Fire is unfortunately, a common hazard in theatre. History is riddled with examples. Many municipalities now have laws on the books regarding fire prevention specifically in theatres. We here are StageSpot take safety seriously and carry a variety of products to help with your safety plan.
No single fire retardant can effectively handle all the materials used in modern stagecraft, but Rosco manufactures a range of products, called Flamex, that offer a solution for the most common materials.
The wide variety of scenic materials makes compliance with fire regulations difficult. Adding to this challenge is the fact that regulations vary from state to state, and in some cases, city to city. It is important to realize that, ultimately; your local Fire Marshall has total jurisdiction and discretion. Consult with your local fire department for more details.
Rosco Flamex Fire Retardants do not prevent a material from igniting and burning. The goal of fire retardant treatment is to retard ignition and slow the spread of fire. Rosco Flamex works in two ways to achieve this - lowering the ignition temperature of the treated material and retarding the production of flame. When burned, materials treated with Flamex produce inert gases, which starve the fire of oxygen and also develop a non-combustible char. Properly flame treated fabrics may ignite, but will self-extinguish within a few seconds after the flame has been withdrawn. Â We have a handy use guide here.
The chemicals used in Rosco Flamex can only be effective when applied properly, and in sufficient quantities. However, the effectiveness of the treatment is not directly proportional to the amount of chemical added on to the material. Below a critical add-on level, there is little or no flame retardant achieved. Adequate treatment requires an application of sufficient Rosco Flamex to increase the fully dried weight of the sample by 10-20%. While 10-20% is a typical add-on, the amount required for good flame retardation will vary with the composition of the material being treated. Always treat and test a sample first!
Rosco Flamex is water-soluble and can be easily removed by laundering and exposure to water. However, the flame retardant is not soluble in most dry cleaning solvents and the safety of treated fabrics will not be altered by dry cleaning, if the solvent is free of moisture and other detergents. Always retest your fabrics after dry cleaning to ensure compliance.
Thank you for choosing StageSpot for your safety supplies. While we are all for you heating up the stage with that spectacular performance, we’d really like to keep it flame free.
