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Considerations for Fabric Selection

While all Novawall^® profiles can utilize a wide range of contract fabrics, some fabrics are better suited to certain profiles. Other issues with fabric have to do with yarn content (some yarns are highly susceptible to sagging with changes in temperature or humidity), acoustical transparency, and the use of a lining material to eliminate optical transparency. Fabrics are designed for specific applications, a fabric manufactured for one purpose, may not be adaptable for another use.

Fabric Selection Guidelines

The following items should be considered when selecting fabric for a NOVAWALL® application.

1. FIRE RATING - All Fabrics must be certified by the manufacturer as meeting Class A / Class 1 standards as described by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Safety Code 101 and local codes. The only test procedure that is acceptable by code for establishing the Class A / Class 1 rating for a stretch fabric application is the ASTM E84/NFPA 255 (Steiner Tunnel Test).

Fabrics that have been tested using only the NFPA 701 OR CAL-117 procedures will not be in compliance with NFPA or local building codes. ASTM E84 measures both the smoke developed and the flame spread of the test sample, without both of these elements the fabric cannot be said to comply with code.

2. ACOUSTICAL PERFORMANCE - At this time no standardized test exists for measuring the acoustical transparency of a fabric. Fabrics that are chosen for an acoustically sensitive application (recording or mastering studios, home theaters, film scoring stages, performance venues, video broadcast spaces and post production areas) should be loosely woven, and air should pass through the fabric freely with no impedance. There are several such panel fabrics available for these types of applications.

Many other fabrics have acceptable acoustical characteristics for conference room, audio-visual center and similar applications where acoustical performance is needed. Fabrics that have been treated with anything heavier than a 0.5 oz. sprayed acrvlic backing will generally be poor in an acoustical application.

3. YARN CONTENT - Stretched fabric systems are unique in that improperly selected fabrics may exhibit sagging when indoor temperature or humidity varies significantly. If a room will be subject to unconditioned outside air either directly through windows or indirectly via the ventilation system, the risk of sagging is increased. Also in geographical areas where high humidity is experienced during certain times of the year or when building ventilation systems are periodically turned off, the risk of sagging increases.

Yarn construction (the way in which the fabric is spun or woven) is extremely important in the sagging resistance of a fabric. There are some yarns whose presence or absence in a fabric will determine the risk of sagging.

Fabrics that are 100% or a high percentage of polyester are almost immune to sagging. Experience has shown that fabrics with at least 60% polyester are good performers as long as the remainder of the fabric content is not rayon or nylon.

Polyolefin's and many natural fabrics, i.e. silk, wool, cotton, are good performers but will usually require treatment with acrylic backing to stabilize the yarns and counteract sagging.

Blended fabrics that contain more that 20% nylon or rayon should be avoided.

4. FABRIC WEIGHT - Novawall^® is designed to be compatible with most panel fabrics. NOVAWALL® can also be used with many upholstery weight fabrics. Heavier fabrics may be only useable with certain NOVAWALL^® profiles.

5. PATTERNS AND REPEATS - The unique design of the NOVAWALL^® extrusions allows for the precise matching of repeats and designs at vertical, horizontal and diagonal seams. Therefore the designer is not limited to selecting fabrics without patterns or repeats. Some hand woven patterned fabrics have inconsistent repeats, these fabrics preclude accurate pattern matching at seams.

6. TRANSPARENT FABRICS - Many lightweight fabrics may be somewhat optically transparent particularly in lighter colors and under certain lighting conditions. To insure that the fabric will not have transparency issues, the fabric can be evaluated by using a light box or under the lighting that will be used in the completed project. If large printed characters or a geometric shape can be seen under the fabric when illuminated, the fabric must be specified with a lining or scrim layer under the facing fabric to prevent visual telegraphing.