The Luxury Drapery Fabric Library · Specialty

Fire-Retardant Drapery Fabrics

NFPA 701 and Cal-117 compliant cloths for hospitality, multi-residential, and high-occupancy interiors.

What is this fabric?

Fire-retardant (FR) drapery fabrics are certified to one or more of NFPA 701, California Title 19, or BS 5867 Part 2. The certification is either inherent (the fiber itself is flame-resistant — Trevira CS is the most common) or topical (a treatment applied to the finished cloth).

The studio specifies FR cloth for any project that requires code compliance — hospitality, multi-residential lobbies, restaurants, screening rooms used commercially, and the increasingly common owner request for FR specification in single-family primary suites near wildland-urban interface zones.

Performance Specifications

Light control

Depends on weave — FR is a certification, not a light-control specification.

Privacy

Depends on weave.

Acoustics

Trevira CS weaves are often used in dedicated acoustic applications — restaurants, hospitality, theaters.

UV protection

Inherent FR fibers carry strong UV resistance; topical treatments add no UV protection.

Durability

Inherent FR cloth carries equal or longer service life than equivalent non-FR cloth.

Appearance

Indistinguishable from non-FR cloth at viewing distance when specified from a quality mill.

Motorization

Fully compatible. The default specification in hospitality motorized programs.

Maintenance

Dry-clean inherent FR cloth normally. Re-treatment is unnecessary. Topical FR cloth must be re-treated after every cleaning cycle.

Best applications
  • Hospitality and hotel residences
  • Multi-residential lobbies and amenity spaces
  • Restaurants and private clubs
  • Single-family residences in WUI zones
Advantages
  • NFPA 701 and Cal-117 compliance built in
  • Inherent FR yarns retain certification for the life of the cloth
  • Available in linen-look, sheer, and velvet expressions
  • Cleans without losing FR rating when specified as inherent
Limitations
  • Topical FR treatments degrade with repeated cleaning
  • Hand is slightly firmer than equivalent non-FR cloth in some weaves
Design considerations
  • Specify inherent FR — not topical — for any project with ongoing maintenance
  • Confirm certification documentation with the workroom before fabrication
  • Pair with motorization for hospitality programs requiring scene control
Frequently Asked

Questions homeowners ask about Fire-Retardant

Do residences need fire-retardant drapery?
Not by code in most single-family Los Angeles residences. Owners increasingly specify FR cloth voluntarily in WUI zones — Malibu, the hills above Pacific Palisades, and parts of Bel Air.
What is the difference between inherent and topical FR?
Inherent FR is woven from flame-resistant fiber and never loses its rating. Topical FR is a treatment applied to standard cloth and degrades with cleaning. The studio specifies inherent FR almost without exception.
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Begin a Specification

Talk with Olga about whether Fire-Retardant is the right cloth for your room.

Cloth is a 20-year decision. Every consultation begins with the architecture and the orientation — we will tell you which cloth the room is asking for, even if it is not the one you came in expecting.

Duroque does not mail fabric samples. Selection and sourcing happen in a private design consultation — at our West Hollywood studio or on-site at your residence, hotel, restaurant, or yacht — where cloth is reviewed against the actual light, architecture, and program of the room.

Schedule a Consultation

Images shown are representative examples only. Fabric selections vary by project and are determined during private consultation. Duroque does not stock or imply availability of specific fabrics, colors, or SKUs. Recommendations are made based on your project requirements, performance needs, and design goals.

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