Life just got safer

Schle Woodthanan saw the damage caused by a horrific fire at Bangkok’s First Hotel 25 years ago and realised it shouldn’t have been so bad. When he joined Textile Gallery Co as design director, the memory still haunted him.

So he came up with a flame-retardant fabric for his Pasaya line of products. The world felt a little safer.

Schle recently unveiled window curtains that are permanently flame-retardant – his latest invention – to a big crowd of reporters and foreign suppliers at the firm’s production plant.

Safeguarding buildings against fire was always his intention, he said, despite Thailand having no regulations requiring flame-retardant fabric, even in public places. The firm simply wants to lift the industry to a higher standard.

Flame-proofing everyday items will not only reduce damage in the event of fire, it will save lives, especially in commercial buildings and other public places, Schle pointed out. 

Flame-retardant fabric will burn, but it would burn much longer if it were not treated. “We’ve seen the effect many times, including in the recent hotel fire in Bangkok, where untreated curtains helped spread the fire,” he said.

Most developed countries require public places like schools and theatres to use flame-retardant fabrics that are certified by international trade groups. The Pasaya curtains are certified to NFPA701 standard in the United Sates and BS5867 in Britain.

“In fact, the technology to make material permanently flame-proof has existed since World War I,” Schle said, but its development and application have been slowed by the desire to keep products affordable.

“Permanently flame-retardant” means the fabric retains its protective coating even when washed. “The chemical we use is applied not just to the surface but is ingrained in every single thread. Put simply, when fire breaks out, the chemical will steal the oxygen from the air, and therefore the burning is limited and doesn’t spread.

“The only shortcoming is the higher price. But whereas curtains like these have been twice the price of normal curtains until now, we are proud to present curtains that cost just 20 per cent more.”

Schle wasn’t going to get 100 spectators out to the factory without torching something, and he didn’t disappoint. 

Two identical rooms had been set up, one with normal curtains and the other with the flame-retardant ones. 

The inferno was unleashed, and afterward everyone could see the difference. The protected room sustained minimal damage. The other room was totally gutted.

Pasaya curtains are now on shelves in 15 different designs, each incorporating three to 50 colours, and more are on the way. The firm plans to devote 50 per cent of its production to the flame-retardant curtains. 

And the fabric doubles as a lovely wall hanging or can be used to cover lampshades and the like.

The curtains are on sale at the Pasaya Flagship Store, Curtain Outlet by Pasay and Home Pro, Home Work and Index Living Mall.