinds, Roman blinds and other window treatments are available using fabrics that have been developed for commercial environments requiring enhanced fire performance.
Our team can advise on the most appropriate blind systems and fabrics for your project.
Which Buildings Commonly Use Fire Retardant Curtains?
- Care Homes & Nursing Homes
- Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities
- Hotels & Hospitality
- Schools, Colleges & Universities
- Student Accommodation
- Offices & Commercial Buildings
- Village Halls & Community Buildings
- Public Sector Buildings
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all commercial curtains need to be fire retardant?
Requirements vary depending on the building type and project specification. Many commercial premises specify fire retardant curtains to help meet their fire safety requirements.
Can I wash fire retardant curtains?
Cleaning recommendations depend on the fabric. Always follow the manufacturer's care instructions to help maintain the product's appearance and performance.
Do roller blinds need to be fire retardant?
Many commercial roller blinds are manufactured using fire retardant fabrics, particularly within healthcare, education, hospitality and care environments.
Can you provide certificates?
Where applicable, we can provide information relating to the fire performance of the fabrics supplied.
Why Choose Arcadia Textiles?
- UK manufacturer based in West Yorkshire
- Made-to-measure fire retardant curtains and blinds
- Nationwide survey and installation
- Factory-direct pricing
- Fast Track manufacturing available
- Experienced commercial project team
Need Advice?
If you're unsure which fire retardant curtain or blind is suitable for your project, our experienced team is happy to help. We can advise on suitable fabrics, window treatments and installation options for care homes, hotels, schools, healthcare facilities and commercial buildings throughout the UK.
Contact Arcadia Textiles today to discuss your project or request fabric samples.
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