Window and Wall Coverings

Delia Tacheny

INT 323 - Textiles, Materials, and Sourcing

Weekly Summary

Last week we introduced window treatments, and this week we covered the majority of our unit on Window Treatments and Wallcoverings. Chapters 16-19 expand on each topic within this unit. 

Chapter 16 deep-dived into window treatments and all the varieties. First of all, it's important to note that curtains are somewhat sheer, lightweight coverings hung without linings, while draperies are heavy, somewhat opaque coverings hung with linings. Coverings can be either stationary or non-stationary. There are a variety of styles including but not limited to casement panels, tie-back curtains, cafe curtains, and Cape Cod curtains. Headings are considered the top finish of a covering: Ex. pleated, clipped, shirred, etc. Trimmings are additional features such as cords, tassels, fringe, etc., and can be sewn directly onto the covering fabric or be used as tie-backs. Overhead treatments can be chosen to cover and conceal panel headings or hardware and enrich the overall look (Ex. Valences and Swags). They can be paired with various side-treatments as well (Ex. Cascades and Jabots). When specifying a window covering, it is extremely important to pick out the proper hardware and calculate the right amount of fabric yardage. In addition to curtains and draperies, blinds, shades, awnings, and shutters are all both decorative and functional window treatment options.

Chapter 17 continued the topic of Window coverings but went into a little more detail about material choices, as well as different lining options. Both natural and synthetic fibers hold ground in the window covering industry, however due to their performance features, Synthetics have definitely become more popular, especially Polyester because it meets necessary commercial flammability codes. Even products such as Rayon however can mimic the look of natural fibers -- in this case Silk -- for a cheaper cost. The three primary categories of window coverings are sheers, casements, and opaque/ semi-opaque. Some examples of sheers include Taffeta, Shantung, Dupioni, Batiste, Challis, and Voile, amongst others. There is a variety of techniques to create motifs on sheers including flocking, burn-out, and pigment print. More opaque fabrics include Chintz, Satin, Antique Satin, and Moire. There are also a variety of other weave, knitted, knotted, and non-woven options. Hard materials such as wood, metal, and solid synthetic polymers can be used in window coverings such as Roman shades, traditional Venetian and vertical blinds, or as shutters. Metal, glass, and plastic beads can also be strung together and hung together to form panel-like treatments.

Chapter 18 moved on from window treatments to wall coverings. The use of fabric wallcoverings is an excellent way to add aesthetic and textural interest to a space, while also serving a functional purpose. Functionally, fabric wallcoverings can reduce noise by absorbing certain levels of sound, and they can protect walls. The inherent surface irregularities of natural fibers add distinctive textural characteristics to wallcoverings; however, they do not have the same necessary performance features as some synthetics. Vinyl is a popular choice performance-wise, and because they are easy to clean. Type 1 Vinyl is used in residential or light-commercial areas; Type II is appropriate for high-traffic and public areas in commercial spaces; and type 3 is typically used in very high abuse areas such as in healthcare, hotel, or restaurant corridors where people and equipment are moving through and bumping walls. High-performance woven fabrics are often made from polypropylene, polyester, or a blend, with multiple weaving options available. High-performance wall coverings are heat set to form very durable surfaces, and they are also washable. There are three primary installation options for fabric wallcoverings: 1) Direct-glue installation, 2) Upholstered walls, or 3) Upholstered moveable wall systems. Office panel fabrics are usually unbacked, meet fire and building codes, and must meet the requirements by the specific furniture manufacturer. Almost all panel fabrics are 100% polyester, because is passes the required flammability tests and is dimensionally stable. When it comes to wallcoverings, there are a variety of backing, coating, finish, and weave options for aesthetic and performance preferences.  Wallpaper is printed directly on to a paper substrate or a very lightweight vinyl. Overall, wallcoverings can be a great addition to a space for both aesthetic and functional design purposes.

Chapter 19 covered the "Evaluation and Maintenance of Furnishing Fabrics." The ACT (Association for Contract Textiles) provides voluntary performance guidelines for all things Textiles (though they are primarily geared towards contract fabrics). They help ensure that fabrics meet industry standards and use a variety of symbols which can be looked up on their website: one for flammability performance, wet and dry crocking, colorfastness to light, physical properties, and abrasion resistance. Each symbol is associated with various standards from ASTM, AATCC, NFPA, or the California Technical Bulletins. If I fabric is marked by that symbol, it meets the associated standards. This chapter walked through a variety of testing that occurs for textile performance, as it pertains to structural qualities, tear strength, dimensional stability, abrasion resistance, pilling resistance etc. They also examine color consistency and retention of fabrics; colorfastness needs to be considered for crocking, light, burnt gas fumes, cleaning agents, water, solvents, or ozone. Clearly a multitude of factors can affect the apparent or actual color/brightness of a fabric. Maintenance is key when it comes to textiles, and routine care is a priority. Upholstered furniture should be vacuumed frequently, and cushions turned to equalize wear and soiling. Coated fabrics such as PVC or PU should be washed with warm water and a mild soap, and then dried; every material requires different cleaning methods, however. Upholstery manufacturers voluntary label their products with cleaning codes which are determined by measuring the level of color migration and bleeding caused by water and solvents using standard test methods. The codes are indicated as followed:

-    

Research Initiatives: 

Flax and Linen

We had two prompts to research this week. For the first, I chose the video on Flax to learn more about flax and linen. Second, I research NFPA 701 and current standards. 

