Specification guide

Specification clauses for curtains, blinds, cushions and bedding

Copy-and-complete NBS-style wording for made-to-measure curtains, roman blinds, cushions and bed coverings, with a checklist of what a schedule needs to state for each item.

What a soft furnishings specification needs to state

The fields that most often go missing from schedules, and why they matter at pricing and installation.

Location reference: Room or window number matching the drawings, so every item is traceable from schedule to sewn-in label to installation.
Fabric identity: Supplier, collection, design and colourway, and composition. Fabric width and pattern repeat determine how many widths are cut and whether a wide-width cloth is railroaded.
Fire standard and level: BS 5867-2 Type B or C for curtains, blinds, linings and sheers; BS 5852 Source 5 and BS 7176 hazard category for cushions; BS 7175 ignition sources for bedding. Stating the standard without the level or source is incomplete.
Heading and fullness: Name the heading and the fullness ratio. Fullness drives fabric quantity and therefore price; the same fabric at 2.5× costs a third more than at 1.75×.
Lining: Standard, dimout, blackout, interlined or thermal interlined, with its own fire standard and Type.
Track or pole: The heading must match the hardware: wave needs a wave track, eyelet needs a pole. State whether hardware is supplied by us or by others, and the bracket projection if known.
Finished sizes: Finished width (track or pole length) and finished drop in millimetres, not window sizes. State pairs or singles, and returns and overlaps if they differ from standard.
Installation: Supplied only, or supplied and installed. Installation needs site access dates, fixing substrate and working-at-height arrangements.

Model clauses

Copy a clause and complete the fields in square brackets; fabric names and certificate references are on each product page.

Curtains

One clause per location or fabric.

Supply and install made-to-measure curtains to location reference [ref].
Face fabric: [supplier], [collection], [design / colourway], [composition], inherently flame retardant, certified to BS 5867-2:2008 Type [B / C]. Fabric width [cm]; pattern repeat [cm], matched across seams and pairs.
Heading: [pencil pleat / pinch pleat / wave / eyelet / other] at [fullness]× fullness, [tape / buckram / wave tape] to suit [track / pole].
Lining: inherently FR [standard / dimout / blackout] lining certified to BS 5867-2 Type [B / C]; [interlined with FR bump where stated].
Make-up: double 100 mm bottom hem, double 40 mm side hems, weighted corners and seams, 100 mm centre overlap on pairs, returns to suit bracket projection. Each curtain labelled with fabric, composition, FR certification, care instructions and location reference.
Finished width [mm] (track/pole length), finished drop [mm]. Supplied [as pairs / single], [installed / for installation by others].
Supplier: CreateFR, createfr.co.uk.

Roman blinds

Include the control side and fixing.

Supply and install made-to-measure roman blinds to location reference [ref].
Face fabric: [supplier], [collection], [design / colourway], inherently flame retardant, certified to BS 5867-2:2008 Type [B / C].
Lining: inherently FR [standard / dimout / blackout] lining certified to BS 5867-2 Type [B / C].
Construction: flat-fold roman with fibreglass rods in sewn pockets, aluminium cassette headrail, chain operation with child-safe tensioned chain device to BS EN 13120, control on [left / right].
Finished width [mm], finished drop [mm], [recess / face] fixed.
Supplier: CreateFR, createfr.co.uk.

Scatter cushions and bolsters

State the hazard category, not just Crib 5.

Supply [qty] cushions to location reference [ref], size [w × h] cm, [square / rectangular / bolster / round].
Cover fabric: [supplier], [collection], [design / colourway], inherently flame retardant, cover tested to BS 5852 ignition Source 5 (Crib 5).
Finish: [piped / plain / contrast-piped / Oxford border], concealed zip closure.
Pad: flame retardant fibre pad; completed cushion to BS 7176:2007 [medium / high] hazard.
Supplier: CreateFR, createfr.co.uk.

Bed runners, throws and bedspreads

Ignition source must be stated.

Supply [qty] [bed runners / throws / bedspreads] to location reference [ref], for [single / double / king / super king] beds, finished size [w × d] mm with [300] mm overhang each side.
Face fabric: [supplier], [collection], [design / colourway], inherently flame retardant.
Construction: [lined / padded with FR wadding / quilted in a diamond pattern], FR lining, edges [plain / piped / bound].
Fire performance: completed item to BS 7175:1989, ignition sources [0 and 5 / 0, 5 and 7].
Supplier: CreateFR, createfr.co.uk.

Clauses are provided as a starting point. Adjust quantities, standards and finishes to the project's fire risk assessment and the designer's intent.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an NBS clause for fire retardant curtains?

NBS Chorus covers window blinds and curtains under N10 (general fixtures, furnishings and equipment). The clauses on this page follow the same structure, so the wording can be pasted into an N10 item or a bespoke schedule and completed with the project's values.

What does a quantity surveyor need to price curtains from a schedule?

Finished width and drop per window, heading and fullness, fabric band or price per metre, lining type, whether hardware is included, and whether the item is supplied only or installed. With those we return a priced schedule by location; without fullness or lining the price can move by a third.

Can I send the completed clauses to you for pricing?

Yes. Paste the completed clauses, or the schedule they sit in, into the request-a-quote form or send drawings for from-plan estimating and we return a priced schedule by location.

Need this priced for a project?

Complete the clauses, or send us the schedule as it stands, and we return a priced schedule by location.

Request a quote From-plan estimating