Specification guide
Curtain linings and interlinings for contract curtains
Standard, dimout, blackout, interlined and thermal interlined, all inherently FR and certified to BS 5867-2, with a guide to which lining each sector usually needs.
Linings and interlinings
Every lining we use is inherently flame retardant and certified to BS 5867-2, so the finished curtain is compliant as an assembly rather than as a face fabric alone. Choose the lining by what the room needs: light control, thermal performance or drape.
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Standard FR lining
Sateen-finish polyester lining in ivory or white. Protects the face fabric from light and soiling and gives the curtain body without adding weight.
Inherently FR polyester, ivory or white
Fire standard BS 5867-2 Type B and Type C
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Dimout lining
A dense three-pass lining that blocks most light while keeping a soft, fabric-like handle. The usual specification for hotel bedrooms and care home rooms where full blackout is not required.
Three-pass coated polyester, ivory
Fire standard BS 5867-2 Type B and Type C
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Blackout lining
A foam-backed lining that stops light passing through the curtain entirely. Specify for hospital bays, sleep-critical hotel rooms, lecture theatres and student rooms.
Three-pass blackout, ivory; light gaps at edges depend on track and returns
Fire standard BS 5867-2 Type B and Type C
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Interlined
A layer of FR bump or domette sewn between face fabric and lining. Adds thermal and acoustic mass and gives the deep, rounded fold associated with high-end hospitality curtains.
FR bump or domette plus standard, dimout or blackout lining
Fire standard BS 5867-2 Type B and Type C
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Thermal interlined
Interlined with a dense thermal bump and a coated lining to cut heat loss through the glazing. Specify for care homes, hospital wards and any building where room temperature is held high, and for single-glazed or listed windows.
FR thermal bump plus dimout or blackout lining; adds weight, so confirm track rating
Fire standard BS 5867-2 Type B and Type C
Which lining to specify by sector
Starting points that reflect what is usually specified. The fire risk assessment and the designer's brief take precedence.
- Hotel bedrooms
- Dimout as standard; blackout where the brand standard calls for full darkness. Interlined in suites and heritage properties for drape and thermal mass. Type B fabric and lining.
- Hospitals and clinics
- Blackout in bays and on-call rooms; dimout in day rooms and consulting rooms. Type C fabric and lining throughout. Linings must survive frequent thermal laundering, so inherently FR only.
- Care homes
- Thermal interlined or dimout: residents' rooms are held warm and often single-glazed. Blackout for residents with sleep disturbance. Type C.
- Schools and universities
- Dimout in classrooms; blackout in lecture theatres, labs and any room with projection. Student bedrooms: blackout. Type B.
- Offices and reception
- Standard lining for solar and glare control, or unlined sheers on a double track with a lined curtain behind for meeting rooms. Type B.
- Holiday lodges and student accommodation
- Blackout in bedrooms; standard lining elsewhere. Type B.
- Cruise and ferry cabins
- Blackout to IMO FTP Code Part 7, matched to an IMO-certified face fabric.
Frequently asked questions
Do curtain linings need to be fire retardant?
Yes. A lined curtain is only compliant if every layer meets the standard, and a Type C fabric lined with a non-FR lining is a Type C failure. All our linings, including dimout and blackout, are inherently FR and certified to BS 5867-2.
What is the difference between dimout and blackout lining?
Dimout is a dense coated lining that blocks most light and keeps a soft handle; a little light still reads through and at the edges. Blackout is a foam-backed lining that stops light passing through the cloth entirely. Edge gaps still depend on the track, returns and overlap, so blackout is specified together with returns and a pelmet or ceiling-fix track where total darkness matters.
Do thermal interlined curtains make a measurable difference?
Yes on single-glazed or draughty windows and in rooms held at a high temperature. The interlining adds a still-air layer between glass and room; the effect is greatest where the curtain runs to the floor and returns to the wall so air cannot circulate behind it.
What colour are the linings?
Ivory as standard, white on request, so the street elevation reads consistently across a building. Coloured or contrast linings are quoted when the lining is meant to be seen.
Need this priced for a project?
State the lining in the quote request or leave it to us to recommend by sector; either way it is priced with the curtain.