Fire Protective Textiles

Fire protective textiles (FPTs) have advanced significantly in recent years, driven by growing safety demands across various industries. At THS, we recognise the vital role fire protection materials play in enhancing structural safety and reducing the impact of fire.

Our extensive range of FPTs includes rigorously tested products such as smoke and fire curtains, all offering proven fire protection. These solutions are used across a wide spectrum of industries, including oil and gas, thermal insulation, and welding protection.

Key features of our Fire Protection Materials

FPT’s are often used in smoke and fire curtains, downlight hoods, and wall penetration pillows to improve ductwork integrity as fire barriers, designed to delay the spread of fire.

FPTs are typically made from woven E-glass fabrics, which are incombustible and do not decompose, shrink, stretch, or fade. Loom-state glass, the initial form of glass from the loom, is challenging to handle. Therefore, different coatings have been applied to these fabrics to make them suitable for fire curtains up to 1000°C for long periods, each with a specific function.

Polyurethane Based Coatings

Our Polyurethane (PU) based coatings are crucial for strengthening fire curtains. These coatings are flame retardant and designed to prevent flames from spreading, reduce smoke, and improve thermal protection.

PU based coatings provide good abrasion and impact resistance as well as dimensional stability, increasing the possibility for larger systems without sag.

Silicone Rubber Based Coatings

Our Silicone based coatings have a wider range of potential applications such as protecting windows from fire and preventing flames from spreading to nearby buildings.

Silicone is non-toxic and has exceptional resistance to UV light and thermal degradation when exposed to extreme temperatures.

Fire Tested Fabrics

THS responds to customer needs by testing fabrics for use in specific industries and continues to expand its comprehensive product testing programs. While a wide range of fire tests can be performed, the most frequently requested at THS are based on British and European standards.

BS 476 Fire Classification Testing

BS 476 is a well-known British Standard for fire performance, made up of several parts, each relevant to specific applications such as fire curtains, welding blankets, and other fire protection systems. It also forms the basis for achieving the widely recognized Class 0 and Class 1 fire ratings.

Due to increasing customer demand, BS 476 has become one of the most requested standards in THS’s extensive product testing programs. The main parts THS has conducted testing for include:

• Part 6 – Fire Propagation
• Part 7 – Spread of Flame
• Part 12 – Direct Flame Impingement 
• Part 20 – Fire Resistance of load Bearing Elements of Construction
• Part 22 – Fire Resistance of non-load Bearing Elements of Construction

THS tests both standalone fabrics, such as those assessed to Parts 6 and 7, and complete systems like smoke and fire curtains, tested to Parts 20 and 22. Testing to Parts 6 and 7 is key to achieving Class 0 or Class 1 fire ratings, which are often required for building and safety compliance.

BS 476 Class 1

This fire rating is achieved when a product meets the requirements of BS 476 Part 7, where the product tested has achieved the lowest spread of flame rating.

BS 476 Class 0

This fire rating is achieved when a product meets both BS 476 Part 7 Class 1 (low surface flame spread) and BS 476 Part 6 (limited fire propagation). THS has 15 fabrics tested to various parts of BS 476, with many meeting the criteria required for a Class 0 rating.

BS 476 Part 20 and Part 22

These parts apply to complete systems, such as fire curtain fabrics, where the test furnace runs at temperatures in excess of 1000°C for prolonged periods. THS has 6 fabrics tested and proven to maintain their integrity for up to 240 minutes (4 hours) under these conditions.

EN 13501 Fire Classification Testing

This classification testing looks specifically into 3 main parts of a fabric’s behaviour in a fire. These are fire behaviour, smoke production and flaming droplets.  It is a detailed and rigorous process, requiring all components to be individually tested to achieve the highest classification. Driven by customer demand, THS has included EN 13501 reaction-to-fire testing as a core part of its extensive product testing programme.

EN 13501 testing evaluates a material’s reaction to fire across three key categories:

• Fire Behaviour – Assesses whether the material burns. Ratings range from A1 (non-combustible, highest performance) to F (no performance determined).
• Smoke Production – Measures how much smoke is generated. S1 indicates minimal smoke, while S3 is the lowest rating with the highest smoke output.
• Flaming Droplets – Evaluates if burning droplets fall from the material. D0 means no droplets, while D2 represents the lowest performance with frequent flaming droplets.

The best rating for fire behaviour is an A, the best for smoke production is an S1, and the best for flaming droplets is a D0.

To achieve an A rating (A1 or A2) under EN 13501, every component of the product must be tested individually. This includes the yarns used to weave the fabric, each compound in the coating, and even the pigments used for colouring.

THS currently has two fabrics that meet the A (A1 and A2) classification and is actively conducting a large testing programme to certify a broader range of products, aiming to achieve additional A fire ratings.

NF P 92-501: M classification combustion test

The M0 classification is a French testing standard for ‘reaction to fire’, similar to the BS 476 Class 0/1 ratings. However, this method focuses on a fabric’s calorific value to assess its flammability.

THS participates in extensive product testing programs, with the M0-M4 fire reaction test gaining popularity due to customer demand.

This standard classifies a material’s reaction to fire across five categories: M0 to M4, with M0 being the best performance and M4 the lowest.

• M0 – non-flammable (calorific value < or = to 2508 KJ/kg)
• M1 – Non-flammable (calorific value > or = to 2508 KJ/kg)
• M2 – low flammability 
• M3 – moderately flammable
• M4 – high flammability 

THS has six fabrics tested to the M0-M4 standard, with two achieving M0, three achieving M1, and one achieving M2. These products include PU coated glass, silicone rubber-coated glass, Hypalon® coated glass, Neoprene® coated glass, and Neoprene® coated polyester.

FAQs

How do Fire Protective Textiles Perform During Prolonged Fire Exposure?

Fire protective textiles are designed to maintain their structural integrity under sustained high temperatures. Many are tested in furnace conditions exceeding 1000°C, where they must resist flame spread, limit heat transfer and remain stable for extended periods. This makes them suitable for applications such as fire curtains and compartmentation systems.

What is the Difference Between Class 0/1 and EN 13501 Fire Ratings?

Class 0 and Class 1 are still widely referenced in the industry, with Class 1 indicating low surface spread of flame and Class 0 combining this with limited fire propagation. However, EN 13501 is now the primary fire classification standard, covering fire behaviour, smoke production and flaming droplets. It is a more stringent and detailed test, and certification bodies are increasingly moving away from Class 0/1 in favour of EN 13501.

Can Coated Fire Fabrics Achieve Fire Certification?

Uncoated incombustible fabrics naturally perform well on fire and smoke tests, but most applications require coatings to meet other performance demands such as waterproofing, chemical resistance or durability. Where THS specialises is in developing coating formulations that meet strict fire certifications including EN 13501 whilst also delivering these additional properties. THS currently has fabrics achieving both A1 and A2 classifications under EN 13501, including coated products.