Acoustically reflective fabric

November 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We’ve got a job where we’ve been asked to use a fabric that is acoustically reflective. What kind of material is that? Sound waves tend to bounce around an open space. A hanging fabric, such as a banner or fabric sculpture, can disrupt or even absorb that wave; fabr…
Complying with OAE, IAF or IACC

October 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We’ve been asked by a customer in Ecuador if our products comply with OAE, IAF or IACC. How do we find out if they do? OAE stands for the Ecuadorian Accreditation Organization. According to the OAE website, they are the entity in Ecuador that is responsible for insuring t…
Biodegradable tarp material

October 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case My customer is looking for biodegradable tarp material. Is there such a thing? Tarps are typically intended to withstand the elements, so biodegradability isn’t a particularly sought-after characteristic. Cotton is a natural material, so cotton tarps would be biodegradabl…
Long-arm sewing machines

October 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We need a long-arm sewing machine, one with a double needle and a walking foot and puller. Ideally, we’d like to be able to rent the equipment for a week or two, to make sure it can do what we need it to do. Any suggestions? Long-arm sewing machines, especially with &hell…
Marketing ‘green’ claims

September 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case I use some recycled materials in my products. Where can I go to find out the right terminology to use with my customers? Although it’s great that you’re using recycled material, you’re right to be cautious about how you divulge that information to your custome…
UBL fabric

September 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We’re working on a bid for an orthopedic device and the spec sheet calls for an UBL fabric. What’s that? We’re guessing that it’s probably referring to an “unbroken loop” fabric, which is a part of a hook-and-loop fastening system. Unbroken m…
Classifying the flammability of textiles

September 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case My fire marshal wants to know if the interior awning I’m installing is Class A. The fabric is certified to NFPA 701; does that mean it’s Class A? Using Classes A thru C is how the International Building Code (IBC) classifies the flammability of textiles in some appl…
Asphalt tarp material

September 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case What’s the best type of material to use to make an asphalt tarp? The fabric you use is generally a matter of preference. We’ve seen cotton, vinyl coated and the polyolefins (polypropylene or polyethylene) being used for this application. Asphalt is, of course, deliv…
Mold/mildew on fabric rolls

August 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case We go through a lot of cotton canvas per month, and the rolls typically come with a protective plastic packaging. During the last year and a half, when we’ve opened some of the rolls, we’ve found mold/mildew half a dozen times. We’ve checked our storage area a…
Getting a CRRC rating

August 1, 2011  |  Resources

Compiled by Juli Case How can I get my material a CRRC rating? The CRRC stands for the Cool Roof Rating Council; they administer a rating program in which companies may label roof surface products with radiative property values. A product’s placement on the directory does not mean that the pro…