Fire Blocker | California Technical Bulletin 133, barrier material, non-flammable

Applications for Fire Protection:

Public Facilities
• Healthcare facilities
• Restaurants
• Casinos
• Hotel/Motels
• Auditoriums
• Stadiums
• Daycare Centers
• Theaters
• Schools
• Hospitals
• Retail Establishments

Office Interiors
• Offices
• Reception Areas
• Cafeterias
• Employee Lounges
• Kitchen areas
• Rest Rooms

Residential Interiors
• Kitchens
• Family Rooms
• Playrooms
• Basements
• Children’s Bedrooms




Fire-Blocker California Technical Bulletin 133 Many professionals utilize California’s Technical Bulletin 133 (CAL TB 133) as their standard for upholstery furniture. CAL TB 133 is a full scale, composite fire test for furniture manufactured to be used in public places. Laminating a light-weight Fire-Blocker to the back of your fabric can help you to meet the CAL TB 133 regulations and provide a one-step fire protection for your upholstery fabric. What is a Fire-Blocker? A Fire-Blocker is a barrier material designed to impede or actually stop the process of a fire. Because Fire-Blockers are made from non-flammable material, a fire has difficulty penetrating to the foam or padding. Experts agree that upholstery foam and padding are the largest heat and fuel contributing components of a piece of furniture. Furniture manufactured with a Fire-Blocker is substantially more likely to pass CAL TB 133 than furniture manufactured without. This process also will reduce risk of legal action should your furniture be found in a fire. Economical Design Freedom and Fire Protection We give you design freedom as well as fire protection because we can laminate a Fire-Blocker backing material to just about any fabric! Superior Durability • Strength and thickness of laminated Fire-Blocker will enhance the fabric’s durability. • Fabric laminated with a Fire-Blocker results in a single substrate that outperforms the double upholstery manufacturing method, becoming a single substrate. • Fabric with a Fire-Blocker laminated has only a single source of friction. • Laminated Fire-Blocker fabric lasts longer than double upholstered Fire-Blockers because there are no air pockets (double upholstery method has air pockets). When to use Fire-Blocker Backings CAL TB 133 is the strictest and highest standard for all public buildings or public assembly areas. A public assembly area is considered to be any area in a hotel or motel containing ten or more articles of seating furniture. Fire-Blocker backings should be used in all public areas. Available Fire-Blocker Backing Materials Contact our Customer Service Department to discuss your particular application and the available Fire-Blocker options to consider. We can also laminate your own Fire-Blocker material to your decorative fabric. Note: Always use fire-retardant thread when upholstering with Fire-Blocker treated materials. Back to Top

technical considerations Material Requirements Fabric up to 60” wide can be processed. Our standard backing width is 58”. Backing coverage is dependent on quantity of material supplied and the type of Fire-Blocker selected.

service alert Recently the AP published an article explaining that the use of a certain chemical to make furniture foam flame retardant is toxic. This chemical PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether) has many of the same characteristics as PCB's and DDT, and both of these have been banned for years. It is logical to conclude from this article that the use of flame retardant foam may be environmentally irresponsible or not even available. This could have an impact on your ability to supply your customers with furniture that meets certain fire codes. At Custom Laminations we can provide flame retardant services that are more environmentally friendly and pass flammability codes.

suggested compatible services Fire-Blocker For the maximum, most durable and comprehensive fire protection for upholstered furniture, (ie:, to help meet California Technical Bulletin 133), use a Fire-Blocker backing on upholstery fabrics. Surface Protection For maximum and most durable scrubbable protection against dirt and stains Vinylizing or Vinyl-Tex™ can be applied to most fabrics. Backings To add durability, strength and body to fabrics, consider Knit/Bac™, Foam Backing or other fabric backings. Moisture Barrier MicroB-lock™ moisture barrier, containing antimicrobial agents, protects upholstery padding from spills, germs and stains. Ideal for clean hygienic environments. Stain Repellents Stain repellents can be applied to protect against dirt and stains. ArmorFlex™ ArmorFlex™ can turn almost any upholstery fabric into a water and stain resistant, antimicrobial, tough, breathable, durable superfabric. Back to Top