Why Christmas Changes Your Fire Risk
Most retail fire risk assessments are written around a normal trading layout. In the run-up to Christmas, that layout changes quickly. Displays are built from fabric, paper, card, foliage and straw. Stock levels rise and cardboard packaging builds up. Extra lighting goes in, often close to the very materials it is lighting. Seasonal staff join who may not know the fire procedures.
Fire and rescue services across the UK highlight the same problems every year: escape routes blocked by extra stock, cardboard stored badly, and decorations placed near heat sources, alarm sensors or emergency lighting.
What the Law Expects
In England and Wales, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person for a business premises to carry out a fire risk assessment and keep it under review. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent legislation.
Fire services advise that the assessment should be reviewed whenever there are significant changes, such as increased stock, altered floor plans, or extra lights, decorations and equipment. A Christmas refit usually counts.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has gone further on decorations, advising premises to make sure decorations are fire resistant or have been treated to make them fire retardant. It also warns businesses to take care with products bought online that claim to make materials flame retardant, and to research what a product can actually do before relying on it.
Which Display Materials Need Attention
Look at anything in the display that could catch light easily or carry flame across the shop floor:
- Fabric backdrops, drapes, swags and window dressings
- Paper and card decorations, printed backdrops and cut-out scenery
- Hessian, jute and natural fibre wraps
- Straw, hay and dried foliage used for rustic or nativity scenes
- Christmas trees and garlands
- Banners and signs used inside the shop
- Costumes for staff or grotto characters
Pay particular attention to anything placed near spotlights, heaters, light fittings or electrical decorations, and to window displays where lighting is often packed into a small enclosed space.
Choosing the Right Treatment
Fire retardant treatments work by soaking into absorbent materials. When exposed to flame, the treated material is slower to ignite and less likely to spread flame across its surface. The material must be able to absorb the treatment for it to work, so it pays to know what your display is made from.
Flametect Nitro is the most versatile option for retail displays. It treats natural, synthetic and blended textiles, as well as paper, card, foams and many decorative materials, and lists retail displays, Christmas trees and decorations among its typical applications. It dries clear with no change to the look or feel of the material, and is tested to BS 5867 Part 2 Type B, the UK standard for curtains and drapes, along with BS 5438.
Flametect C for Natural Materials is designed for natural absorbent materials only, including cotton, linen, wool, paper, cardboard, straw, hessian, jute and dried natural flowers and foliage. It is a good fit for displays built entirely from natural materials, but it is not suitable for synthetic fabrics and can be corrosive to metal fixings.
A few points apply to both products:
- They are for interior use and are not water resistant. Re-treat after any wet cleaning or if the material gets wet.
- They are not suitable for non-absorbent or sealed surfaces. Many plastic decorations will not take the treatment.
- Results on artificial flowers and plants vary widely, so always test a sample first.
If a display mixes synthetic and natural materials, Flametect Nitro covers both.
Treating Your Display Before It Goes Up
Treatment is far easier before a display is built than once it is installed above stock and customers. A simple approach:
- Check the materials. Make sure they are clean, dry and free from coatings or sealants. Test a small hidden area first if you are unsure.
- Apply evenly. Use a spray, roller, brush or immersion, working in light, controlled passes rather than soaking the surface. Make sure there are no missed areas.
- Let it absorb. Denser materials need more product. Excess sitting on the surface does not improve performance.
- Dry naturally. Dry in a well-ventilated area without applied heat. With Flametect Nitro, most materials are ready within 2 to 3 hours at room temperature.
As a guide, Flametect Nitro covers around 10 m² per litre, so a 750ml trigger spray treats around 7 m². Heavier or more absorbent materials will use more.
Keeping Records
If a fire officer or insurer asks how your displays have been treated, you need to be able to show it. Every Flametect order includes a free Statement of Performance certificate for your treated area. Keep it with your fire risk assessment, along with:
- What was treated and where it is in the shop
- The product used and the date of treatment
- Any re-treatment after cleaning or if materials were moved, replaced or got wet
This is also useful when displays come out of storage the following year. Treated items that have been washed or have got damp in storage will need treating again.
Good Practice Beyond Treatment
Treating display materials reduces risk, but it is one part of a wider approach. Fire services recommend:
- Keeping fire exits, escape routes and fire doors clear and unlocked during trading hours, and checking them throughout the day
- Storing extra stock where it does not block walkways or doors
- Storing cardboard and packaging waste securely, away from the building where possible
- Keeping decorations away from heat sources, alarm sensors, fire safety signs and emergency lighting
- Using certified, PAT-tested electrical decorations, avoiding daisy-chained extension leads, and switching lights off when the shop is closed
- Training all staff, including temporary staff, on fire procedures and escape routes
Ordering for Your Christmas Displays
If you are not sure which product suits your display materials, call our team on 02920 026582 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4:30pm) for free advice. Flametect products are manufactured in the UK, with free next day delivery on orders over £50 and a Statement of Performance certificate included with every order.
