Technical Curtains Specification: B2B Model in 8 Sections
A well-structured technical curtain specifications document for a B2B project covers eight sections: project and client identification, technical specifications by space, required performance levels (fire-resistance class M, blackout, soundproof, thermal), mandatory documents on delivery, lead times and schedule, multi-year warranties, commercial terms, and acceptance procedure. The document becomes enforceable against the supplier as soon as it is attached to the purchase order and references the applicable standards (NF P 92-507, decree of 25 June 1980).
A written specifications document is not an administrative formality. It is the tool that lets you compare several quotes on equivalent terms, legally bind the supplier, frame liability in the event of a defect, and trace the regulatory compliance of the equipment over 10 to 15 years. The absence of a written document is the most common purchasing mistake on a significant inventory.
To verify a test certificate on delivery, see the article on how to know if a curtain is fire-retardant. To select a manufacturer to consult, read the 7 selection criteria. For budget planning, see the 2026 B2B pricing guide.
Why a written specifications document for a B2B curtain project?
Four reasons make the exercise essential beyond a handful of curtains.
- Comparable quotes. Without a common specifications document, two quotes cannot be compared. One may include M1, the other not. One may provide for 100 industrial washes, the other 30. The specifications document puts suppliers on a strictly identical technical footing.
- Legal commitment. A specifications document attached to the purchase order becomes a contractual item. Any discrepancy between the delivery and the specifications is an enforceable non-conformity, giving the right to formal notice, replacement, or price reduction.
- Regulatory traceability. In the event of a safety commission inspection or an incident, the operator must prove they required a compliant fire-resistance class M. The archived specifications document is what evidences purchasing due diligence.
- Operational continuity. Over 10 to 15 years, the procurement team changes, the general manager changes, the safety commission changes. The specifications document is what carries the technical memory of the inventory and allows like-for-like replacement.
The 8 sections of a complete specifications document
| Section | Content | Indicative length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Project identification | Client, site, contact, nature of the project | 1 page |
| 2. Specifications by space | Space-by-space table: dimensions, class, constraints | 2 to 4 pages |
| 3. Required performance | Fire-resistance class M, blackout, soundproof, thermal, target values | 1 to 2 pages |
| 4. Mandatory documents | Test certificate, technical data sheet, certificates, samples | 1 page |
| 5. Lead times and schedule | Quote, production, delivery, installation, acceptance | 1 page |
| 6. Warranties and after-sales | Duration, scope, exclusions, terms | 1 page |
| 7. Commercial terms | Price, payment, volume discounts, penalties | 1 page |
| 8. Acceptance on delivery | Inspection and validation procedure | 1 page |
Section 1: Project identification
The opening section frames the identity of the client and the nature of the project. Six lines minimum.
Client: [company name, registration number, address]
Installation site: [full address, floor, access]
Technical contact: [name, role, email, phone]
Type of establishment: [hotel, care home, school, multi-purpose hall, etc.]
Nature of the project: [new equipment, renovation, compliance upgrade]
Planned delivery date: [firm date or window]
Section 2: Technical specifications by space
This section describes, space by space, what is expected. For each space, six pieces of information are essential.
- Designation of the space (room 101, multi-purpose hall, lobby, stairwell B).
- Glazed surface to equip and number of windows or patio doors.
- Exact dimensions per window (window width, window height, ceiling height, wall return width).
- Minimum required fire-resistance class M (M1 or M2) per articles AM 11 to AM 13 of the decree of 25 June 1980.
- Type of fixing required or to be planned (eyelets, pencil pleat, ties, rings, rods).
- Specific constraints (presence of sensors, access to the opening mechanism, requirement to work without interrupting operations).
A summary table makes it easier for the supplier to read. The more precise the description, the firmer and more accurate the quote.
Section 3: Required performance
Four families of performance can be specified on a B2B curtain. Each must be quantified to be enforceable.
Reaction to fire: class [M1 or M2] per NF P 92-507, named test certificate dated less than 5 years old to be supplied.
