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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is an ordinary tarp not acceptable?
Because standard tarpaulin materials burn readily.
Polyethylene in particular melts and drips.
Around hot work that is a direct ignition risk.
In occupied buildings it is a fire spread risk.
On regulated sites it is simply not permitted.
Certified material is required rather than preferred in those situations.
Where is it required?
Welding curtains, scaffold sheeting on occupied sites and temporary enclosures indoors.
Theatrical and event use commonly requires it.
So do premises with a documented fire strategy.
Spark blankets around hot work are a specific case.
Public sites frequently carry the requirement explicitly.
Which situations require it is set locally and enforced.
What does the standard cover?
Ignition resistance, flame spread, self-extinguishing behaviour and smoke.
Smoke is frequently the greater danger in an enclosed space.
Toxicity of the smoke is included in many standards.
Which standard applies depends on application and jurisdiction.
They differ substantially between sectors.
The applicable standard should be identified before the material is specified.
What am I actually buying?
Certification, because performance cannot be judged by looking.
Test certificates referencing the specific standard are what matters.
A product described as fire-retardant without a named standard proves nothing.
On a regulated site it will not be accepted.
Documentation is frequently required at delivery and at handover.
Retaining it for the duration of the works is normally expected.
Does retardant mean fireproof?
No, and the distinction matters operationally.
The material resists ignition and does not sustain flame.
It is not a fire barrier and will not contain a fire.
It will not survive sustained direct flame.
Treating it as protection rather than reduced risk is dangerous.
Hot work controls and fire watch requirements still apply in full.
Can the treatment wear off?
On treated materials, yes - and that decides suitability for reuse.
Washing and weathering both reduce applied treatments.
Inherently flame-resistant materials do not lose performance.
For anything cleaned or reused over years, that difference matters.
The certification may no longer describe the material in service.
Retreatment is possible on some materials and generally requires recertification.
Does it still work as a tarp?
It should - fire performance is additional rather than instead.
Waterproofing, tear strength and UV resistance still matter.
So does weight and handling.
Vinyl and treated canvas are the common bases.
Each brings its own properties alongside the fire rating.
Choosing on fire performance alone can produce a tarp unsuited to the rest of the job.