Fire-Rated Acoustic Fabric and Class A Acoustic Panels for Commercial Use
For a commercial room that calls for a Class A interior finish, choose acoustic panels or fabric in Burch Fabrics Prime Time. Burch rates Prime Time Class A per ASTM E-84 on its own published specification, and it is the standard fabric on our fabric-wrapped fiberglass panels. Burch Fabrics Prime Time is the Made in the USA equivalent of Guilford of Maine (a Canadian company) Anchorage and FR701. Microsuede and burlap are not fire rated, so keep them out of any space that needs a rated finish.
Planning a school, office, restaurant, healthcare space or public building? Send the room details through the Free Room Analysis and we will recommend the panels, the fabric and the documents for your submittal. Questions: call 888-923-5777.
Which fabrics and panels carry a Class A rating
A fire rating belongs to the specific face or core that was tested. When one order mixes products, each product keeps its own rating, so check every line against this table.
| Product or face | Fire rating | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Burch Fabrics Prime Time, and panels wrapped in it | Class A (ASTM E-84) | Our standard fabric. Offered on 1 inch, 2 inch and 4 inch panels, large-format panels up to 48 x 96 inches, and by the yard. |
| PET felt panels | Class A (ASTM E84, FSI 5 / SDI 250) | Rated on the felt board's own test, not on a fabric. Mounts on walls or drops into a ceiling grid. |
| Microsuede face | Not fire rated | A soft look for home theaters and living spaces. |
| Burlap face | Not fire rated | A natural, textured look. |
| Homasote Sound Barrier DesignWall 440 core | Class C (ASTM E84) | Never Class A, even with a fabric face. |
| Custom printed acoustic art panels | Depends on the print line | Ask before you specify printed panels for a rated space. |
| Corner bass traps | Depends on the fabric | Offered in microsuede, burlap and Guilford of Maine lines, not in Burch Prime Time. |
| Guilford of Maine FR701, Anchorage and Whisper | Mill documentation on request | Stocked alongside Burch Prime Time. Ask for the mill's fire documentation for the style you choose. |
What Class A means
ASTM E-84 rates the surface-burning characteristics of a material with two numbers, a Flame Spread Index and a Smoke Developed Index. Class A is the strictest commercial tier: a Flame Spread Index of 0 to 25 and a Smoke Developed Index of 0 to 450.
Class A is commonly required or specified for commercial, school, restaurant, healthcare and public-space projects. The final requirement depends on the project, its location, its occupancy and your local code authority, so confirm it with your architect or code official.
A rated fabric is not the same as a rated panel
A finished panel is an assembly of fabric, core and frame, and fire documentation applies to the specific assembly. Our standard panels pair Burch Fabrics Prime Time with an American-made, formaldehyde-free rigid fiberglass core inside a solid wood frame. If you specify a non-standard fabric, a custom core or an unusual configuration, ask us to confirm the documentation before you order.
Building panels yourself with rated fabric? The fabric keeps its rating, but a DIY panel does not come with panel documentation. For a room that needs a Class A finish, order built panels wrapped in Burch Fabrics Prime Time, and tell us which documents your review needs before you order.
Documents for your submittal
The flammability certificate, the panel spec sheets and the 1 inch test report are on our Spec Sheets and Test Reports page, free to download and share with your design and review teams. The rest are available on request.
- Burch Prime Time flammability certificate. Covers California TB 117-2013 and NFPA 260/UFAC, which is furniture-flammability documentation. It is not an ASTM E-84 report.
- ASTM E-84 report. For an interior-finish review that asks for ASTM E-84 Class A, tell us and we will obtain the mill E-84 report for the specified fabric.
- Panel spec sheets. The 2 inch acoustical wall panel spec, plus the fabric-wrapped fiber wall board specs for CSI 09 84 16 (Fabric-Wrapped Acoustical Panels) submittals.
- Acoustic test data. Our 2 inch panels are rated NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) 1.0 per ASTM C423. The 1 inch panel test report covers ASTM C423 absorption data (NRC 0.80, Intertek tested).
- Project-specific tests. For a custom assembly, we can commission ASTM E-84 or ASTM C423 testing when the project budget supports it.
Panels and fabric for rated spaces
For a rated space, order each panel below in Burch Fabrics Prime Time. PET felt carries its own rating.
- 2 inch acoustic panels: NRC 1.0, in 24 x 24, 24 x 36 and 24 x 48 inch sizes, wrapped in Burch Fabrics Prime Time.
- Large 2 inch panels: 48 x 48 up to 48 x 96 inches, so big rooms and rooms over 300 square feet need fewer panels.
- 1 inch acoustic panels: NRC 0.80 (Intertek tested per ASTM C423) for speech-focused rooms.
- 4 inch panels: more low-frequency reach on walls and ceilings.
- PET felt panels: Class A on their own rating, for walls and drop-in ceilings.
- Acoustic panel fabric by the yard: Burch Fabrics Prime Time in 36 colors. See the fabric by the yard guide.
Choosing a color? Download the Burch Prime Time color card from the Spec Sheets page.
Ordering for a commercial project
- Payment is due in full before production begins. Net terms and purchase-order terms are not offered. Tax-exempt orders are handled for qualifying schools, businesses, and government buyers.
- Every panel is built to order. Call 888-923-5777 with your deadline and we will confirm the current production window before you buy. See lead times and turnaround.
- Custom-cut panels, custom-printed art and anything made to your size or specification are not returnable or cancelable once payment is received. Read the Refund Policy before you order.
Frequently asked questions
Is Burch Fabrics Prime Time Class A fire rated?
Yes. Burch rates Prime Time Class A per ASTM E-84 on its own published specification. It is our standard panel fabric, and it is the Made in the USA equivalent of Guilford of Maine (a Canadian company) Anchorage and FR701.
Are microsuede and burlap acoustic panels fire rated?
No. Microsuede and burlap faces are not fire rated. For a room that needs a Class A finish, choose panels wrapped in Burch Fabrics Prime Time.
Are PET felt acoustic panels fire rated?
Yes. Our PET felt panels are Class A per ASTM E84, with a Flame Spread Index of 5 and a Smoke Developed Index of 250. That rating belongs to the felt board itself, not to a fabric.
Is Homasote DesignWall 440 Class A?
No. The Homasote Sound Barrier DesignWall 440 core is Class C per ASTM E84, even when it has a fabric face. Review any Homasote wall with your code official before you order.
What fire documentation can I give my code official?
Our Spec Sheets and Test Reports page has the Burch Prime Time flammability certificate, which covers California TB 117-2013 and NFPA 260/UFAC, plus panel spec sheets. For an interior-finish review that asks for ASTM E-84 Class A, tell us and we will obtain the mill E-84 report for the specified fabric. Call 888-923-5777.
If I buy fire-rated fabric and build my own panels, are they Class A?
The fabric keeps its own rating, but a panel you build yourself is your own assembly and does not come with panel documentation. For a room that needs a Class A finish, order built panels wrapped in Burch Fabrics Prime Time, and tell us which documents your review needs before you order.
Do you offer net terms or purchase orders for commercial projects?
No. Payment is due in full before production begins, and net terms and purchase-order terms are not offered. Tax-exempt orders are handled for qualifying schools, businesses, and government buyers.
