No matter what field you work in, in every industry there’s a set of (sometimes) unwritten rules that are known as ‘best practices.’ Experts in a field share their experience and knowledge on what methods and procedures work best and give the best results. The industry of flameproofing is no different. There are certain ways of performing these treatments that offer the best protection. While it’s not necessary for someone outside the field to know all the ins and outs of flameproofing, as a business owner, it’s a good idea to have some familiarity with best practices so you can be sure you’re getting a quality job.
There are a few things that you can be looking for when your business location is being treated with fire retardants by a flameproofing company. The FDNY has deemed these industry best practices, so keep your eyes open for the following:
- Once a material has been treated with flame repellent chemicals (either by soaking or coating), it needs 24 hours to totally dry. Once it’s fully dry, it needs to undergo a field flame test for flame resistance. If the item is tested too soon, the results will be inaccurate. It could fail the flame test, which will require repeat treatments.
- Even if a certain item or material is labeled as inherently non-combustible or flame resistant - or if it has already been flameproofed, that object still needs to have a field flame test performed on it to be sure it actually is flame resistant. The business owner should be present when the test is performed by the flameproofing employee (who must be a C-15 certificate of Fitness holder), so he knows for certain his property passed the test.
- The flameproofing company needs to give the business owner instructions on how the treated items need to be cared for and handled following flameproofing treatments. Most items need to be treated again once they have been dry-cleaned, washed, etc; otherwise, their flame-resistant ability is compromised. As well, the flameproofing affidavit requires that these objects be re-treated after they have been handled in that manner.
- The FDNY regularly posts all the pertinent and latest information as far as requirements, new information and recommended practices. You should be sure that the company doing your treatment is familiar with the FDNY standards and website and checks it often.
- The flameproofing company should let you as a business owner know the limitations inclusive in the flameproofing process. Many believe that if an item has been treated with fire retardants, it can’t catch fire; however, that’s untrue. Treated items burn at a slower rate and do not contribute to the spread of fire. This slow burn and not being a contributor to the fire allows more time for people to safely exit as well as buys valuable minutes for the firefighters to arrive to extinguish the fire.
Brooklyn Flameproofing follows all of the best practices as outlined by the FDNY. We are dedicated to following all of the requirements as C-15 Certificate of Fitness holders in addition to FDNY best practices. We have no problem sharing this information with the public not only to inform you but to hold ourselves to this high standard.
If you are in need of a flameproofing outfit to treat your business location, one that provides outstanding service and follows best practices and FDNY regulations, please call us today. Brooklyn Flameproofing would be happy to serve you, answer questions, and provide a free, no-obligation estimate. We’d love to hear from you today: 1-800-401-5415