Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy Generator website

Login

Forgotton Password? | Register

Register

Register

Does My Marquee Need To Be Flame Retardant?

In the UK there is no law that tells you that you can't use a marquee which is not flame retardant - however there are many reasons why you should not use flammable marquees.  

The first and most important reason is that it's very dangerous; in the past marquees burned down almost every year. The most famous fire was in 1944 when a circus marquee burnt down killing 167 people and injuring more than 700.  Click for more info on the Harford Circus Fire

Almost all public events will need some licencing. These licensing authorities will insist that all marquees are flame retardant as a condition of the permit or license. 

If you are part of a trade body like MUTA their safety scheme insists that all marquees are flame retardant. 

Your insurers and your clients insurers will insist on it. 

Is My Marquee Flame Retardant?

Most, if not all marquee manufacturers in Europe have been putting a label on every panel of a marquee with the Manufacturer's name, date of manufacture, serial number and the flame retardancy standard.  If you have this, most licensing authorities will accept this. However you may be required to provide a certificate. This should be available from the manufacturer and is normally provided with a sample test certificate from the cloth manufacturers. 

What If My Marquee Does Not Have A Flame Retardancy Label?

Contact the manufacturer of the marquee and see if they can provide proof that your marquee is flame retardant. Otherwise it may be difficult to use for a public event. 

It would be possible to send small sections of your marquee to be tested by a laboratory however this would very expensive. 

Flame Proof v Flame Retardant

Flame proof suggests that there will be no burning of the cloth. Whereas flame retardant cloth will burn with a ignition source, however will self extinguish when the source of ignition is removed. 

Inherently Flame Retardant

Most marquee material should be inherently flame retardant which means that the fire proofing is built into the cloth itself and can't be washed out. 

Some cloth is treated with a flame retardant spray or coating. This works well to begin with, however if it is washed the material can become flammable.  If in doubt contact the cloth manufacturers for cleaning instructions. 

Flammability Testing

These organisations can test your marquee to see if it is flame retardent. 

www.italabs.co.uk
www.promat.co.uk
www.fira.co.uk
www.warringtonfire.com

The cost would vary depending on which standard you tested to but expec between £300 and £1500 for a simple test. 

Can I Test FR Myself?

You can't self certificate - however for your own peace of mind you can do a simple test yourself. 

Cut a small long strip from somewhere like the mud flap where it will not be noticed. Then hold it up with two fingers so it dangles down and light the bottom of it with a match or lighter. 

When it lights take the match away and the cloth should self extinguish within a second or two. If you have to drop the cloth to prevent your fingers from burning than it's not flame retardant. 

What About The Furniture! 

Even when the marquee is flame retardant the contents of the marquee may not be, for example the furniture. This is a example of what can happen when the contents of a marquee can completely destroy a flame retardant marquee in this case around 40 bistro chairs and some round tables. 

 Fire in a marquee  

Flame Retardant Standards

In the UK marquees should be made with inherently flame retarded fabric or durably flame retarded fabric which conform to BS 7837.  Older marquees will have been made to conform to BS 5438, tests 2A and 2B. 

There are many other standards for example:-

  • B-s2, d0 / EN 13501-1
  • M2 / NFP 92-507B1 / DIN 4102-1
  • 1530.2 et 3/AS/NZS
  • M2/UNE 23.727-90
  • VKF 5.3 / SN 198898
  • ONORM A 3800
  • AS NZS 3837
  • UNI 9177-87
  • NFPA 701
  • ASTM E84
  • GOST 30244-94
  • ULC-S109
  • CPAI 84

You would need to talk to your local authority to see if they would accept whichever standard your marquee was made to comply with. 

Fire Proofing A Marquee

There are many products which can be sprayed or painted onto material to make them flame retardant. 

In my experience the cost of these products is high, and the application difficult. 

Their effectiveness may have a short life span so they may need to be re-applied after washing or after a period of time.