What is Flame Retardant Fabric?

Flame-retardant fabric is built to resist the ignition of a fire and slow the spread of it. It is fabric that is engineered to minimise the damage that may be caused by fire and also provide more time to allow people to evacuate.

You can find flame-retardant fabric in many places. From upholstery and other things found in the home to workwear. It is also very common to find it in entertainment spaces like theatres and arenas.

It is in the entertainment spaces that J&C Joel specialises. We have provided flame retardant solutions to theatres and event spaces all over the world for almost 50 years.

The types of fireproofing vary, though and not all are the same. What are the differences?

IFR: Inherently Flame Retardant

These fabrics use fibres that are naturally resistant to fire. The flame-resistant nature is not something added later but instead something that is built into the material itself.

Examples of products J&C Joel stock that have an IFR durability include our 8pt Trevira CS Sharkstooth, our Pure Jet Black Velvet, and our premium IFR velvet collection which includes Norland, Rishworth and Sowerby.

NDFR: Non-Durable Flame-Retardant

NDFR fabrics have been treated to make them more resistant to catching fire. Something that is important to know about NDFR fabrics is that the treatment is not permanent. This often means that you will be more limited in the ways you can clean it, as cleaning may wash away the treatment.

If you purchase fabric from J&C Joel and want advice on the best way to care for it, always feel free to reach out to our staff.

J&C Joel have a range of NDFR fabrics, including Countess, and you can see an example of how our NDFR solutions can be used to elevate a show by checking out our project profile on the Circus of the Orient Tour.

If you have any questions about our flame retardant fabrics, make sure to get in touch with the J&C Joel team via our contact page or by calling 01422 833835.

We also offer samples of our fabrics, so make sure to request yours by checking out our product range and finding the perfect fabric for your project!