Introduction
Fire retardant curtains are an essential safety feature in every commercial building, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood elements of interior specification. Walk into any hotel lobby, care home lounge, or school assembly hall and the curtains hanging at the windows are doing more than controlling light and adding style.
Here is the problem. Standard retail curtains, the kind you would pick up from a high street store, are not designed for commercial environments. Untreated fabrics can ignite in seconds, turning a small spark into a room engulfed in flames before anyone has time to react. That is exactly why BS 5867, the British Standard for flammability of curtain and drapery fabrics, exists. It sets the benchmark that every non-domestic premises in England and Wales must meet under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
This guide covers everything you need to know about fire retardant curtains for commercial spaces: what they are (and what they are not), how UK regulations work, the difference between inherently fire retardant and treated fabrics, how to choose the right specification for your project, and what to look for in a supplier. Whether you are an architect specifying for a new build, a facilities manager upgrading an existing property, or a care home operator preparing for a CQC inspection, this article will give you clarity and confidence.
Before we go further, one crucial distinction. Fire retardant curtains and fire curtains are two completely different products. Fire retardant curtains are window dressings made from fabrics that resist ignition and slow flame spread. Fire curtains, on the other hand, are active fire protection systems, typically roller-deployed barriers designed to physically stop the spread of fire and smoke between building compartments. They are certified under entirely different standards such as BS 8524 and EN 1634-1. Confusing the two can lead to serious specification errors. This guide focuses exclusively on fire retardant curtains for windows and interior spaces.
What Are Fire Retardant Curtains?
Fire retardant curtains are window coverings made from fabrics engineered to resist ignition, suppress flame spread, and self-extinguish when the heat source is removed. They do not make a room fireproof. What they do is buy precious time during an emergency, slowing combustion so occupants can evacuate and fire services can respond.
The science is relatively simple. When a standard polyester or cotton curtain meets a flame, it ignites quickly and the fire climbs vertically. Because curtains hang from ceiling height, this vertical spread can flash a room in under a minute. Fire retardant fabrics interrupt that chain reaction. Depending on the type, the fabric either contains fibres that will not sustain combustion, or it has been treated with chemical compounds that release non-flammable gases when exposed to heat, starving the flame of oxygen.
The result? A fabric that chars rather than burns, produces less smoke, and stops feeding the fire. In a care home where residents have limited mobility, or a hotel where guests are asleep and unfamiliar with escape routes, those extra minutes can be the difference between a safe evacuation and a tragedy.
Who Needs Fire Retardant Curtains?
Almost every non-domestic building in the UK requires fire retardant curtains. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies to all workplaces, commercial premises, and the common parts of residential buildings. Under this Order, the “Responsible Person” (typically the building owner, employer, or facilities manager) must carry out a fire risk assessment that covers all soft furnishings, including curtains and blinds.
Typical environments where fire retardant curtains are legally required or strongly recommended include hotels and B&Bs, care homes and nursing facilities, hospitals and NHS wards, schools and universities, restaurants and bars, theatres and cinemas, offices and co-working spaces, student accommodation, holiday lets and Airbnb properties, village halls and community centres, and places of worship.
If you manage any of these spaces, your curtains need to be certified to BS 5867 Part 2 at the appropriate type level. Sound familiar? Let us break that standard down.
Understanding BS 5867: The UK Standard for Curtain Flammability
BS 5867 Part 2 is the British Standard that specifies flammability requirements for fabrics used as curtains, drapes, and window blinds in non-domestic settings. Published by the British Standards Institution (BSI), it was last updated and republished in 2008. Within this standard, there are three performance classifications: Type A, Type B, and Type C.
