Musou Black Fabric FR – fire retardant super black fabric

The world's blackest fabric that comes with fire test documentation. Musou Black Fabric FR combines 99.80 % light absorption with documented fire test reports – a deep, glare-free black for theatres, museums, exhibitions, concert venues and other public projects where both light control and fire documentation are part of the material decision.

FR in brief

• Light absorption 99.80 % in visible light
• Material: cupro base fabric + FR rayon pile, resin-coated backing
• Weight approx. 280 g/m²
• Thickness 1.55 mm (reference figure – see the note below)
• Width 1,090 mm – A4 sample piece or cut to length 0.2–43 m
• Bursting strength 527 kPa
• Optimised for visible light – for IR and LiDAR use choose the IR Flock Sheet
• Made in Japan

A note on thickness: because of the fabric's structure, the measured thickness varies slightly with the measurement method. The manufacturer (Koyo Orient Japan) instructs all sales channels to use 1.55 mm as the reference figure. The EN test report supplied states 2.0 mm, which is the result of that test's measurement method.

Fire test documentation – please read this carefully

FR is intended for projects where documented fire behaviour is part of the material decision. The reports supplied by the manufacturer identify the tested product as Musou Black Fabric FR. Different standards cover different applications – choose the one that matches your planned installation.

EN 13773 and NFPA 701 (curtains and drapes)

• 2022 report – EN 13773 class 1, NFPA 701, SOR/2016-194, JIS L 1091
• These are the standards that cover stage curtains, backdrops, masking and drapes

ASTM E84-25 (surface burning characteristics)

• Report: SGS SDHL260601182201HI, 25 June 2026
• Flame Spread Index (FSI) 20 · Smoke Developed Index (SDI) 70
• Report conclusion: the tested sample meets the requirements of Class A as an interior wall and ceiling surface material
• Mounting in the test: sample bonded to a fibre cement board

EN 13501-1:2018 (reaction to fire classification)

• Report: SGS SDHL260601182301HI, 25 June 2026
• Classification B-s1_fl · critical heat flux ≥ 11 kW/m² · smoke 5.5 % × min
• Scope in the report: A1 or A2 substrate, mechanical fixing, no seams

⚠️ An important limitation – do not skip this. The EN 13501-1 classification supplied is a flooring classification – the suffix fl stands for flooring. It must not be presented as a certificate for curtains, drapes, walls or ceilings – curtains are covered by EN 13773, walls and ceilings by ASTM E84. Nor can we promise that the fabric meets the fire requirements of your particular site: fire regulations, permitted classifications, installation methods and final approvals vary by country, site and project.

How to do this properly: download the reports below and pass them to the architect, the site's technical lead, the installer or the fire authority for assessment. Compare the substrate, fixing method, seams and intended use in the reports against your planned installation before ordering. Final approval is always given by the local authority or the person responsible for the site – never by the material's seller.

Chemical safety: 6 SVHC substances above the 0.1 % threshold

The material contains six substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH above the 0.1 % concentration threshold. All six are boron compounds – they are the fabric's flame-retardant treatment. They are therefore not a contaminant but the very property the product exists for.

Test report: SGS SHAEC24027210012, 4 December 2024 (PDF). The screening covered 242 SVHC substances on the ECHA candidate list. A further 13 potential SVHC substances were tested – all below the 0.1 % threshold (Pass).

What this means for you: if your site is a public space, an educational institution, a day care centre or another setting with strict chemical restrictions, check these substances against your procurement terms before ordering. The full SGS report can be downloaded from the link above. If the restrictions rule out boron-based flame retardancy, tell us – we will point you to another material rather than sell you this one.

Why FR looks this black

FR uses vertically aligned rayon pile fibres, special black dyes and a three-dimensional textile structure. Visible light penetrates the pile, reflects several times between the fibres and is absorbed before it can return to the viewer. That is why the surface can look markedly darker than ordinary black fabric or stage velvet.

The base fabric is resin-coated on the reverse, which reduces pile shedding and improves structural stability in large installations. The coating also makes the material stiffer than an uncoated textile.

