Flammability and Nysan Shade Screening

Please explain what makes “polyester yarn … impregnated with an acrylic-based material” fire resistant, as claimed in the article “PVC-Free Interior Shade Screening from Nysan” (

Vol. 12, No. 12). As far as we know, polyester and acrylics are both flammable.

Tim Burns, President

The Vinyl Institute

Arlington, VirginiaEditors’ response: We checked with Nysan Shading Systems, Ltd., who says that while they describe the material as “acrylic-based,” it is actually a Trevira

^® CS polyester to which a polyurethane coating has been applied. The company describes the polyurethane coating as being similar to acrylic in its application, but, as you note, quite different from acrylic relative to flame resistance. All of Nysan’s GreenScreen

^® PVC-free fabrics have been tested in accordance with the North American and European fire standards, according to the company, and all have passed.