Flame Retardant Awnings: How do they Work?

May 9, 2017

​Did you know that your awning can be designed to be flame retardant? In fact, in areas where high temperatures can cause fires, it’s always a good idea to make sure your awning is fire retardant. 

PictureFire Retardant Retractable Awnings at the Eveleigh

​Your awning is outside 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means it’s subject to those high temps and, like anything under intense heat, it can be subject to fire. Or, objects surrounding your awning can also catch fire and set flames to your awning. And if you have a barbeque, embers can also float up and set your awning on fire. So, when you install an awning, it’s always good to make sure the fabric used in its construction is not only UV ray resistant, but flame retardant.

PictureFire Retardant Restaurant Canopy at Faith and Flower

​So, what how does flame retardant fabric in an awning work? For starters, awning fabrics are specialty textiles. This means they are developed with a specialized purpose. An awning textile is designed for the outdoors. When an awning fabric is created to be flame retardant, it is typically chemically treated. Even though there is also the inherently flame resistant types of fabrics – like vinyl – you will typically find awning fabrics that have coated to resist flames. 

PictureFire Retardant Awning at Maradentro

​So how do flame retardants work in an awning? Here’s a quick explanation:
 
·      Some retardants stop or disrupt a fire from starting by preventing or delaying flames from igniting. Basically, the chemical prevents a fire from flaring up.
·      Other retardants coat the fabric so that it is insulated and the fire can’t penetrate to the fabric and thus burn it.
·      Retardants are used on the top or bottom of a textile and in awnings, usually the whole fabric is treated to be flame retardant. 

The importance of a flame retardant fabric in an awning is multifaceted. Some of those reasons include preventing a fire from starting, stopping the spread of a fire, and ensuring that a fire won’t break out while your awning is out in the sun. Remember, before you purchase and install an awning, make sure the fabric in it is fire retardant as well as UV ray resistant.


Now that you know a little more about fire retardant awnings and how they work, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co. for more information about awnings by visiting us at http://americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com