Fire safety is essential for any type of architecture, and tensile structures are no exception. Whether you’re adding a striking feature to a commercial development or installing a durable outdoor pavilion in a public space, ensuring your materials offer appropriate fire performance is a legal and practical priority for businesses, homeowners, and local authorities alike.
At ARC Structures, we make sure every tensile project follows the correct safety procedures and uses materials that meet the relevant performance standards. This guide explains how fire resistance works in tensile architecture and outlines the main testing and certification requirements you should be aware of when choosing fire-safe tensile materials.
If you’re considering a tensile structure for your commercial or public space, our expert team is here to help bring your ideas to life.
How Fireproofing Works in Tensile Structures
Architectural fabrics are not always naturally fire-resistant, so fire-retardant treatments or inherently fire-resistant fibres are commonly used to achieve the level of protection required.
These treatments work by reducing the fabric’s tendency to ignite, slowing flame spread, and improving the material’s ability to maintain structural integrity during a fire. Typical approaches include:
- Specialist surface coatings
- Fire-retardant laminated films
- Inherently fire-resistant fibres (e.g., glass fibre, PTFE yarns)
Once treated or manufactured, materials are tested and certified to relevant UK and European standards. This ensures the tensile structure meets the fire-performance requirements appropriate for its intended use and complies with local authority and building-control expectations.
Best Fire-Resistant Materials for Tensile Design
Choosing a material with good fire-performance characteristics helps reduce risk, limits damage and provides emergency services with valuable time in the event of a fire. Common fire-resistant options include:
PTFE-Coated Fibreglass
PTFE-coated fabrics offer excellent fire resistance and can maintain integrity under very high temperatures. They are highly durable and commonly used for permanent installations.
PVC-Coated Polyester
A versatile and widely used option, PVC-coated polyester incorporates fire-retardant additives during manufacture to provide predictable flame-resistant performance for many architectural applications.
Silicone-Coated Fibreglass
Silicone-coated fibreglass is inherently resistant to ignition and flame spread, making it an ideal choice for high-performance tensile structures where fire safety is a priority.
Building Codes and Safety Regulations
In the UK, fire safety for tensile structures is governed by national building regulations, guidance documents, and local authority requirements. Materials used in these structures must meet minimum performance standards to limit flame spread, smoke production, and the release of toxic fumes in the event of a fire.
Because tensile fabrics can serve a wide range of uses–temporary structures, outdoor canopies, façades, internal coverings–the exact fire-performance requirements depend on where and how the material is installed.
For commercial or public installations, local authorities usually require additional documentation to confirm compliance, such as:
- Fire certificatesfrom accredited UK testing laboratories, verifying the fabric’s fire performance.
- Material test reportsdetailing flame spread, smoke generation, and toxicity levels.
- Engineering assessmentsto ensure the tensile structure, including its supporting framework, complies with structural and fire safety regulations for the intended environment.
Following these standards not only ensures legal compliance under UK building regulations but also provides peace of mind that your tensile structure has been designed with robust fire safety in mind. By combining certified fire-resistant materials with careful design and testing, tensile structures can be visually striking while complying with stringent fire safety requirements.
Fire Testing Standards for Tensile Structures
In the UK, tensile fabrics must undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet national and European fire safety standards. These tests assess how materials behave when exposed to flame, smoke, and heat, providing critical information for designers, builders, and regulators.
Some of the key UK and European fire testing standards for tensile fabrics include:
EN 13501-1: Reaction to Fire Classification
This is now the main UK and European classification standard. Materials are rated from A1 (non-combustible) to F (easily ignitable), with additional classifications for smoke production and flaming droplets.
EN 13823 (SBI Test)
Often used alongside EN 13501-1 to determine smoke production and heat release.
BS EN ISO 11925-2: Ignitability
Assesses how a material reacts when exposed to a small flame—useful for predicting early-stage fire behaviour.
BS 7837: Flammability Performance for Textiles Used in Marquees and Similar Structures
Commonly applied to membranes and tensile structures, especially temporary or semi-permanent installations.
BS 5867-2: Flame-Retardant Requirements for Fabrics
Originally intended for curtains and drapes, this standard may be required for tensile fabrics used inside public buildings, depending on the design and usage.
Not all standards apply to all tensile structures; the correct standard depends on the fabric/structure use.
Stronger, Safer, and Smarter Tensile Structures from ARC
From the methods of fireproofing tensile materials, to the tests involved with assuring their safety and compliance, tensile architecture and materials are rigorously controlled to ensure complete safety for your building or location.
At ARC Structures, we always strive to provide the best products and experiences for our clients – and yours. We put care and attention into every detail of your tensile project and ensure all materials are compliant with the relevant fire-performance standards to provide a safe, stylish result. Find out more about acquiring your own tensile structure by getting in touch.
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