Helpful guides

Clear answers about fire-retardant treatment

Practical guidance for responsible persons, facilities teams, venues and project managers—from material suitability and British Standards to treatment certificates and aftercare.

01

Start with the materialComposition, coatings and construction affect whether treatment is suitable.

02

Confirm the requirementThe responsible person or approving authority should identify the evidence needed.

03

Use competent evidenceThe correct specialist product and process depend on the material; the treatment certificate records what was applied to the identified items.

Vertical flame demonstration on treated curtain fabric

Featured technical guide

What is BS 5867 Part 2 Type B?

A plain-English guide to which curtains it covers, how the test works and what the treatment certificate records.

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Guide library

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25 helpful guides

Vertical flame demonstration on treated curtain fabric

Standards · Curtains

What is BS 5867 Part 2 Type B?

A plain-English explanation of the standard, test and documentation.

Curtains in paying-guest accommodation

Curtains · Rentals

Do rental curtains need to be fire retardant?

How the answer differs for residential rentals and paying-guest accommodation.

Raw decorative timber components

Standards · Timber

Is BS 476 Class 0 still valid for wood?

What Class 0 meant, why it cannot simply be renamed Class B and what current guidance uses.

Loose zebra-pattern carpet prepared for treatment

Can carpets and rugs be fire-retardant treated?

Which loose rugs can be treated to BS EN 13501-1 Class Bfl and why fitted carpets are excluded.

Grey fabric wallcovering panels in a commercial interior

Wallcoverings · Standards

What fire standard applies to fabric wallcoverings?

When Class C or Class B is required and why the complete wallcovering installation must be tested.

Large textile flag drying after treatment

Flags & banners

Do flags and banners need a fire certificate?

BS 5852 Part 1 and BS 5867 Part 2 Type B treatment, outdoor options and certification explained.

A specialist comparing different curtain fabrics before treatment

Curtains & fabrics

Common fire-retardant treatment mistakes

Why material identification, product selection, competent application and aftercare matter.

Wooden staircase undergoing a 30-minute intumescent fire-protection treatment

Technical guidance · Timber

30- and 60-minute timber protection explained

How to obtain a specified timber-protection system, verify the supporting evidence and distinguish it from B-s2,d0.

Tufted textile wall artwork installed in a hospitality interior

Can Hanging Textile Art Be Fire-Retardant Treated?

Learn how hanging textile art, fabric artwork and decorative installations can be fire-retardant treated and how they differ from fixed fabric wallcoverings.

White absorbent fabric lining inside a marquee

Fire-Retardant Treatment for Marquees

How BS 7837 applies to marquee fabrics, when internal linings can be treated and when an exterior fabric may be treated from its accessible inside face.

Commercial upholstered lounge chairs after specialist treatment

Can Upholstery Covers Be Fire-Retardant Treated to BS 5852 Part 1?

Learn how absorbent upholstery covers can be fire-retardant treated to BS 5852 Part 1 and what information is recorded on the treatment certificate.

Orange stage curtains across the stage in a traditional village hall

Fire-Retardant Treatment for Village-Hall Stage Curtains

Specialist on-site cleaning and fire-retardant treatment for village-hall stage curtains, with BS 5867 Part 2 Type B certification.

City of London skyline photographed from a Fire Proofing Ltd project site

London projects

Fire-Retardant Treatment and Certification in London

Professional fire-retardant treatment and certification across London for curtains, fabrics, upholstery covers, displays, artificial plants and commercial materials.

Timber cladding on a commercial building

What Does BS EN 13501-1 Class B-s2,d0 Mean?

A plain-English guide to the B reaction class, s2 smoke classification, d0 flaming droplets classification and the evidence behind the result.

Technician professionally cleaning large black stage curtains while they remain hanging

How Often Should Curtains Be Fire-Retardant Treated?

Fire Proofing Ltd curtain certificates require retreatment after five years or five dry cleans. Learn how washing, vacuuming and cleaning affect treatment.

Colourful full-height theatre curtains with professional cleaning equipment on stage

Theatre curtains

Theatre and Stage Curtain Cleaning and Fireproofing

Specialist on-site cleaning and fire-retardant treatment for theatre and stage curtains, with BS 5867 Part 2 Type B certification.

Blue curtains throughout a large school hall

Fire-Retardant Treatment for School Curtains

Specialist on-site cleaning and fire-retardant treatment for school curtains, stage drapes and hall curtains, with BS 5867 Part 2 Type B certification.

CNN television studio in London prepared for on-site fire-retardant treatment

Film and television

Fire-Retardant Treatment for Studio Curtains at CNN London

A Fire Proofing Ltd case study covering BS 5867 Part 2 Type B treatment of synthetic studio curtains at CNN London, completed around filming.

Dark curtains installed in an elegant circular wedding venue with tall columns

Hospitality and events

Fire-Retardant Treatment for Wedding Venues

Fire-retardant treatment for wedding-venue curtains, drapes, fabric decorations, artificial plants and dried flowers, with certification supplied.

Dense artificial foliage installed across a restaurant ceiling

Artificial plants

Are Fire-Retardant-Treated Artificial Plants Accepted by Venues?

Learn when venues accept fire-retardant-treated artificial plants, which standards may be requested and what the treatment certificate records.

Floral curtains in a care-home bedroom

Fire-Retardant Treatment for Care-Home Curtains and Fabrics

Specialist on-site cleaning and fire-retardant treatment for care-home and residential-home curtains, with BS 5867 Part 2 Type B certification.

Decorative bed curtains and heritage fabrics inside Lumley Castle

Heritage venues

Fire-Retardant Treatment at Lumley Castle

A four-day project at Lumley Castle treating curtains and four-poster-bed drapes to BS 5867 Part 2 Type B and upgrading upholstery covers to BS 5852 Part 2.

Natural branches arranged for specialist treatment before a restaurant installation

Restaurant displays

Fire-Retardant Treatment for Natural Branches Used in a Restaurant Display

A project involving outdoor fire-retardant treatment of natural branches to BS 5852 Part 1 before their installation in a restaurant display.

Technician treating external timber cladding from a mobile elevating work platform

Timber cladding

Upgrading External Timber Cladding to Class B-s2,d0 at the Roundhouse

A Roundhouse project involving fire-retardant treatment of external timber cladding to BS EN 13501-1 Class B-s2,d0 using a 15-metre cherry picker.

Blue stage curtains at one of the three Cornwall schools

Curtain Cleaning and Fireproofing Across Three Cornwall Schools

A three-school Cornwall project involving on-site curtain cleaning, fire-retardant treatment and BS 5867 Part 2 Type B certification.

Practical, qualified guidance

Written from real treatment experience

Every guide is written or reviewed by Adam Sawyer and reflects more than 35 years of textile-care and specialist treatment experience. Fire Proofing Ltd identifies the material, selects the appropriate treatment system and issues the valid certificate customers need after compliant work.

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