Community fire curtain: M1 purchasing guide for town halls, schools and associations
A local authority fitting out a multipurpose hall, a school, a media library or a town hall with fire-resistant curtains combines four specific constraints: a fire-resistance class M1 or M2 depending on the space, a regulated public procurement process (free quote below the threshold, MAPA adapted procedure above it), a budget often spread over several years within the multi-year investment plan, and a calendar driven by the spring vote on the primary budget. Equipment costs range from 4,000 € for a primary school to 25,000 € for a large municipal multipurpose hall, excluding formal competitive tendering.
This guide is intended for public buyers in local authorities outside the healthcare sector: municipal technical services, directors general of services, elected officials in charge of buildings, library and media library managers, school principals, and presidents of associations operating under municipal lease. For healthcare facilities (care homes, residences), see our care home curtains guide. Nurseries and early childhood facilities are covered in a dedicated article.
The focus of this article is the purchasing process and budgetary framework specific to local authorities. For the detailed regulatory obligations by space, see the M1/M2 public-access building standards guide. For the choice of materials, see the article fire-resistant fabric: materials and choices by use.
Which local authority facilities are concerned?
Local authorities manage a varied building portfolio that falls under several types of public-access building. The main configurations are as follows.
| Facility | Public-access building type | Public received | Dominant framework |
|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal multipurpose hall | L (then N when meals are served) | Weddings, receptions, amateur theatre, official ceremonies | M1 on stages and platforms, M2 on circulation routes |
| Primary or nursery school | R | Children in school activity | M2 on circulation routes and rooms > 50 m² |
| Municipal middle or high school | R | Teenagers | M2 on circulation routes and rooms > 50 m² |
| Media library, library | S | General public | M2 on circulation routes, M1 on enclosed staircases |
| Town hall (spaces open to the public) | W | Residents | M2 on circulation routes and rooms ≥ 50 m² |
| Municipal gymnasium | X | Athletes and event audiences | M2 on circulation routes (M1 if event stage) |
| Leisure centre, youth club, community centre | R or L depending on use | Mixed children and adults | M2 on circulation routes and rooms > 50 m² |
The decree of 25 June 1980 sets out the obligations by space through articles AM 11 to AM 14, which apply across all types of public-access building. The specific decrees by type (R, L, S, W) may add further requirements; we recommend checking them with the authority's inspection office before drafting the specifications.
Fire-resistance class M required by space
The universal rule derived from articles AM 11 to AM 13 applies to all local authorities.
- Enclosed staircases: M1 mandatory (article AM 12 a). Priority evacuation route.
- Circulation routes (corridors, halls, passageways): M2 mandatory (article AM 12 b).
- Rooms larger than 50 m² (multipurpose hall, school canteen, function room): M2 mandatory (article AM 12 b).
- Stages and platforms (municipal theatre, performance hall, school platform): M1 mandatory (article AM 13).
- Rooms smaller than 50 m² outside circulation routes (offices, small rooms): no strict regulatory obligation. M2 recommended to anticipate insurer requirements.
The important reminder for local authorities: it is forbidden to hang curtains across circulation routes (article AM 11 §1), except for textile trims on fire doors, which must be M2 minimum.
Purchasing process in a local authority
The public procurement code governs the purchase of supplies by local authorities. Three regimes coexist depending on the expected amount of the expenditure.
Regime 1 — Free quote below the formalised procedure threshold
For purchases of supplies whose estimated amount is below the threshold set by the Legal Affairs Directorate at Bercy (which updates the thresholds each year), the authority may order from the supplier of its choice without a formalised competitive tendering procedure. The good practice recommended by the regional audit chambers is to request at least three comparative quotes and to keep the documents on file for traceability.
Regime 2 — Adapted procedure (MAPA)
Above the formalised procedure threshold and below the European threshold, the authority must organise an adapted procedure (MAPA). The terms are set freely by the buyer, while respecting the principles of equal treatment, transparency and competition. Publicity can be done on the authority's buyer profile or on the BOAMP.
Regime 3 — Formalised procedure above the European threshold
For very large contracts (rare in curtain procurement), the formalised procedure is required, with publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and strict selection rules.
Important note: Kurtens works through direct quotes and issues its proposals within 24 hours for local authorities outside formalised tendering procedures. For MAPA, the B2B team supports the authority in formulating the technical specifications but does not take part in structured competitive dialogues.
Internal stakeholders within the authority
The purchase goes through several layers of approval. Knowing the contacts speeds up the time to signature.
- Elected officials (mayor, deputies for buildings, culture, school affairs): decide on the principle and the budget.
- DGS (Director General of Services): frames operations and coordinates the departments.
- DST (Technical Services Department): manages the technical side and the installation.
- Public procurement department (in municipalities ≥ 3,500 inhabitants): drafts the administrative documents.
- Public accountant (authority's treasurer): validates the regularity of the payment.
Real budget by configuration
The ranges below are indicative, calculated on the basis of made-to-measure M1 manufacturing including fabric, making-up and installation accessories, excluding transport and excluding external installation labour.
| Typical facility | Configuration | Indicative budget |
|---|---|---|
| Medium multipurpose hall | Stage curtains + blackout, 250 m² total | 8,000 to 18,000 € |
| Large municipal multipurpose hall | Stage curtains + blackout 400 m² + side drapes | 15,000 to 28,000 € |
| Primary school (10 to 20 windows) | Blackout for classrooms + canteen | 4,000 to 10,000 € |
| Middle or high school (common areas) | Blackout for lecture hall + library + dining hall | 10,000 to 25,000 € |
| Media library (auditorium + decor) | Blackout for conference room + drapes | 3,000 to 8,000 € |
| Town hall (public-facing areas) | Wedding room + mayor's office | 2,000 to 7,000 € |
| Youth club or community centre | Activity room + projection blackout | 5,000 to 15,000 € |
These ranges include an M1 class on the zones where it is required. Upgrading from M2 to M1 on part of the stock represents a marginal extra cost of 5 to 15% depending on the volumes ordered.
