Compiled by Juli Case I have a client who wants me to help him find the fabric that is used for bindings in snowshoes. It looks like a very heavy vinyl to me, maybe more than 30 oz. Any idea where I can purchase it for him? While it’s possible that your client’s snowshoe bindings [...]

Compiled by Juli Case A customer recently brought in a boat from the early 1990s that still has the original fabric. Only one of the seats needs to be fixed, but it’s an odd color of green that isn’t around any more. Where I can get “old” boat fabric? Typically, when a customer brings in [...]

Compiled by Juli Case We’ve been asked to repair a curtain, and need some curtain track. The thing is, it’s in an airplane. Where can we buy some? In the United States, materials used in an airplane interior must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. We contacted a number of curtain track suppliers and [...]

Compiled by Juli Case What is a composite? Technically, a composite is simply a material that is composed of disparate components that are combined in such a way that the finished product has different properties than each component could achieve on its own. Therefore, a vinyl-laminated fabric is a flexible composite. Composites use a textile [...]

Compiled by Juli Case. Where can I find the agricultural shade fabric called Baycor? Baycor is now part of the Nicolon family of fabrics from TenCate. The materials are polyolefin, and include woven and knit structures. Contact: SOURCE TenCate Industrial Fabrics North America Juli Case is ATA’s information and technical services manager.

Compiled by Juli Case. Our fabric meets CPAI-84. What do we have to do to it to make sure it passes NFPA 701? Both CPAI-84 and NFPA 701 are methods that assess the flammability of fabric. CPAI-84 is a specification written especially for materials used in tents, whereas NFPA 701 is a more general test [...]

Compiled by Juli Case I’ve been asked if my canopy’s wind loads meet I-90. What does that mean? This was a new one to us, too, and it turns out it comes from the roofing industry. I-90 is a wind uplift rating developed by the Factory Mutual Global insurance group. FM Global has developed a [...]

Compiled by Juli Case How do I find out which SIC codes describe my business? SIC stands for Standard Classification System, used by the U.S. government to organize businesses into basic categories. Although it is being replaced by NAICS codes, (North American Industry Classification System), SIC codes are still being used. The proper code depends [...]

Compiled by Juli Case Where can I find a fabric called Regentex? Regentex is the trade name of a woven fabric that is a polyester/cotton blend and comes in weights ranging from eight to 24 ounces per square yard. It’s used in a variety of applications, including tarpaulins and horse blankets. The trade name holder, [...]

Compiled by Juli Case My client is asking for a fabric that has a “four minute max” on FMVSS 302. What does that mean? FMVSS 302 is an abbreviation for “flammability of interior materials,” and is a frequently referenced U.S. government specification for flammability, despite the fact that its intended use is for fabrics in [...]