Fire completely destroyed a Hartford, Connecticut Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey circus tent in under 10 minutes in 1944. The dead numbered 169. Robert Ringling, president of the circus, stated that he had not been able to find flame proof canvas for the tent. Today, fire retardant fabric is not only available but mandatory for public events. Unseen but always at work, fire retardant fabric is the backdrop in public and at home, reducing your risk of injury or death in a fire
How Is Fabric Treated?
Trade shows, schools and theaters are all examples of public places that have drapes or other fabric that need fire retardant treatment. To make fabric fire retardant, it is saturated with a chemical flame retardant after it is produced. Flameproofing chemicals are often water soluble and will wear off with washing. Dry cleaning chemicals will also cause flame retardant qualities to dissipate. Retesting of fabrics for fire resistance should be done after a year.
History
In 1953, the Flammable Fabrics Act dictated safety rules regarding highly flammable clothing. In 1967, the Act was expanded to cover furnishings and the materials used to make clothing and furnishings. Taking responsibility for the flammable fabrics act in 1972, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has the power to issue mandatory flammability standards. The CPSC has developed standards for clothes, carpets, mattresses and children's clothing.
Fabric Flame Resistance
According to an article in Sew What, some fabrics have more natural resistance to flame than others. Those that have less flame resistance can be treated with fire retardant chemicals. Synthetic fabrics like polyester are flame resistant. The problem with synthetics is that if they do ignite, they melt and cause burns to the skin. Wool and silk are naturally resistant to fire. Untreated cotton and linen are are subject to fast ignition and spread of fire, and are good candidates for flame retardant treatment.
Chemicals Used
Concern has been voiced on the safety of fire retardant treatments. Fire retardants and fire raise controversy over which is more dangerous. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the fire retardant PBDE was used on furniture from the 1980s until 2004 when the manufacturer stopped production. PBDE's are similar to PCB's which are banned from use. DecaBDE, the only PBDE still in use in the U.S., has been banned in Maine due to environmental and health concerns. Chlorinated Tris is used on furniture, as well as chemicals that have proprietary ingredients. Tris is banned for use to treat children's sleepwear due to health concerns, according to the CPSC.
How Do Chemicals Work?
When exposed to flame, fire retardant chemicals cause a reaction that changes the gases and tars in the fabric to carbon char. Flame retardant fabric would eventually burn if exposed to flame long enough. Slowing the rate of burning however, is a big advantage during a fire, allowing building occupants extra time to escape. Furniture, drapes and beds are the most dangerous in a fire, as these items have been known to become completely engulfed in flame in seconds.