Applications

• Theatres, set design and black box spaces: backdrops, masking, stage curtains
• Museums, galleries and exhibitions: display case backgrounds, object presentation, immersive spaces
• Concert venues and events: masking of technical equipment, stage backdrops
• Projection rooms and public performance spaces: stray light control
• Studios, TV production and large-scale product photography
• Premium retail and brand activations

Musou Black fabrics compared

• Fabric FR – 99.80 %, the only one with fire test documentation; the choice for public projects
• KIWAMI – the blackest (99.905 %), when fire documentation is not required
• VL Flock Sheet – more affordable and more durable, for visible light
• IR Flock Sheet – for the near infrared, LiDAR and sensor development
• Musou Black paint – for rigid objects and shaped surfaces

See the whole fabric range or the Musou Black world.

Ordering, sample piece and price

Made to order – price and lead time by quotation. We always recommend an A4 sample piece before a project order: this lets you assess the blackness, the stiffness and the handling in your own space. Project pricing is available for orders over 10 metres.

Order an A4 sample or request a project quote →

Tell us in your message: the site and space, the installation method and substrate, the number of metres needed, the schedule, and any fire requirements defined for the site. With that information you get a quote in one round – and we can tell you in advance if the material does not suit your site.

Handling and storage

• Do not place heavy objects on the fabric – pressure flattens the pile and reduces light absorption
• Pressure, abrasion and water degrade the optical performance
• As a pile textile the material can shed small particles; it is not suitable for cleanliness-critical environments or the inside of precision instruments
• Creases: indirect steam and light brushing with a soft brush. Do not let water droplets form – water can damage the material
• Rolls over 10 m are delivered wound around a metal frame so the pile is not flattened in transit

Frequently asked questions

Can I say that this fabric is fire safe?
Not as a general statement. Use the precise test results and classification, not a general claim. Fire safety compliance always depends on the application, the country, the installation method and the authority's assessment.

Which report covers curtains and stage drapes?
EN 13773 is the standard that covers the flammability of curtains and drapes – there is a separate report for it (class 1, 2022) together with NFPA 701. Use these when the application is stage curtains, backdrops or masking.

The EN 13501-1 classification does not cover curtains: the classification supplied is B-s1_fl, whose scope is floorings. Do not present it as a curtain certificate, even though it is the most recent of the reports. Pass the correct report to the site's fire authority for assessment against the planned installation – final approval is always given by the authority or the person responsible for the site.

What do the SVHC substances mean in practice?
Six boron compounds make up the fabric's flame-retardant treatment. REACH requires them to be declared when the concentration exceeds 0.1 %. The practical significance depends on the site: in most theatre, museum and studio projects it does not prevent use, but in public procurement and children's spaces it must be checked against the procurement terms.

Is FR suitable for a theatre or a museum?
It is designed for exactly these projects, because it combines a superblack surface with fire test documentation. The project team must still verify the local requirements and the planned installation method before purchase.

How does FR differ from KIWAMI?
They serve different needs. FR is for projects where fire test documentation is central. KIWAMI is slightly blacker (99.905 % vs 99.80 %) for use where there is no FR requirement.

Can the fabric be cut and installed on large surfaces?
Yes. In large projects, however, the substrate, the fixing method, pressure-free handling and the required fire documentation must be confirmed before installation.

Is FR suitable for infrared applications?
No. FR is optimised for visible light; reflectance rises steeply in the near infrared (46.6 % @ 950 nm). For IR, LiDAR and NIR use choose the IR Flock Sheet.

Documents

• Fire test report 2022 – EN 13773 class 1 / NFPA 701 / SOR/2016-194 (PDF, 11 pp.) – curtains and drapes
• ASTM E84-25 test report (SGS, 25 June 2026) – wall and ceiling surfaces
• EN 13501-1:2018 classification report (SGS, 25 June 2026) – floorings
• SVHC test report (SGS SHAEC24027210012, 4 December 2024) – 242 candidate substances screened
• Safety data sheet (SDS, EN)
• Durability test report (PDF)

Ask us more or request a demo: get in touch – we serve theatres, museums, hotels and events with quotations and invoicing.