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Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin

Post Number: 416
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2012 - 05:01 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Any suggestions for a way to paint or otherwise color interior fabric. These are existing ceiling features, look like a burlap material. The standard paint companies don't have anything they recommend. These are interior at a casino, so any coating needs to meet flame spread requirements etc. Maybe dyeing them? Not sure if they have any type of coating that will prevent dye from being absorbed. Anyone know any paints suitable for interior fabrics?
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 1525
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2012 - 05:34 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

You should find out exactly what the material/product is. There's a product out there (or was) that appeared to be a coarse woven fabric, but was really a stiff fabric intended to be over-coated. I am NOT going to remember the product name at this time of the day.

Doesn't the Owner have product data sheets? Maintenance records, etc., that could give you an insight into the material/product? Knowing exactly what you're dealing with will go a long way to selecting the correct solution.

That written, MasterSpec has something about painting cloth/canvas insulation covering. And it's a latex or an alkyd...just that simple.
John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1427
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2012 - 05:41 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Is the fabric fully-adhered like wall covering? I don't know that paint needs to have a flame spread classification (ASTM E84) by code, and it seems unlikely that any paint companies have tested paint films. There are some coatings sold to "improve" the flame spread of a substrate, however (which I'm not sure about the effectiveness of). Plus, I would think that if this was a major concern, the paint on the fabric would have to be tested as an assembly, which obviously would be hard to do if it's adhered.

I would expect the same logic would apply to NFPA 701 used on textiles if they are merely draped. It seems to be a fundamental change to paint or dye the material, so you probably cannot be sure it would pass these tests. Unless, of course, you made a sample of what you are proposing and actually had it tested. That may not be as far-out as it first seems, as this happens a lot in jurisdictions which want such testing (like Boston).
John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1428
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2012 - 05:42 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

So I didn't really suggest a solution to the problem of how to color ths fabric. Can you describe the installation a bit more?
Colin Gilboy
Senior Member
Username: colin

Post Number: 310
Registered: 09-2005


Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2012 - 07:43 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Try Flexi-wall

http://www.flexiwall.com/

Burlap like material with a plaster coating.

1. Flexi-Wall's Plaster in a Roll (TM) meets the NFPA:101 (National Fire Protection Association) Life Safety Code (6-5.2.3) based on room/corner fire tests. These tests include UbC (Uniform building Code) Standards 8-2 and 42-2, as well as NFPA 265-- which Plaster in a Roll (TM) did pass.

2. Critical fire performance characteristics of Plaster in a Roll (TM):
Class: A
Flame spread: 15
Smoke developed: 0 (zero)
Colin Gilboy
Publisher, 4specs.com
435.654.5775 - Utah
800.369.8008
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 1526
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Friday, July 27, 2012 - 09:27 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Thank you, Colin! That's the product I couldn't remember...
Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin

Post Number: 417
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Friday, July 27, 2012 - 11:21 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

The burlap is on these giant ceiling fixtures that are existing in a casino ceiling - it is almost impossible to explain, but it looks like they are stretched over a frame to form big rings that are suspended from the ceiling. Really, i can't describe them, but if you are at the Palms in Vegas...look up. Owner has no documentation about what they are.
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 1528
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Friday, July 27, 2012 - 12:35 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Can you find an image (try Google Images) of one and post the link here?
Scott Piper (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted on Friday, July 27, 2012 - 05:44 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

"doesn't the Owner have product data sheets, maintence records, etc."

Oh Lynn, You crack me up. (you were kidding right?)

The Owners we work with are doing well if they can find the key to the front door.
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 1529
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Monday, July 30, 2012 - 01:54 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Well, actually, if it's a famous place, there just might be interior photos posted online...so, no, I wasn't exactly kidding...

You can usually find images for just about anything out there if you know what you're looking for and can narrow down the choices. If we could all see this (here's where a picture IS worth a 1000 words), we might be able to come up with additional suggestions.

If the "fabric" is absorptive, I'd suggest a dye. If it's not, than a paint. But it would be nice to see it either way.
Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin

Post Number: 422
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 - 11:22 pm:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Lynn - I think Scott was referring to your comment about the owner having documentation about the product.

Regarding the pictures...great idea. See if this works: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.zoomandgo.com/h/USA/USZ/HUSAUSZ32A0447-A111AD1004VV.jpg&imgrefurl=http://zoomandgo.com/destinations/image_viewer.asp?ak%3D122721375&h=320&w=480&sz=296&tbnid=uPC35AbGdqF-cM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dimages%2Bof%2Binterior%2Bof%2Bpalms%2Bcasino%2Blas%2Bvegas%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=images+of+interior+of+palms+casino+las+vegas&usg=__tRVOU5FWwfpHu-zpgnbLNWDZW5s=&docid=XCFiA12p_2Kd6M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=VqAYUJPOOaqViQLyuIGABw&ved=0CGQQ9QEwCA&dur=0

I think it works with cut and paste. The interior "fins" will be removed and it is only the interior and exterior "rings" that remain to be painted. I think we are going to suggest painting it - they will remain in place.
John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bunzick

Post Number: 1430
Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 10:11 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

It seems unlikely to me that these can be coated or dyed without altering the fire rating under NFPA 701. Perhaps some of the fabric that is being removed can be coated as proposed, and then tested to determine acceptability under building and fire codes. The test may very well prove to be successful, but without it you would not know whether they were safe.
Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate
Senior Member
Username: lynn_javoroski

Post Number: 1533
Registered: 07-2002


Posted on Wednesday, August 01, 2012 - 10:37 am:   Edit PostDelete PostPrint Post

Oddly enough, an email from these people just came in; you might trying contacting them:

http://www.fabricarchitecture.com/fabric-interiors

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