Flame-Retardant Fabric Safety
While flame-retardant fabrics are a great innovation for preventing fabric from catching alight, there are numerous concerns that the method used to manufacture these materials is unsustainable, and that the fabrics themselves may be carcinogenic.
Another major issue is smoke toxicity. Because fire smoke is so toxic, flame-retardants are essential treatments for furniture and fabrics used for interiors and clothing, as these may contain flammable materials.
The UK has set regulations in place to include flame retardants in these materials. They must pass strict flammability and smouldering tests to be certified flame retardant (FR).
What Does Smoke Toxicity Do?
An article entitled No Smoke Without Fire & Lower Smoke Toxicity Without Chemicals? which was published in 2023 by Fidra, a Scottish environmental charity that supports sustainability and pollution prevention, explains how chemical flame retardants in fabric increase smoke toxicity: “Imagine that a fire has taken hold of your living room due to an unexpected accident involving an ignition source such as a candle or cigarette,” the article explains.
“Before you know, the fire has spread to the furniture items in your home, many of which contain 2-30% by weight flame-retardant chemicals to comply with stringent UK fire safety standards. The flame retardants may have reduced or delayed the burning of the furniture, but until the combustion cycle is broken, fire smoke will continue to build up.”
The article further discusses how, when furniture materials burn slowly, those fabrics containing flame retardant chemicals turn into “soot, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and a complex gaseous mixture that can include the toxic gases hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide”.
These toxic gases “significantly increase the likelihood of death and serious injury”, we learn. The reason? It’s harder for people to escape the burning building, and firefighters find it more difficult to evacuate them safely and extinguish the fire.
The article discusses the UK government’s current review of its furniture fire safety regulations, which emphasised the importance of reducing the UK’s reliance on chemical flame-retardants, and finding “less harmful, more effective and sustainable solutions”.
This global issue is also being investigated in the EU and the US. Businesses worldwide are trying to find chemical-free flame-retardant fabrics
Flame Retardants 2025 & Beyond
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global market for flame-retardant fabrics is expected to grow from US$3.54 billion in 2024 to US$5.44 billion by 2032. These specially designed fabrics, treated to “resist combustion and limit the spread of flames” are used in various industries, from furniture and protective clothing to tents and other products.
The piece also discusses the stringent regulations on flame-resistant fabrics and how this will affect market growth. Treated fabrics are the fastest-growing market segment, it says, because of the rise in workers’ safety awareness, and for those who use or wear the fabric.
As sustainability is the current focus in flame-retardant fabrics, technological innovations were highlighted. Establishing sustainable solutions for manufacturing protective material is commonplace, with various businesses developing eco-friendly flame-retardant finishes that don’t rely on chemicals that can harm humans and the environment. Creating recyclable materials is another focus in the UK, although this currently focuses on fireproof doors and windows rather than fabrics.
Energy efficiency is also a major focus. In fact, the more sustainability is emphasised during the manufacture of flame-retardant materials, the better. These days, many products require Environmental Product Regulations (EPDs), and educating the industry is a priority. This will hopefully create a safer, more sustainable industry for all flame-resistant products and services.
Chemical-Free Flame Retardant Textiles
Certainly, natural and chemical-free flame retardant textiles are the ideal solution for health and safety, and for environmental sustainability. As a result, several natural, chemical-free alternatives to flame-retardant fabrics are now being manufactured. These include:
· Wool is one of the natural fire-retardant products. Companies have come up with a chemical-free wool and viscose material that has passed Crib 5 and Crib 7 tests (for information on Fabric Classification, read our comprehensive blog, which includes a discussion about flame-retardant fabric and the Crib tests). Wool is also a comfortable natural fabric, and is currently being used to cover foam cushion liners, as a mattress barrier and for railway carriage upholstery.
· Cotton is another fabric used to manufacture flame-retardant material. The flame retardant chemically bonds with the cellulose in the cotton and coats the fabric.
· Other natural substances being used include whey, casein, DNA and other bio-macro-molecules, all providing sustainable fabric solutions.
