California changes structural requirements for tents

August 1, 2008  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We’ve heard that there’s a change in the requirements for installing tents in California. What can you tell us about that? One of our IFAI members on the West Coast alerted us to this issue. The state of California recently adopted the International Building Code, but made …
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Suppliers provide polyethylene fabric for printing

August 1, 2008  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We need some polyethylene fabric that is woven and coated on both sides with polyethylene. It needs to be at least 3.2 meters wide and we need to be able to digitally print on it. Any idea who supplies it? We’d always heard that polyethylene was difficult to print on because …
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NSF develops standards for health-related products

July 1, 2008  |  Resources

We’re told that the fabric we’re using to contain a water filter has to meet NSF 61. Where can we get more information about this requirement? NSF is a not-for-profit organization that develops standards and product certification, among other activities, for public health related products and is…
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Novatex offers Unisuede for various applications

July 1, 2008  |  Resources

Where can I find Unisuede fabric? Unisuede is a faux suede fabric, also available perforated for use in automotive interiors, upholstery and garments. The Unisuede tradename is registered to Novatex International: SOURCE Novatex International Juli Case is IFAI’s information and technical services …
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UL 94 includes 12 flame classifications

July 1, 2008  |  Resources

We’ve been told that an insulated cover we’re fabricating has to meet UL HB. What does that mean? Underwriters Laboratories, an independent product safety certification organization, writes a number of specifications, including the flammability specification UL 94. UL 94 is titled “Standard fo…
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Types of ballistic fabrics

July 1, 2008  |  Resources

What is a ballistic fabric? Ballistic has two different meanings when it comes to fabric. First, it can mean the type of material used for soft body armor. These materials are usually woven with high-strength fibers, such as a para-aramid, a high-performance polyethylene (HPPE) or high-modulus polye…
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Thermoforming used for fabrics

June 1, 2008  |  Resources

We want to shape a multilayer laminated fabric into a three-dimensional form. What is the process and where can we get the equipment? It sounds as though you’re describing thermoforming, a process that is used with plastics, but has also been used for fabric. In thermoforming, a material is heated…
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Understanding the differences between NFPA and CSFM

June 1, 2008  |  Resources

What is NFPA 701? What test and specs must be met to earn the NFPA 701 Registered Flame Retardant Seal from the State of California Fire Marshal? Our sales team struggles when this question is asked. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) are two…
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Suppliers offer lightweight ripstop fabric

May 1, 2008  |  Resources

We’re looking for a very lightweight ripstop fabric, something around 20 denier. Do you know of any suppliers? By its very definition, ripstop is a lightweight fabric, with heavier yarns woven in a crosshatch pattern to help prevent ripping. It’s used for applications like hot air balloons, kite…
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Stock photo company provides images of awnings

May 1, 2008  |  Resources

We want to make a banner for an upcoming home show and are in need of some professional-quality awning photos that we can use. Do you know where we can get some? Obviously, the ideal would be to have a professional photographer take photos of your company’s work, but that’s not always practical.…
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