Flax is the only natural fiber still being cultivated on a large scale in Eastern Europe and it is one of the most sustainable and natural fibers to exist; it requires no irrigation, minimal chemicals, no waste, and is fully recyclable and biodegradable. The plant has a short growing cycle of 100 days and grows approximately four feet at full maturity. When it has reached maturity, the flax will bloom either a violet-blue or white flower for one day. Flax plant is never cut, but rather uprooted to utilize the fibers of the entire plant. Harvesting is done with machines and then they plants are laid out in the fields for a process called "Retting." The harvested plants are exposed to rain, sunshine, and soil for a few weeks; the moisture helps break down the pectens that bind the fibers together in the stem, and the flax turns to its natural unique color. Following this, the flax fibers are separated from the stem and combed and then spun. The fibers are spun into yarns of various weights and thicknesses and endure different processes: 1) the fine yarns are wet spun to add smoothness and shininess, and 2) the shorter yarns are spun dry or half wet to give a more structured and coarse result. After this, they are spun on to bobbins and set up for weaving, from which we get linen fabrics! The woven products are then checked for quality, mended if necessary, and finished with any selected treatment or dye. Belgian linen is the finest brand of linen with a world-wide reputation. Linen is durable, with high absorbency, and thermal insulation; it is also hypoallergenic and lint free. Linen is a wonderful natural fiber option and has many applications. 

YouTube. (2012). How Linen Is Made. YouTube. Retrieved October 15, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZrZZefkohE.

NFPA 701

Next, I researched NFPA 701 and its current scope. *This information has been taken directly from the "Document Scope" of the NFPA 701 Document, with some paraphrasing and condensing: 

While a small-scale test method used to be required, it was eliminated as it failed to predict full-scale performance. 

Test Method 1, however, under the terms "curtains, draperies, and other types of window treatments" includes the following: 

• Window Curtains

• Stage or theater curtains

• vertical folding shades

• roll-type window shades

• hospital privacy curtains

• window draperies

• fabric shades of blinds

• polyvinyl chloride blinds

• horizontal folding shades

• swags. 

Additionally, test Method 1 applies to the following: 

• Table skirts

• Table linens

• Display booth separators

• Textile wall hangings

• Decorative event tent linings not used in the assembly of a tent.

Test Method 1 also applies to materials with an areal density less than or equal to 700 g/m2 (21 oz/yd2), including the following:

• Fabrics or other materials used in curtains, draperies, or other window treatments

• Single-layer fabrics

• Multilayer curtain and drapery assemblies in which the layers are fastened together by sewing or other means

• Combustible artificial decorative vegetation with an areal density less than or equal to 700 g/m2 (21 oz/yd2)

• Where required, fabrics with an areal density less than or equal to 700 g/m2 (21 oz/yd2) and used in other construction applications

Test Method 2 covers: 

• Vinyl-coated fabric blackout linings or lined draperies using a vinyl-coated fabric blackout lining

• Plastic films

• Decorative materials other than fabrics

• Other materials where Test Method 2 is required by 1.1.2

Test Method 2 shall apply to the following:

(1)  Decorative materials other than fabrics meeting the requirements of 1.1.1.1
(2)  Fabrics, including multilayered fabrics, films, and plastic blinds, with or without reinforcement or backing, with areal densities greater than 700 g/m2 (21 oz/yd2)
(3)  Vinyl-coated fabric blackout linings and lined draperies using a vinyl-coated fabric blackout lining
(4)  Plastic films
(5)  Fabrics, with or without reinforcement or backing, used for decorative or other purposes inside a building or as temporary or permanent enclosures for buildings under construction
(6)  Fabrics used in the assembly of awnings, tarps, or banners
(7)  Fabrics used in the assembly of both temporary and permanent tents, membrane structures, and tent appurtenances, including sidewalls, drops, tarpaulins, and floor coverings
(8)  Combustible artificial decorative vegetation with an areal density greater than 700 g/m2 (21 oz/yd2)

Test method 2 does not however apply to wall coverings, ceiling coverings, floor coverings, and other interior finish.

Applicable to both test methods: 

"When durability to cleaning or weathering is claimed, the textile or material shall be tested for flame propagation as produced and after being subjected to the applicable cleaning or exposure procedures..."

"For materials that are to be applied to surfaces of buildings or backing materials that are to be used in buildings as interior finishes, the test textiles and films shall be tested and classified in accordance with ASTM E84, Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials; UL 723, Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials; NFPA 265; or NFPA 286, whichever is required by the authority having jurisdiction."

NFPA 701. NFPA 701: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films. (2023). https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and-standards/detail?code=701