Fire Proofing Ltd completed a carefully scheduled Saturday appointment at CNN Studios in London, treating synthetic studio curtains to BS 5867 Part 2 Type B while working around the broadcaster’s filming programme.
01 · Saturday scheduling
Why was the work arranged for a Saturday?
The studios were in regular use throughout the week, making Saturday the only practical opportunity to complete the fire-retardant treatment.
Filming had stopped in most rooms, although one programme was still being recorded in a studio that also required treatment.
We began with the available rooms and waited for filming to finish before entering and treating the final studio. This allowed the work to be completed without interrupting production.
02 · The treatment
What was treated?
We treated large curtains used to conceal the walls of the television studios.
The curtains were made from synthetic fabric, so we used a specialist fire retardant designed for synthetic textiles.
Treatment was applied across the complete curtain surfaces to BS 5867 Part 2 Type B.
03 · Careful preparation
Protecting the studio equipment
Broadcasting equipment remained in place throughout the appointment.
Space was limited, so cameras, electronics, furniture and production equipment had to be carefully covered and protected before treatment began.
Equipment was moved only where necessary, and its original position was identified by the existing floor markers.
04 · Studio ready
Returning everything to position
After each room was completed, the protection was removed and anything that had been moved was returned to its marked position.
This was particularly important in a working television studio, where the placement of equipment forms part of the filming setup.
The rooms were left ready for the production team to use.
05 · Active production
Working around an active production
The final room could not be treated until the programme being recorded there had finished.
We completed the other studios first and then waited for the production team to release the final room.
This allowed the entire programme of treatment to be completed during the agreed Saturday appointment.
06 · The certificate
BS 5867 Part 2 Type B certification
After completion and payment, a Certificate of Fire Retardant Treatment was supplied confirming that the studio curtains had been treated to BS 5867 Part 2 Type B.
The certificate records:
- The curtains treated
- The CNN Studios location
- The treatment standard
- The specialist product used
- Maintenance and retreatment information
07 · Customer feedback
Extremely pleased with the service
The organiser told us he was extremely pleased with the service and that Fire Proofing Ltd would be added to his Rolodex for future projects.
The feedback reflected the care taken around filming, the protection of the equipment and the restoration of the studio setup before we left.
08 · Production-aware service
Professional treatment for working studios
This project demonstrates how fire-retardant treatment can be completed inside an operational television studio without unnecessarily disrupting production.
Careful scheduling, thorough protection and respect for the existing layout allowed the work to be completed efficiently and professionally.
Read about our Film, TV and Theatre fire-retardant treatment service →