California Code of Regulations › Title 19 - Public Safety › Division 1 - State Fire Marshal › Chapter 8 - Regulations Relating to Flame Retardant Chemicals, Fabrics and Application Concerns › Article 6 - Flame-Retardant Application Standards › RECOMMENDED STANDARD PRACTICES AND PRECAUTIONS › Section 1300 - Pretreatment Examination

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
Before applying any flame-retardant chemical, the
						application concern shall first carefully examine the fabric or material to
						determine:
(a) The type of fabric or
					 material.
(b) If it has been
					 previously treated.
(c) If it
					 contains any sizing or loading.
(d)
					 If it can be effectively and safely treated.
Assuming that the fabric or material is of a type for
						which the chemical has been registered, the concern must then decide how much
						chemical must be applied. This will depend on the area to be treated and the
						type of fabric. The percent weight gain must be commensurate with that
						determined for the chemical on the standard qualifying fabric. It may be
						necessary to apply slightly more or less chemical than this, depending on the
						weight and type of the particular fabric being treated, but in every case
						sufficient chemical shall be applied to obtain satisfactory flame
						resistance.
If examination shows that the fabric has been previously
						treated, consideration must be given to the possibility that the old treatment
						combined with the new might nullify the flame-retardant effect, or might cause
						excessively rapid deterioration of the fabric. Whenever possible, all traces of
						any previous chemical treatment should be removed before re-treating.
The presence of sizing in a fabric can have a decided
						effect on the flame-retardant treatment, especially the exterior type. Some
						exterior chemicals will be registered only for the treatment of unsized or
						desized canvas, and may not be applied to a sized material unless the sizing is
						first removed. Whenever practical, sizing should be removed before treatment
						with any chemical, since a treatment is always more effective and will last
						longer on an unsized fabric.
Celanese and acetate type rayons are extremely difficult
						to treat successfully, even though chemicals may be listed as approved for such
						fabrics. Applicators are cautioned not to undertake the treatment of such
						fabrics unless they have adequate knowledge and experience.
Before treatment of printed or dyed interior fabrics, the
						applicator must determine if the colors are fugitive and apt to run if the
						fabric is wet. In such a case, the applicator must be especially careful in
						applying the chemical, so as not to cause the colors to run.
It is an acknowledged fact that certain metals and
						metallic pigments in contact with chlorinated paraffin will accelerate the
						liberation of hydrogen chloride, especially at high temperatures. This effect
						is most pronounced with iron, zinc, and pigments composed mainly of salts of
						these two elements. Zinc oxide is extremely harmful in this respect and its use
						should be avoided, since its effect extends even to properly stabilized
						chlorinated paraffins.