One thing that New York City is most famous for its outstanding theater industry. People travel from all over the world and stand in long lines just to get the chance to see our city's famed theater performances. The architecture from these theaters also attracts many visitors. As a huge contributor to our local economy, those involved in running the theater industry have a lot on their shoulders. Owners of these great buildings must see that it is safe for the visitors who come from all over the world as well as the local patrons. Included in their safety responsibilities is protection from fire. Today, we're discussing what's involved in protecting a theater from fire.

One main cause of fires in theaters is when the scenery or the curtains catch fire. In order to offer visitors the best protection, the FDNY mandates that decorative items in a theater - things like drapes, curtains, scenery, stage props, upholstered furniture, seat cushions, decorations, etc - be treated with fire retardants via soaking or coating. Since curtains are typically the biggest threat, we will focus our attention on them in discussing fire protection today.

The FDNY describes several ways in which theater owners can be in compliance with the requirements for theater curtains. First, a theater owner can buy curtains that are inherently flame-resistant. What that means is that certain curtains are designed with polyester yarns and have already satisfied the NFPA 710 test specifications.  Because they are intrinsically flameproof, no additional treatments are required. However, because dust and dirt can jeopardize the protection from fire, a routine field flame test should be done on these curtains regularly.

Another alternative for theater owners is to obtain curtains of their choice and then hire a certified flameproofing company (one that holds a valid a C-15 Certificate of Fitness) to come to the theater and treat the curtains with flame repellent chemicals. The flameproofing professionals would then coat or soak the curtains with fire retardant chemicals and conduct a field flame test to confirm flame resistance. There is a shelf life for the longevity of the flameproofing treatments, so the curtains need subsequent treatments and testing after the effective period has expired.

A third option for theater owners is to acquire durably flame resistant curtains. This distinct type of curtain has flame resistance to a certain degree, but not to the point that it would pass the NFPA field flame test.  Therefore, these curtains require flameproofing treatments, where fire retardant chemicals seep to the interior fibers of the material, not just rest on the exterior. You might be wondering why a theater owner would choose to purchase this type of curtain if it still needs flameproofing treatments? Well, the chemicals used to treat this type of fabric are specialized and not water-soluble, as the other types of treatment chemicals are. Because of this, these curtains can be handled through washing without needing to be treated again However, it's a good idea for an annual field flame test to be conducted to ensure that they're still flame resistant.

While flameproofing is a huge preventative measure in the event of a fire, theaters also are required to have other fire safety measures in place as well:  automatic sprinklers, clearly designated emergency exits, and ample emergency routes and egress.

Bronx Flameproofing is pleased to assist theater owners in meeting FDNY regulations and perform flameproofing treatments on curtains and all needed objects and materials.  If your theater or other business has flameproofing needs, please call us today. We would be happy to serve you and add you to our growing list of satisfied customers in the Bronx, New York City and beyond! 800-594-0117