Finding Upholstery Fabrics Without Fire Retardants

June 26, 2018, by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Allen

Hi Debra,

Thanks for dedicating your website to toxic free! I have been looking for a fabric that is not treated with stain finish or fire retardants. It looks like even 100% wool upholstery fabric is treated with FR, at least those from eBay who sell discounted fabric from design houses.

I came across this link and it says, “TB117-2013, implemented in 2015, allows for safer, healthier furniture: Stops furniture fires where they start (on fabrics of upholstered furniture)”. I read this to mean that fabrics are still treated with FR? The only place I’ve found that doesn’t is two sisters, but their fabrics are VERY expensive. Can you confirm?

http://greensciencepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Buying_FR-free_furniture.pdf

Debra's Answer

There are two issues here.

First let’s clear up TB117-2013. All it contains is the instructions for doing the flammability test.

Here’s a simple summary of TB117-2013.

The big change is that the flammability test is now done on the COVER instead of the FOAM. So the test can be passed without adding fire retardant to the foam. They still test the cover and foam together, but the burden of flammability is now on the cover, where the smoldering cigarette would fall.

The big benefit is that furniture can now meet the flammability standard without flame retardants. But it does not ban the use of flame retardants.

But here is the problem.

I did a quick search on "wool uphostery fabric" and found, as an example, this link
https://www.insidefabric.com/c-36-wool-fabric.aspx

Under flame retardants it says "California Technical Bulletin 117 Section E- 2013 NFPA 260 Class 1."

I'm seeing that on other upholstery sites too, such as this one, which allows you to search by different flammability requirements. https://www.robertallendesign.com/all-products/fabric/shopby/fab_flameretardancy-ufac_class_1.html

I called both retailers. Both said that this means that the fabric will pass the flammability standards listed for the fabric. One said they even have their own lab that tests the flammability of fabrics in-house.

It does NOT mean no flame retardants. In fact, these two retailers did not know how or why the fabrics pass. They could be inherently flame resistant or chemical flame retardants could be added.

In fact, these companies and others have no interest in flame retardants. They both said they would need to call the manufacturer to find out if any given fabric had flame retardants added. It’s not part of their standard database information they keep on fabrics.

Here a short article that summarizes the flame retardant properties of various fabrics.

On the Fabrics page of Debra’s List. I’ve listed websites that sell natural upholstery fabrics and are aware to toxics issues. In addition to Two Sisters EcoTextiles there is also Envirotextitles and Natural Uphosltery. These are the types of places that can help you find the toxic free fabrics you are looking for.