Type A, Type B, and Type C Explained
Type A is the baseline. It requires basic flame resistance but offers the least protection. Type B raises the bar considerably. To pass Type B, a fabric is ignited by a small flame and must not spread fire to the edges. The fabric is pre-washed through 12 laundry cycles before testing, ensuring the fire resistance holds up after cleaning. Type C is the most demanding classification. The fabric must endure 50 wash cycles at 75 degrees Celsius before being tested. In addition to the flame spread requirements, the after-flame and afterglow time must not exceed 2.5 seconds. In practice, this means the fabric self-extinguishes almost instantly.
| Classification | Wash Cycles Before Test | Key Requirement | Typical Use |
| Type A | None | Basic flame resistance | Domestic or very low risk |
| Type B | 12 cycles | No flame spread to edges; no burning debris | Hotels, offices, schools, restaurants |
| Type C | 50 cycles at 75°C | Self-extinguish within 2.5 seconds | Hospitals, care homes, secure facilities |
For most commercial environments such as hotels, offices, and education settings, Type B is the standard requirement. However, high-risk environments where occupants may have limited mobility or where evacuation is slower, such as NHS hospitals, care homes, and secure mental health facilities, require Type C. The Department of Health’s Technical Memoranda HTM 05-03 explicitly recommends Type C for healthcare textiles.
Important: A curtain is only as compliant as its weakest component. Both the face fabric and the lining must independently meet the same BS 5867 classification. If the face fabric is Type C but the lining is only Type B, the curtain as a whole is rated to the lower standard.
Inherently Fire Retardant vs Treated Fabrics: Which Should You Choose?
There are two fundamentally different approaches to making a curtain fabric fire retardant: building the resistance into the fibre itself, or applying a chemical treatment after manufacturing. Understanding this distinction is critical because it affects performance, longevity, maintenance, and total cost of ownership.
Inherently Fire Retardant (IFR) Fabrics
Inherently fire retardant fabrics, sometimes labelled IFR or permanently FR, are woven from fibres that are non-combustible by their very chemical structure. The fire resistance is part of the yarn at a molecular level. It cannot wash out, wear off, or degrade over time. Leading manufacturers like Edmund Bell and FR-One specialise in inherently FR polyester fabrics that maintain full compliance after hundreds of wash cycles.
The advantages of IFR fabrics are significant. They retain their fire retardant properties for the entire life of the curtain, regardless of how many times they are laundered. They are the only practical choice for environments that require frequent washing at high temperatures, such as hospitals and care homes where infection control demands thermal disinfection at 71 degrees Celsius or above. They produce less toxic smoke when exposed to flame. And they tend to drape more naturally than heavily coated alternatives.
Treated (Non-Durable) Fire Retardant Fabrics
Treated fabrics start as standard textiles, typically cotton, polyester blends, or natural fibres, and are then coated or dipped in flame retardant chemicals after production. This chemical barrier prevents the fabric from igniting easily. However, the treatment is not permanent. With repeated washing, exposure to moisture, or general wear, the chemical layer degrades. Most treated fabrics are certified for a limited number of washes (often five or fewer) before they need re-treatment.
Treated fabrics tend to cost less upfront. They can also offer a wider range of base materials, including cottons and linens, which some designers prefer for aesthetic reasons. However, the ongoing cost of re-treatment, the risk of non-compliance between treatments, and the stiffer drape that coating can produce make them a less popular choice for high-traffic commercial projects.
| Factor | Inherently FR (IFR) | Treated FR |
| Durability of FR properties | Permanent (life of fabric) | Degrades with washing |
| Wash resistance | Unlimited washes | Typically 5 washes before re-treatment |
| BS 5867 Type C suitability | Yes (50-wash test standard) | Rarely passes after 50 washes |
| Upfront cost | Higher | Lower |
| Lifetime cost | Lower (no re-treatment) | Higher (re-treatment cycles) |
| Smoke toxicity | Lower | Higher (chemical off-gassing) |
| Drape quality | Natural, soft drape | Can feel stiffer (coating) |
| Best for | Hospitals, care homes, hotels, long-term installations | Short-term or budget-sensitive projects |
For most commercial projects, IFR fabrics are the smarter long-term investment. They eliminate the compliance headache of tracking re-treatment schedules and provide consistent protection year after year. When specifying for healthcare or hospitality, IFR is the industry default.
