Fabric Knowledge
Reading Fire Ratings for Outdoor Blinds: M1 and NFPA 701
A specification sheet may list a European and a US fire standard at once. What each test measures, and what to ask a supplier for before a project is submitted for approval.
Why an outdoor blind needs a fire rating
Exterior shading is often part of a building envelope submission. A fabric tested to a recognised standard gives the specifier a document for the file, and gives the buyer a basis for comparing suppliers.
French M1
M1 is the French classification under NF P 92-503 and NF P 92-507. The test looks at how the material behaves when exposed to a small flame, and classifies the result from M0 to M4, with M1 being a low-flammability classification.
US NFPA 701
NFPA 701 is the US standard for flame propagation of textiles and films. Method 2 is used where the test specimen is supported in a frame. It records char length and whether flaming debris falls from the specimen.
What to ask a supplier for
Ask for the report number, the testing laboratory, the date and the exact method number, not only the classification. A classification without a report reference cannot be verified by a specifier.
What we hold
Our fabric is tested by SGS to French M1 (NF P 92-503), report AJFTS26004774R01_EN, and to US NFPA 701 Method 2, report AJFTS26004825R01_EN.
