Fabrics - Basic Considerations
• Choose colors and textures that will enhance your environment.
• Consider using fabrics made from recycled products. Improve your spaces and the spaces that all of us share at the same time. There are many fabrics that have a 100% recycled content.
• Most fabrics work well with any of our products or systems. Very light colored or sheer fabrics may be too transparent, requiring a liner such as “scrim” to prevent the background from showing through the fabric.
• Fabric widths vary by style and are typically between 54” and 66”. To minimize waste, choose a fabric of the correct width for your design layout.
• Special care must be taken in the selection and installation of fabrics. Some fabrics have a directional weave. Others have patterns or repeats. These can affect your layout and even the quantity of fabric required.
• If you will be using your panel or system as a tack board or for use with magnets (like Fabricmate Mag-Tack®) make certain that your fabric choice is compatible. For tackable surfaces, choose a fabric that will not show the pin holes and for magnetically receptive surfaces, make certain that the fabric is not to o thick or has a raised pattern as either would create an air gap, reducing the holding power.
Fabrics - Safety Considerations
• Fabricmate Pre-made Panels, Modular Panel Systems, and Site-fabricated Systems are ASTM-E84 Class A certified.
• Commercial building codes require that all fabrics and substrates be tested and certified as Class A in accordance with the ASTM-E84 or NFPA 255 test. Additional testing may be necessary. Consult your local building and safety codes for complete requirements.
• Whether for commercial or residential applications, use only fabrics that have been certified ASTM-E84 Class A.
• The use of substrates that are not certified ASTM-E84 Class A, or the use of wooden frames in conjunction with Class A certified fabrics is not recommended. We understand all of the considerations and stand ready to assist you in making the correct fabric selection.
Fabrics - Acoustical Performance Considerations
• The fabric you select can impact the acoustical properties of your panels. Many fabrics are acoustically transparent, allowing your substrate to absorb sound.
• Both fabrics and substrates have NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) ratings. These ratings, between 0 (perfectly reflective) and 1 (perfectly absorptive), relate to the material’s ability to absorb sound.
• Fabric made of 100% polyester with an open weave is the most transparent. These fabrics are often made from 100% recycled products.
• Applied backings can significantly reduce the NRC of a given fabric. Liners such as “scrim”, when installed separately, may have only a minimal effect on the fabric’s NRC.
• Sound absorption is not the same as sound transmission. If you need to reduce the transmission of sound to adjoining spaces, a damping material must be used. Damping materials can be used in conjunction with absorptive materials.
