Worldwide FR Standards?

Recently, during a web search, I came across a company advertising that their drapes were flame retardant according to British, European, US and World standards.  I was flabbergasted.

As I have mentioned before, standards and regulations regarding flame retardancy of stage curtains vary widely, both within the United States and throughout the world.  In the United States alone, there is NFPA 701 (national standard, but not an official law or regulation), California Title 19, New York City regulations, Boston regulations, and who knows how many more.  In Europe, there is Britian’s BS 5438, Germany’s B1 & B2, and France’s M1, and perhaps others that I don’t know about.  (Apparently, there is also a unified European Union standard, but it has yet to be approved and adopted fully throughout Europe).  From what I understand, there are yet more regulations in Asia and elsewhere in the world.

So how can one company state that their drapes meet FR standards for the entire world?  I suppose it is possible that a fabric could meet all FR standards in the world, but has this company actually had the drapes tested to every single standard in the world (there must be dozens, perhaps even a hundred or more different standards)?  I doubt it.  And, frankly, I can’t imagine any company actually providing a Certificate of Flame Retardancy covering every FR standard in every country in the world.   So I don’t understand how a company could make such a statement on their website.

No wonder people are confused about FR standards!

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Time to Replace Those Old Stage Curtains

I just saw a brief but interesting news article out of Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  One of the local high schools requested funds from the school board to replace the stage curtains at one of the high schools. 

The district cited safety concerns as the reason the curtains need to be replaced.  At one point, the curtains started “smoldering” from the heat of the lights.  No wonder – the curtains haven’t been replaced since the school was built over 45 years ago!

So…just something to keep in mind.  Stage curtains are not intended to last 50 years.  If the stage curtains in your school, church, or theatre have been around for decades, maybe now is the time to start thinking about replacing them.  If you need info on how to get started, I’ve put some tips in a prior post.

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What about used stage curtains?

About once a month or so, we get a call from someone asking if we have used stage curtains that we can donate or sell.  I think that the idea of recycling used drapery is a good one, environmentally speaking.  Rather than end up in a landfill, used drapery gets new life in another venue.  However, there are some risks involved in purchasing / using drapes that have previously been in service:

1)    No Flame Certificate:  Often, when selling used stage curtains, the provider will not provide a Certificate of Flame Retardancy.  The purchaser will need to have the drapery tested by a certified tester and, if necessary, have the drapery retreated for flame retardancy.  This may cost $1 per square foot or even more, especially if you need to ship the curtains to a flameproofer in Los Angeles or New York and then back to you.

2)    Fiber Content Unknown:  This is related to the flame retardancy issue.  Some fibers cannot be flame retarded.  For example, many metallic fabrics cannot be made flame retardant. 

3)    Cost to Retrofit:  Keep in mind that used curtains probably won’t be the exact size that you need.  You may get a great deal on those used curtains, but the labor cost to “retrofit” them to fit your stage may be quite high.  And stage curtains generally cannot be altered by a home sewer – a commercial sewing machine is usually required as are the skills of an experienced sewer of theatrical drapery.

4)    Longevity:  As these drapes have already been used, you will probably not get as much use from them as you would new drapes.  You may save a little now but have to replace the drapery again in a relatively short time.

So, you have considered all of these risks but are still interested in exploring the option of used stage curtains.  Where do you go?  A couple of ideas.  Check with the stage manager at the local college, theatre, or performing arts center.  They may have drapery that they no longer use.  Another option is to check with a stage curtain rental company for curtains that have been “retired from service.”

I have one more suggestion to make.  While you are looking for used stage curtains, also get a quote on new curtains.  That way, you can compare all of the factors – including cost – before deciding which option best meets your needs. 

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Need a rental? Call Rent What?

In the last few years, we started hearing from a lot of our customers that they wished we offered soft goods for rent.  That way, they could maximize their budget – buy a few custom stage curtains and then also rent some of the pieces.  In July 2008, in answer to those requests, Rent What? Inc. was born.

Rent What? is a sister company to Sew What? (separate but equal I guess you could say ), owned & operated by Megan Duckett (Sew What? founder) and Marce Forrester.  Sew What? makes the drapes and then Rent What? rents them out.  It’s the best of both worlds.  Customers get the same high quality products as those bought directly from Sew What? but as a rental for the length of time needed – a week, a month, whatever.  When Rent What? first started out, the focus was on black masking drapes, but now they have built a stock of some absolutely gorgeous specialty drapes (pictures in a future post) as well as LED drapes.

So if you find yourself in need of a rental, give Rent What? a call – Marce & Megan would be glad to help you.

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