BS 5867-1:2004 Specification for fabrics for curtains and drapes. General requirements
Curtains and drapes:
- are tested for their washing, fading and dry cleaning conformity
- are tested for flammability
- must conform to certain labelling requirements.
Labelling requirements
Curtains and drapes which have been tested and conform to BS 5867 must carry a label stating:
- the standard number against which the product has been tested
- the manufacturer's name
- care instructions
- appropriate care labels
- if fabric should not be washed this should also be noted.
- fibre content.
Flammability
When testing the flammability of curtains and drapes BS 5438 should be used. The test for this standard is to see whether the curtains will catch light from a small flame not once a fire has already started. The test is really to see what sort of damage a small flame will do and BS 5867M-2 states what the results should be.
The effect of washing, fading and dry cleaning on material
When testing materials BS 1006 (also known as BS EN ISO 105) is useful. This standard describes the testing criteria for different types of materials.
When testing 'colour fastness to washing' Part CO1 should be used. This standard includes details of:
- Material should be 'mechanically agitated'
- The type of the machine equipment to be used
- The type of soap to be used
- That two pieces of fabric should be sewn to the material being tested. One of the same fibre and the other of a different one. For example if the material being tested is cotton then the second piece should be wool. This is to compare the change in the depth of shade in the sample compared with the two controls.
There are other tests which use man made fibres as controls:
- Size of specimens
- The ratio of soap to liquid.