Blackout: class [3 or 4] per NF EN 14501, i.e. blocking [85-95 %] or [100 %] of light.
Sound reduction: minimum [X dB] measured on the finished product, test report to be supplied.
Thermal insulation: minimum gain of [X °C] measured, or thermal conductivity expressed as a U value where applicable.
An enforceable wording always mentions the reference standard and the quantified target value. Marketing wording ("high performance", "maximum insulation", "ultra-blackout") creates no legal commitment enforceable against the supplier.
Section 4: Mandatory documents on delivery
The specifications document explicitly lists the documents to be supplied at the time of delivery. Five documents minimum.
- Named, dated fire-resistance class M test certificate issued by a recognised laboratory (CSTB, LNE, IFTH).
- Fabric technical data sheet (fibre composition, weight, flame-retardant method, additional certifications such as Oeko-Tex).
- Delivery note with exact dimensions per curtain delivered and internal reference number.
- Invoice stating compliance with the specifications document.
- Written warranty terms (duration, scope, exclusions, how to invoke them).
Optionally: test report on the finished product (for multilayer curtains), commissioning slip, recommended care sheet. The full list is set out in the specifications document, which prevents any discussion of the scope of the delivery.
Section 5: Lead times and schedule
Five milestones must be recorded with a written commitment.
- Quote turnaround: 24 to 48 hours for a standard request, 5 working days for a complex configuration.
- Production lead time after order: 4 to 8 weeks depending on complexity (custom dyeing, M1 certification on a rare fabric).
- Delivery lead time after production: 5 to 15 days depending on distance and coordination.
- Installation lead time if applicable: 1 to 5 days depending on volume and access.
- Acceptance lead time on delivery: 5 to 10 working days for documentary and physical verification.
Any critical date (safety commission inspection, start of the school year, seasonal opening) must be specifically mentioned with a safety margin of 2 to 4 weeks.
Section 6: Warranties and after-sales
The specifications document sets out three warranties minimum, with their duration and scope.
Warranty on the fire-resistance class M: minimum [10 years] for a fabric with intrinsic flame retardancy, [3 to 5 years] for a fabric made flame-retardant by chemical treatment.
Warranty on the make-up (stitching, hem, eyelets, tape): minimum [5 years].
Warranty on the light fastness of the colors: limited fading per Oeko-Tex Standard 100 or Bluesign.
Three after-sales commitments complete the warranty commitment.
- Ability to provide like-for-like replacement for the minimum warranty period.
- Reissue of a recent test certificate on request (safety commission, insurer).
- Response time on a reported defect: 5 to 10 working days for analysis, replacement, or price reduction depending on severity.
Section 7: Commercial terms
Six commercial clauses must appear in the B2B specifications document.
- Price excl. VAT per line item (curtains, accessories, services) with subtotals per space and overall total.
- Volume discounts applied per documented tiers (for example 5 % from 50 curtains, 15 % from 200).
- Payment terms: deposit on order, balance on delivery, or instalments in the case of a phased rollout.
- Payment period: in accordance with the law (statutory period, or contractual period stated on the purchase order).
- Late penalties for production or delivery delays (quantified formula, for example 1 % of the amount excl. VAT per week of delay capped at 10 %).
- Quote validity terms: minimum 30 days, firm and final on the described scope.
Section 8: Acceptance on delivery
The acceptance procedure structures the verification at the time of delivery. Five mandatory checkpoints.
- Documentary check: presence and compliance of all the documents listed in section 4.
- Visual check: conformity of the colors to the approved sample, quality of the make-up (stitching, hem, fixings).
- Dimensional check: measurement of each curtain on the critical dimensions (width, height, hem height) with a maximum tolerance specified (typically +/- 5 mm).
- Inventory check: number of curtains delivered, number of accessories, presence of the optional items ordered.
- Acceptance report signed by both parties, noting any reservations and the deadline to clear them.
An acceptance validated without reservation triggers commissioning and the recording of the test certificate in the safety register. An acceptance with reservations triggers formal notice to the supplier within the contractual deadline.