Fire Retardant Curtains vs Fire Curtains: A Critical Distinction
Fire retardant curtains and fire curtains serve entirely different purposes, are built from different materials, are tested under different standards, and are installed for different reasons.
Fire retardant curtains are decorative or functional window coverings made from fabric that resists ignition. Their job is to slow down flame spread on the curtain itself, reducing fuel for a fire. They are passive. They hang at windows and do their job simply by being made of the right material. They are tested under BS 5867.
Fire curtains are active fire protection systems. They are typically concealed in a headbox above an opening (a doorway, atrium, or lift lobby, for example) and deploy automatically when triggered by a fire alarm or smoke detector. Their purpose is to compartmentalise the building, creating a physical barrier that prevents fire and smoke from spreading from one zone to another. They are made from specialist woven glass fibre or similar high-temperature materials and are tested under BS 8524 (the UK standard for active fire curtain barriers) or EN 1634-1 (the European fire resistance test for doors and shutters). Fire curtains are rated by the number of minutes of fire integrity they provide, for example EI 60 means 60 minutes of both integrity and insulation.
| Fire Retardant Curtains | Fire Curtains | |
| Purpose | Resist ignition of window fabric | Stop fire spreading between zones |
| Type | Passive (always in place) | Active (deploy on alarm) |
| Material | FR polyester, cotton blends | Woven glass fibre, specialist composites |
| Standard | BS 5867 Part 2 | BS 8524, EN 1634-1 |
| Installation | Curtain tracks/poles at windows | Headbox above openings |
| Appearance | Looks like a normal curtain | Concealed until deployed |
Both products play important roles in an overall fire safety strategy, but they are never interchangeable. If your fire risk assessment calls for compartmentation at an opening, you need a fire curtain. If it calls for compliant window treatments, you need fire retardant curtains.
How to Choose Fire Retardant Curtains for Your Project
Choosing the right fire retardant curtains involves matching the correct BS 5867 classification to your environment, selecting between IFR and treated fabrics, and working with a supplier who can provide made-to-measure solutions with full certification. Here is a practical framework.
Step 1: Determine Your Risk Level
Your fire risk assessment will identify the risk level of your premises. As a general guide, low to medium risk settings (offices, shops, schools, restaurants, hotels) require BS 5867 Part 2 Type B. High risk settings (hospitals, care homes, secure accommodation, prison cells) require Type C. When in doubt, consult your local fire officer or fire risk assessor. Specifying to a higher standard than required is always acceptable; specifying to a lower one is not.
Step 2: Choose Your Fabric Type
For any installation that will be washed frequently, choose inherently fire retardant (IFR) fabric. For decorative installations in lower-risk settings where the curtains will rarely be laundered, treated fabric may be acceptable, but remember to schedule re-treatment and keep records. For healthcare and hospitality, IFR is the industry standard.
Step 3: Consider Light Control and Thermal Performance
Fire retardant curtains are not a one-size-fits-all product. Many fabrics offer additional performance features that can be specified alongside fire retardancy. Blackout curtains use triple-pass coated linings to block 100% of light, ideal for hotel bedrooms, cinemas, and student accommodation. Dimout curtains filter and reduce light without full blockage, popular in conference rooms and offices. Thermal linings improve energy efficiency by retaining heat in winter and reflecting warmth in summer, reducing HVAC costs in commercial buildings. Voile and sheer fabrics offer daytime privacy and light diffusion while still meeting BS 5867 requirements.
Step 4: Select Style, Colour, and Heading
Gone are the days when fire retardant meant beige and boring. Leading contract fabric suppliers such as Edmund Bell, iLiv, Prestigious Textiles, and Abbotsford Textiles produce hundreds of fire retardant fabrics in a full spectrum of colours, patterns, and textures. Plains, florals, geometrics, checks, velvets, linens, and wool-look fabrics are all available with BS 5867 certification.