Grants and multi-year financing
Several schemes make it easier to finance fire-resistant curtain equipment in a local authority.
- DETR (Rural Territories Equipment Grant): eligible for rural municipalities and inter-municipal bodies with their own taxation, for compliance works on municipal buildings.
- DSIL (Local Investment Support Grant): eligible for energy renovations and compliance upgrades, including fire safety.
- FCTVA (VAT Compensation Fund): allows partial recovery of VAT on eligible investments.
- PPI (Multi-year Investment Plan): allows the expenditure to be spread over 3 to 5 years, in line with safety commission visits.
An M1 compliance upgrade across a municipality's curtain stock can be presented as a fire safety action in a DETR or DSIL application, with the file submitted to the prefecture at the start of the calendar year.
Standard local authority specifications
A minimal set of specifications for a local authority curtain includes ten verifiable lines.
- Fire-resistance class M1 or M2 by space (with reference to articles AM 12 and AM 13 of the decree of 25 June 1980).
- Named classification test report dated less than 5 years ago, to be provided with the delivery.
- Fabric composition (preference for polyester with intrinsic fire-resistance for regularly washed spaces).
- Exact dimensions measured by the supplier or jointly validated.
- Fixing system compatible with the existing setup (eyelets, tape, clips, rods).
- Catalogue colors or customisation, sample validated before production.
- Minimum 5-year warranty on the classification and the making-up.
- Firm delivery deadline and installation conditions (by the authority or by a partner installer).
- Standard authority payment terms (administrative order, 30-day term).
- Identified after-sales service for maintenance and partial replacement.
Timeline of an order for a local authority
The annual rhythm of a local authority imposes a precise sequence.
- January-March: preparation and vote on the primary budget. Recording the expenditure in the investment section (durable equipment) or in the operating section depending on amount and depreciation.
- April-May: consulting suppliers, requesting quotes, technical arbitration with the DST.
- June-July: ordering and launching production, aiming for delivery outside term time for schools.
- August: delivery and installation, the optimal period for school public-access buildings (summer holidays).
- September: commissioning and recording the test report in the safety register.
- October-December: preparing the following year's budget if the operation is part of a multi-year PPI.
How Kurtens works with local authorities
Kurtens issues a quote within 24 hours for any local authority enquiry, provides the technical sheets and the weaver's test report from the study phase, and offers color and material samples on request. M1 certification is available on request, the extra cost included in the quote without a separate line. No minimum order is imposed.
Payment by administrative order is accepted within the standard public procurement terms. Delivery conditions are specified on the quote. Installation is not carried out directly by Kurtens, who can refer you to partner installers in your region.
To start a project, see the made-to-measure fire-resistant curtains page or request a B2B quote.
Frequently asked questions about fire-resistant curtains in local authorities
What is the difference between a local authority curtain and a hotel curtain?
The difference is not in the fabric but in the purchasing framework and the use. A hotel curtain is ordered by a private buyer, on a commercial budget, with a strong requirement for aesthetic consistency across rooms. A local authority curtain goes through a regulated public budget, with a use that is often event-based (multipurpose hall) or educational (school), and a focus on maximum service life rather than decorative refinement. Both fall under the same M1/M2 regulation but with distinct processes and budgets.
Can a town hall buy without formal competitive tendering?
Yes, below the formalised procedure threshold updated each year by the Legal Affairs Directorate at Bercy. The good practice recommended by the regional audit chambers remains to request at least three quotes and to keep the documents on file. Above the threshold, the adapted procedure (MAPA) or the formalised procedure applies.
What is the standard lead time for a local authority curtain order?
Allow 4 to 8 weeks between signing the purchase order and delivery on a standard project, more if production involves a custom dye or a fabric from a foreign weaver. For delivery aligned with the start of the school year (school, middle school, high school), placing the order by the end of June at the latest allows for a smooth setup in August.
Does the State subsidise the purchase of fire-resistant curtains for compliance upgrades?
Not as such, but the expenditure can fit into broader schemes. The DETR covers compliance works on municipal buildings in eligible territories, and the DSIL finances renovations and compliance upgrades including fire safety. The file is to be submitted to the prefecture at the start of the calendar year, with quote and operation plan.
Is a recent test report needed to pass the municipal safety commission?
The test report must be named and dated. The NF P 92-507 standard does not set a legal validity period, but the inspection offices (Bureau Veritas, Apave, Socotec) recommend a test report less than 5 years old. For new orders, require a test report dated from the current year or the previous year. Details in our article on verifying a fire-resistant curtain.
Do schools have different constraints from other public-access buildings?
Schools fall under public-access building type R (teaching establishments and boarding schools). Articles AM 11 to AM 13 (by space) apply as they do to all public-access buildings. A specific decree for type R exists and may add requirements to be checked with the establishment's inspection office before launching the specifications. The practical rule is to opt for M2 on circulation routes and rooms > 50 m², M1 on stage and platform where applicable.
Regulatory note: this article presents the universal requirements applicable to curtains in local authority public-access buildings through articles AM 11 to AM 13 of the decree of 25 June 1980. The specific decrees by public-access building type (R, L, S, W) may add requirements to be checked case by case with an approved inspection office. This article does not replace that consultation.
To start an equipment project for your local authority: request a B2B quote. Response within 24 hours, volume discounts, M1 certification on request, CSTB or IFTH test report included with delivery, administrative order accepted.
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