ESB Environmental Ltd

Sewing with Sandel

Sandel fabrics are primarily made to be cut and sewn, so the strength of seams or joints may influence the fire performance of products made this way. For best results, use non-flammable sewing thread, a lock stitch machine with walking foot and rotary hook, and a ball point needle #17. The sewing machine should be set for no more than 8 stitches per inch, as closer stitching will result in reduced seam strength. The seam allowance should be ½ inch and double stitching seams should be avoided.

Glueing is also an option, as Sandel can be glued to other materials or itself, though using glue without mechanical fasteners, sewn seams, clamps or screws will decrease the fire performance.

Cleaning Sandel Products

Sandel fabrics can be easily cleaned using conventional methods and materials. For best results, dilute mild soap/detergents with warm water, and wash with a wet cloth, soft brush or low-pressure water stream, before washing the detergent solution off with warm water. Then wipe off any excess water or air-dry.

Cleaners containing abrasives (such as Comet), stiff brushes, abrasive pads (such as steel wool), and mechanical washing or dry machines should not be used on Sandel fabrics.

Is smoke from Sandel toxic?

Because Sandel is manufactured from primarily inorganic materials, it produces very little smoke when in a fire. The Sandel product with the most organic material (Sandel 54504) was tested to BSS 7239 under the conditions specified in ASTM E 662, and what little smoke it did generate was analysed for eight toxic gases. Of these, seven were either not detected at all or detected at minimal levels. Only Carbon Monoxide was detected above this level, though it was still below the 6% maximum necessary to pass the test.

Since Sandel 54504 has the highest organic content of the Sandel grades, all of the other products have even less toxic gas content. In fact, compared to other fire barrier materials, Sandel typically has only a small fraction of the smoke toxicity.

What is Sandel made from?

Sandel textiles are made from a blend of Silicon Dioxide (sand) and other inorganic chemicals, providing a chemically inert textile base that will not burn. We treat this textile base with our patented process that makes it resistant to breaking, cracking or producing small fibrous particles. The Sandel treatment comprises of a safe and effective combination of ingredients, including various polymers, stain repellents, antifungal and antimicrobial agents, water and flame retardants. These ingredients can also include chemicals chosen to provide desired qualities such as printability, permeability and colour. Sandel's high proportion of inorganic chemicals increases its fire blocking abilities even at extremely high temperatures, and also keeps smoke toxicity to a minimum.