Heading styles are equally flexible. Pencil pleat, deep pleat, double pinch pleat, triple pinch pleat, eyelet, goblet, cartridge, and wave headings can all be manufactured in fire retardant fabrics. Wave curtains, with their clean, contemporary ripple effect using specialist track systems, have become particularly popular in modern hospitality and commercial fit-outs. Space Commercial Interiors offers the full range of heading options across their entire fire retardant curtain collection, all made to measure in their Yorkshire workroom.
Step 5: Ensure Full Compliance (Face Fabric + Lining)
This is where many projects go wrong. A curtain is not compliant just because the face fabric has a BS 5867 certificate. The lining must also be independently certified to the same standard. If you use a Type C face fabric with an uncertified or Type B lining, the entire curtain defaults to the lower classification. Always request fire test certificates for both the face fabric and the lining when placing an order.
[IMAGE: Close-up of fire retardant fabric swatches showing colour and texture variety | Alt text: Fire retardant curtain fabric samples in various colours and textures | Suggested source: Unsplash/Pexels: curtain fabric swatches commercial]
Where Fire Retardant Curtains Are Required: Sector-by-Sector Breakdown
Every sector has slightly different requirements, risk profiles, and aesthetic expectations. Here is how fire retardant curtains apply to the most common commercial environments.
Hotels and Hospitality
Hotels are medium-risk environments where guests sleep in unfamiliar surroundings. BS 5867 Type B is the standard requirement for guest rooms, lobbies, restaurants, and conference facilities. Blackout and dimout fire retardant curtains are especially popular in bedrooms and function rooms. Properties aiming for a premium finish can choose from velvet, linen-look, and patterned FR fabrics. For multi-room fit-outs, specialist contract curtain suppliers offer economies of scale with consistent quality, colour matching, and pattern-matched panels.
Care Homes and Nursing Facilities
Care homes fall under CQC (Care Quality Commission) oversight in England, and Regulation 15 (Premises and Equipment) requires that all furnishings meet fire safety standards. The DCLG fire risk assessment guide for residential care specifically references BS 5867 for curtains and drapes. For care settings, especially those housing residents with limited mobility or cognitive impairment, Type C inherently FR fabrics are strongly recommended because they withstand frequent washing without losing protection.
Hospitals and NHS Facilities
Healthcare is the most demanding environment for fire retardant curtains. HTM 05-03 recommends Type C compliance. Hospital curtains must withstand thermal disinfection at temperatures above 71 degrees Celsius to meet infection control requirements. IFR polyester cubicle curtains and window curtains are the standard specification. Anti-microbial finishes are increasingly combined with fire retardancy for clinical environments.
Schools and Universities
Educational settings are typically classified as low to medium risk. BS 5867 Type B is generally sufficient. However, halls of residence and boarding schools where students sleep on-site may require Type C, similar to care home standards. Budget-friendly IFR plain fabrics in school colours are a popular choice.
Offices and Co-working Spaces
Modern offices, especially open-plan spaces and co-working environments, use curtains for acoustic zoning, meeting room privacy, and general aesthetics. Fire retardant curtains certified to Type B are required. Wave heading curtains on silent glide tracks are a contemporary favourite for corporate fit-outs.
Holiday Lets, Airbnbs, and Rental Properties
If anyone pays to stay in your property, fire safety law applies. Whether you rent one room or an entire house, the Fire Safety Order 2005 covers you. Curtains supplied to guests must meet BS 5867 Type B. If existing curtains are not compliant, they can sometimes be treated with a fire retardant spray service, though replacing them with certified FR curtains offers more reliable long-term protection.
Why Made-to-Measure Fire Retardant Curtains Are Worth the Investment
Off-the-shelf curtains from retail stores almost never carry fire retardant certification. Even if a product is labelled “flame resistant” or “fire safe” on a retail website, it is unlikely to have been independently tested to BS 5867 and will not come with the fire test certificates that a fire risk assessor or CQC inspector will ask for.