Common mistakes in a curtain specifications document
Five mistakes that open up contractual gaps.
- Stating "high performance" or "maximum blackout" without a quantified value and without a reference standard: no enforceable commitment.
- Requesting a test certificate without specifying that it must be named and dated less than 5 years old: an old or generic certificate may be supplied.
- Imposing a specific manufacturer or weaver: restricts competition and can be challenged in public procurement.
- Omitting the acceptance procedure: makes it impossible to legally refuse a non-compliant delivery.
- Failing to quantify late penalties: deprives the buyer of leverage if the schedule slips.
How Kurtens works with a specifications document
Kurtens issues the B2B quote within 24 hours from a complete specifications document, with explicit mention of compliance or of any deviations proposed against the specifications. The fabric technical data sheet and the fire-resistance class M test certificate are provided as early as the study phase. A color and material sample is supplied on request before validation. M1 certification is available on request, with the additional cost built into the quote without a separate line.
The commitments on lead times, warranty, volume discounts, and commercial terms are written on the quote and carried over to the purchase order. No minimum order is imposed. Payment by administrative order is accepted for local authorities within the standard public-procurement timeframe.
To submit a specifications document, see the made-to-measure professional curtains page or the made-to-measure fire-retardant curtains page.
Frequently asked questions about technical curtain specifications
What is the difference between a specifications document and a CCTP?
A specifications document is a general document describing the buyer's expectations for a project. A CCTP (Cahier des Clauses Techniques Particulières) is the standardised version used in public procurement, structured according to public-procurement rules with standardised clauses. For a private buyer, a specifications document is enough. For a local authority or public administration under a MAPA or a formal procedure, the CCTP is mandatory.
Who writes a curtain specifications document in an organisation?
Depending on the size of the organisation, drafting is handled by the procurement department (private sector), the technical services department (local authority), the establishment manager (hotel, care home), or an appointed interior architect. In all cases, final validation rests with the management that commits the budget. A competent manufacturer can support the buyer in formulating the technical specifications without writing the document themselves, which must remain on the buyer's side.
Do you need a specifications document for 5 curtains?
No, a complete specifications document is disproportionate for an order of a few curtains. A detailed quote request by email, stating the dimensions, the required fire-resistance class M, the color, the fabric, and the desired lead time, is enough. The complete specifications document becomes relevant from around 20 curtains or a budget of 5,000 € excl. VAT, and essential beyond 100 curtains or 25,000 € excl. VAT.
Is the specifications document enforceable against the supplier?
Yes, as soon as it is attached to the purchase order accepted by the supplier, or integrated into a signed contract. Any discrepancy between the delivery and the specifications of the document constitutes a non-conformity, giving the right to formal notice, free replacement, or price reduction depending on severity. The specifications document archived for 10 years is also evidence in the event of a dispute.
How long does a specifications document remain valid?
The technical validity of a specifications document lasts as long as the reference standards (NF P 92-507, decree of 25 June 1980) are not amended. The commercial validity depends on the duration shown on the supplier's quote (typically 30 to 90 days). For a multi-year project with a phased rollout, the specifications document can be locked contractually with an annual price revision based on an indexed formula (for example on the INSEE textile products index).
Should you impose a specific manufacturer in the specifications document?
No. Imposing a named manufacturer or weaver restricts competition, can be challenged in public procurement, and deprives the buyer of negotiating leverage. The good practice is to impose performance and documentary traceability (named test certificate, fire-resistance class M, standards), not the brand. Several manufacturers can answer the same specifications document with equivalent materials.
Note: this article offers a structuring model for a B2B technical curtain specifications document. It is not a substitute for consulting a lawyer or a professional buyer for sensitive projects, nor for reading the public procurement code for public contracts. The proposed wordings are indicative and must be adapted case by case.
To submit a specifications document and get a B2B quote: request a B2B quote. Reply within 24 hours, M1 certification on request, CSTB or IFTH test certificate attached on delivery.
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