In a hotel, restaurant or residence, the fabrics on seating, headboards and curtains aren’t chosen for their colour alone. They have to meet fire-reaction requirements, which the fire safety authorities may inspect. Here’s how to find your way around them.
Requirements depend on your property (type and category of building, areas concerned) and on the country. This guide explains the ratings; have your choices approved by your building inspector and keep the test reports.
The main ratings
| Rating | Origin | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| M1 (NF P 92-507) | France | Combustible, non-flammable material; M2 and M3 are less demanding |
| EN 1021-1 | Europe | Resistance of upholstered seating to a smouldering cigarette |
| EN 1021-2 | Europe | Resistance to a small flame, equivalent to a match |
| BS 5852 (cigarette, match, crib 5) | United Kingdom | Ignitability tests, from the simplest to the most severe (crib 5) |
| UNI 9175 class 1IM | Italy | Fire reaction of upholstered furniture |
| IMO | Maritime | Requirements for ships, often sought for their severity |
A single fabric can hold several certifications. In our fabric collection, each collection lists its ratings, and you can filter for collections rated M1 or EN 1021.
What’s covered
In a building open to the public, fire-reaction rules apply in particular to:
- upholstered seating (chairs, armchairs, sofas, banquettes);
- curtains and sheers;
- stretched wall coverings and upholstered headboards;
- bedding and its accessories in some types of property.
Requirements are often stricter in public areas (restaurant, lobby, seminar rooms) than in guest rooms.
Beyond fire: the other criteria for a contract fabric
| Criterion | Why | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Abrasion resistance | The fabric doesn’t wear from friction | Martindale test: 30,000 to 50,000 cycles or more is often recommended for heavy contract use |
| Lightfastness | Colours don’t fade in the sun | Lightfastness rating |
| Cleanability | Wine, coffee and make-up stains | Stain-resistant treatment, faux leather |
| Hygiene | Senior residences, healthcare | Antibacterial treatments, can be disinfected |
| Outdoor | Terraces | Solution-dyed fabrics, resistant to UV and water |
Fabric, velvet or faux leather?
- Woven fabric: the most versatile, plain or patterned.
- Velvet: warm and deep, ideal in guest rooms and lobbies.
- Faux leather: cleans and disinfects in seconds, perfect for restaurants, bars and senior residences.
How to choose in practice
- Find out the requirements for your property from your building inspector.
- Filter our collection by rating (M1, EN 1021) and by use.
- Ask for samples of the colours you’ve chosen.
- Keep the test reports supplied with the order, for your fire safety records.
One collection for the whole hotel
Our chairs, armchairs, sofas, bed bases and custom headboards can all be upholstered in the same fabrics: you match the rooms, the restaurant and the lobby with the same collection and the same fire rating.
In short
- M1 and EN 1021-1/2 are the ratings most often required in France.
- Check abrasion, cleanability and lightfastness too.
- Have the requirements approved and keep the test reports.
A question about a fabric? Message us on WhatsApp or ask for samples with your quote.