Made-to-measure fire retardant curtains from a specialist contract supplier provide several advantages. Every curtain is manufactured to your exact window measurements, so you get a precise fit with no gaps or overlap issues. The face fabric, lining, and interlining are all independently certified and fire test certificates are supplied with every order. Pattern matching is handled professionally, which is especially important for multi-room projects where consistency matters. And you have access to the full range of heading styles, wave sizes, and track systems rather than being limited to whatever is in stock.
Space Commercial Interiors is one of the UK’s leading specialists in made-to-measure fire retardant curtains. Their entire collection is manufactured in their Yorkshire workroom using certified fabrics from brands such as Edmund Bell, iLiv, Prestigious Textiles, and Abbotsford Textiles. They supply fire test certificates for both face fabric and lining with every order and offer a full UK-wide installation service for larger projects.
Implementation Checklist: Specifying Fire Retardant Curtains
Follow these steps to ensure your curtain specification is compliant, practical, and fit for purpose.
- Complete your fire risk assessment. Identify the risk level of every room where curtains will be installed. Note any rooms where occupants sleep or have limited mobility.
- Determine the correct BS 5867 classification. Type B for standard commercial use. Type C for healthcare, care homes, and high-risk settings.
- Decide between IFR and treated fabrics. Choose IFR for any setting where curtains will be washed regularly or where long-term compliance without re-treatment is important.
- Select additional performance features. Blackout, dimout, thermal lining, or voile sheer, depending on the room’s function.
- Choose fabric, colour, and heading style. Work with your supplier to select from their certified range. Request swatches before committing.
- Confirm that both face fabric AND lining are certified. Request fire test certificates for every component before production.
- Specify accurate measurements. Use your supplier’s measuring guide or arrange a professional site survey.
- Request fire test certificates with delivery. Store certificates with your fire risk assessment documentation for inspection.
- Schedule maintenance and cleaning. Follow the fabric manufacturer’s care guidelines to maintain FR properties. Log all cleaning in your compliance records.
- Review annually. Include curtains in your annual fire risk assessment review. Replace any curtains showing signs of damage, fading, or degraded treatment.
[IMAGE: A checklist or clipboard with fire safety compliance items ticked off | Alt text: Fire retardant curtain specification compliance checklist | Suggested source: Unsplash/Pexels: compliance checklist clipboard]
Decision Table: Which Fire Retardant Curtain Specification Do You Need?
Use this quick reference table to match your environment to the right specification.
| Environment | BS 5867 Type | IFR Required? | Blackout? | Installation? |
| Hotel guest room | Type B | Recommended | Yes | Professional |
| Care home bedroom | Type C | Essential | Optional | Professional |
| NHS hospital ward | Type C | Essential | Optional | Professional |
| School classroom | Type B | Recommended | No | Either |
| Office | Type B | Optional | No | Either |
| Restaurant / bar | Type B | Optional | No | Either |
| Theatre / cinema | Type B | Recommended | Yes | Professional |
| Holiday let / Airbnb | Type B | Optional | Bedrooms | DIY possible |
| Student accommodation | Type B/C | Recommended | Yes | Professional |
| Secure mental health | Type C | Essential | Site-specific | Professional |
Maintaining Fire Retardant Curtains: Care, Cleaning, and Compliance
Installing certified fire retardant curtains is only half the job. Maintaining them properly ensures ongoing compliance and lasting protection. Here are the key principles.
Follow the fabric care guidelines. Every fire retardant fabric has specific washing instructions. IFR fabrics can typically be machine washed and tumble dried without any loss of FR performance. Treated fabrics may require dry cleaning or limited wash cycles. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidance, and keep the care instructions filed with your fire risk assessment documentation.
Track wash cycles for treated fabrics. If you are using treated (non-IFR) curtains, maintain a log of every wash cycle. Once the curtains reach the recommended limit (usually five washes), arrange for professional re-treatment and request an updated fire certificate.