· Tannic Acid is yet another compound from pomegranates and other products. It is what we call a ‘plant polyphenol’ and is used to create bio-based flame-retardant fabrics.
· US businesses have found several different types of cotton material that are flame-resistant and self-extinguish when exposed to fire. This is another sustainable option.
Flame Retardant Fabrics & Sustainability
Traditionally, flame-retardant fabrics have been considered synthetic materials that aren’t biodegradable and are produced using fossil fuels. But, happily, more sustainable alternatives are now available. Businesses are manufacturing these materials with sustainability in mind, using less energy and water, and fewer chemicals in their production.
Two of these businesses are the US company, Milliken, and its subsidiary, Westex. Both have been involved in developing flame-resistant materials for garments from renewable sources, such as cotton and TENCEL™ Lyocell fibre, made from wood. With sustainability as its main focus, Milliken is one of the first 50 global businesses to have created science-based short- and long-term targets approved by the UN-backed Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) “to chart our course toward becoming net-zero by 2050”.
What’s Happening in the UK
In January 2025, the UK government issued a statutory instrument to amend the 1988 Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) Safety Regulations. These changes reflect immediate action to be taken to amend those 1988 regulations, including “removing certain baby products from scope to address concerns about exposure to chemical flame retardants of young children without compromising fire safety”.
This amendment addresses six themes regarding the furniture fire safety policy. It states that the government will implement a new regulatory approach over the next 12 months to “protect consumers and provide the certainty businesses need to invest in this important sector”.
Sustainable Flame Retardant Fabrics from maake
At maake, all our fabrics, including our flame-retardant materials, are manufactured and printed in the most sustainable way possible. We supply nine flame-retardant fabrics, all certified to flame-retardant (FR) standards.
They are listed alphabetically below:
This heavyweight blackout fabric is triple-layered and designed to block light and retain heat. It’s a quality material certified to flame-retardant (FR) standards. The print face and reverse are both white. Ideal for blinds, curtains and interior projects.
A versatile lightweight polyester material and a great choice for tops, dresses, light jackets, trousers and home décor items like cushions and curtains. The irregular threads create a prominent slub texture that gives the fabric a natural look. This quality fabric has a plain weave and crisp texture.
Smooth-faced, extremely strong sustainable quality fabric with a white fabric base. Ideal for display banners, tablecloths, sewn accessories, lightboxes and furnishings. The material is made of 100% Recycled Polyester, manufactured from sustainable raw materials and plastic bottles.
High quality polyester fabric is ideal for upholstery, seating and home and office interiors. Its irregular, bubble texture gives it an interesting depth. Made from 100% Recycled Polyester, a popular choice for eco-conscious brands.
Non-stretch woven fabric used mainly for outerwear garments, luxurious interior lifestyle products and light upholstery, including cushions and lampshades. It boasts a smooth surface and light sheen, and its crisp structure makes it easy to sew. The polyester optic white base prints vibrantly.
Medium-weight quality material, used for home interior products such as curtains and cushions. It resembles linen, with a slight slub texture and excellent drape. Colours print vibrantly on its polyester white base.
An extremely durable fabric, ideal for bags and home lifestyle products such as curtains and cushions. The quality fabric has a solid woven structure similar to mid-weight canvas. Colours print vibrantly on its polyester white base.
Perfect for outerwear, luxury interiors and light upholstery, including lampshades and cushions, this non-stretch woven material is lightweight, with a weave similar to our Cotton Calico. Its crisp structure makes it easy to sew and work with. Colours print vibrantly on its polyester optic white base.
Extremely lightweight quality polyester fabric with a stiff drape, making it ideal for soft, elegant furnishings, window veils, mosquito nets and displays. The fabric is sheer with a tight plain weave that provides a smooth, sleek surface. Both the backing and print face are identical.
Printing on Polyester with maake
At maake, we print on polyester fabrics using no water, and all the inks we use meet Oeko-Tex requirements and pass EN71-3 Certification.
For more information on fabric printing and sustainability, check out our handy Sustainable Fabric Printing guide.
You can also find out everything you need to know about fabric certification in maake’s Textile Certifications guide.
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