Inspect regularly. Include curtains in your routine fire safety inspections. Look for fading, thinning, fraying, or discolouration that could indicate the fabric is degrading. Replace any curtains that show visible damage or have exceeded their recommended lifespan.
Store certificates. Fire test certificates for every curtain should be stored centrally and be available for inspection at any time. Architects, contractors, and building control officers will ask for these during project handover. CQC and fire service inspectors will expect to see them during routine visits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Retardant Curtains
1. What is the difference between fire retardant curtains and fire curtains?
Fire retardant curtains are window coverings made from fabrics that resist ignition and slow flame spread. Fire curtains are completely separate products. They are active fire protection systems, usually roller-deployed barriers made from glass fibre, designed to compartmentalise buildings and physically stop fire and smoke from spreading. They are certified under different standards (BS 8524 and EN 1634-1) and serve a fundamentally different function.
2. Are fire retardant curtains required by law in the UK?
Yes, in virtually all non-domestic premises. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the Responsible Person to assess and manage fire risks, which includes ensuring all soft furnishings, including curtains and blinds, meet appropriate fire safety standards. For curtains, this means BS 5867 Part 2 compliance.
3. Do fire retardant curtains look different from normal curtains?
Not at all. Modern fire retardant fabrics are available in the same colours, patterns, textures, and weaves as standard furnishing fabrics. Velvet, linen-look, wool-look, plain, patterned, and sheer options are all available. The fire safety properties are built into the fabric, not visible on the surface.
4. How do I know if my curtains are compliant?
Ask your supplier for fire test certificates for both the face fabric and the lining. These certificates should reference BS 5867 Part 2 and state the classification (Type B or Type C). If your supplier cannot provide certificates, the curtains should not be used in a commercial setting.
5. Can existing curtains be made fire retardant?
In some cases, yes. Professional fire retardant spraying or dipping services can treat existing fabrics to meet BS 5867 requirements. However, this treatment is not permanent and will need re-application after cleaning. For long-term compliance, replacing non-compliant curtains with purpose-made FR curtains is more reliable and often more cost-effective.
6. What heading styles are available in fire retardant curtains?
All standard heading styles can be manufactured in fire retardant fabrics, including pencil pleat, deep pleat, double pinch pleat, triple pinch pleat, eyelet, goblet, cartridge, and wave. Wave curtains are increasingly popular in contemporary commercial interiors.
7. Do fire retardant curtains help with energy efficiency?
Yes. Fire retardant curtains can be combined with thermal linings that help retain heat in winter and reflect warmth in summer. This dual benefit makes them a smart investment for commercial buildings looking to reduce energy costs while maintaining fire safety compliance.
8. How often should fire retardant curtains be replaced?
IFR curtains in good condition can last for many years. Regular inspection and maintenance are more important than a fixed replacement schedule. Treated curtains may need replacing sooner if re-treatment is not feasible. Include curtain condition in your annual fire risk assessment review.
Conclusion: Protecting People, Property, and Peace of Mind
The good news is that compliance does not mean compromise. Today’s fire retardant fabrics offer the same beauty, variety, and quality as any standard furnishing textile. Whether you need a dramatic velvet blackout curtain for a five-star hotel suite, a calming dimout for a care home bedroom, or a crisp wave curtain for a corporate boardroom, there is a BS 5867 certified option that fits your vision.
The key is to work with a specialist. Choose a supplier who manufactures to order, uses only certified fabrics and linings, provides full fire test documentation, and understands the regulatory landscape. Space Commercial Interiors ticks every one of those boxes, with a Yorkshire-based workroom, an extensive library of FR fabrics from the UK’s leading mills, and a dedicated team that can guide you from swatch selection to professional installation.
Ready to specify fire retardant curtains for your next project? Browse the full collection at Space Commercial Interiors or call their team on 01924 677 441 for expert advice tailored to your space.
