Design Thinking for Business
A Design approach to Business is where we started; now we take a Business approach to Design.
Trellis has provided business support through design & Marketing for 9 years and now that includes your business environment.
Trellis has partnered with Folio Interior Design to bring a complete solution for commercial spaces, and Trellis Interior Concepts is the sweet spot between business and design.
Folio brings their expertise in space planning, expert material knowledge and aesthetics, while Trellis provides consulting services such as information gathering, research, software development, remote work strategies, digital solutions and brand integration.
Our partners provide expertise in the areas of Health & Safety, Fire-Rated Furniture and Technology to bring you that solution you need to help you take a wider view of the changes in your workplace and then set about creating a plan to follow to get you to your ideal work setting.
For condominium communities, this expertise is a point of big relief for corporate boards tasked with finding furniture for their lobby that will meet the fire regulations and also be super stylish and beautifully made.
We offer, on this website, a selection of furniture that you can be assured was burn-tested according to CAL TB-133; you need only to order and get a quote! A Folio designer will bring you the fabrics to show the board that are within the guidelines, so you don’t have to worry, and don’t have to pay to have a piece tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
All our furniture is covered with fire-rated fabrics that meet CAL TB-117 standards, and can be a “built to meet” CAL TB-133 standard (but not necessarily burn tested). We also offer several lines of furniture that have already been burn tested and meet CAL TB-133 standards.
If residents do not need to exit the building through your party room, then your party room is not a means of egress. In that room you may use untested furniture.
You do not need to have furniture that meets TB-133 if you have a functional sprinkler system in your Lobby. Should you wish to voluntarily choose furniture with this rating, you will be extra safe. But it is not required as of this writing. But always check with your local Fire Marshall for the latest changes.
California Technical Bulletin 117, otherwise known as CAL TB-117 for short, is a regulation that sets the standard for fabric flammability in the furniture industry. It has become a nationwide standard. CAL TB-117 requires that certain materials pass both an open flame and smolder test.
California Bulletin 133 is similar to CAL TB-117, except that it involves a lab test where the entire piece of furniture must be tested (burned), rather than just a few select components. So this means the fabric, foam and frame are built incorporating a burn-resistant layer.
First, find the furniture that you’re interested in and complete the online ordering form. After you submit your no-obligation payment-free inquiry, one of our designers will contact you to review your order and answer any questions. Then, our designer will send you physical fabric samples for review. Once your order details are confirmed and your fabric is selected, a deposit will be left and your furniture will be ordered.
You only pay after you have confirmed all furniture specifications and approved the physical fabric swatch sample with our partner designer. You do not pay using our online order platform.
Absolutely. We coordinate delivery of your furniture to your condominium, office or building. Our “white glove” delivery service includes delivery, installation, leveling, quality inspection and full cleanup. We can even dispose of your existing furniture.
Once your furniture order is approved, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks for delivery.
All our fire-rated furniture is built in North America. We work with manufacturers in Toronto and in the USA.
Our head office is located in Mississauga, Ontario.
Yes and no. You can visit the Trellis / Folio showroom to view fabric swatches and other finish samples, however all furniture items are in different showrooms. We can arrange a showroom visit for the pieces you are interested in in the Toronto area.
Simply contact us using our online form. Depending on the nature of the inquiry and scope of the purchase, we can arrange a call, video conference or even an on-site inspection.
Our team of industry professionals also specialize in Space Planning and Design, Parcel Management Systems, Covid and Distance Working Solutions. Folio Interior Design Group also provides interior design services for condominium and commercial projects.
Absolutely, we will be happy to arrange for Folio Interior Design to present suggested pieces for your space. Simply let us know what you are looking for and we can make some suggestions, and even put together some 3D visuals for your Board to choose from.
The Municipality of Toronto is where furniture for common areas is required to pass CAL TB 133 or ASTM E1537. Other municipalities have not at this moment required this level of testing, however all municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area such as Durham, Vaughan, Peel, York, Halton and Hamilton require at a minimum for the fabric to pass CAL TB-117 or CAN/ULC S109 flame spread tests.
All common areas that are not sprinklered require furniture to have fire rated fabric. Lobbies and Corridors that are a means of egress are required to pass or meet CAL TB-133 or ASTM E1537 in The municipality of Toronto. In other words, if you have to pass the furniture to escape a burning building, this is in the means of egress and must pass the required burn test.
You can order fire rated furniture that will meet the fire inspector’s requirements. First, ask the inspector which test the furniture must meet specifically. Then, our designers can help you to select pieces of furniture that will meet the space and construction requirements. Upon delivery, we will provide you with documentation to maintain on site in the management office and to present to inspectors. Some inspectors will require tags on the bottom of the furniture to indicate the specific burn tests or flammability rating of the furniture.
You can also place only hard furniture however this is undesirable for the vast majority of condominium or apartment buildings.
Toronto Fire Services took the lead after some deadly furniture fires caused loss of life due to the toxic smoke that was released very quickly in some common multi-residential spaces and pushed for the most stringent testing there is. Other municipalities have their requirements of flame spread as well.
The requirements for fire rated fabrics in these spaces depends on the room’s capacity, which varies with each building. Our designers can advise on your particular building. But to be on the safe side, we recommend furniture with fabric that passes CAL TB-117 at a minimum.
California Technical Bulletin 117 (or CAL TB-117) is a flammability test for fabrics and films.
Canadian Underwriters Laboratory of Canada S109 (or CAN/ULC S109 ) is the same test as the above. In Canada, both are generally acceptable, depending on how stringent your specific inspector demands the tests to be passed. Our fabrics meet both of these tests.
California Technical Bulletin 133 (Or CAL TB 133) is a flammability test for a complete piece burn tested in its entirety. The test measures things like flame spread speed, toxins released and amount of smoke.
ASTM E1537 is a similar test and generally inspectors will accept both.
In general, if a chair was burned and passed the required test, all other pieces in the collection, whether a sofa or a bench, would pass the test if the exact same components were burned in their entirety. This means the fabric, foam and frame of the furniture is constructed in an identical fashion in the collection. Only the colour of the fabric can be modified. Folio can provide sample documents to your inspector for their approval.
Fire rated furniture is expensive. And replacing perfectly good furniture is not a pleasant or desirable option. So can they be reupholstered instead?
Theoretically yes. However this is rarely done because 1. The cost can be as much as buying a new piece when all costs are factored in from pickup to replacement of specific components and in some cases rebuilding whole pieces and 2. Often the frames used in older furniture are of unknown origin, can be particle board, or not made of the solid wood construction required to be considered fire rated.
All components of the furniture must be of solid wood or metal construction. Hardwoods are the safest, slowest burning woods and will be acceptable as the frame of the furniture. Plywood with hardwood components is also acceptable. But please check with your specific inspector.
Folio Interiors has put together the largest collection of pre-tested furniture available to make it easy to select pieces that will satisfy the most strict inspector in the GTA. The pieces are available through Trellis Contract furniture. The furniture is made in the USA or locally, in the GTA. No retail stores offer fire tested furniture that will pass the TB-133 requirements.
Folio Interiors, together with Trellis Contract, offer furniture that is only of commercial quality. This means the frames are heavier and robustly built, with foam, metal springs and hardware built to last. The fabrics used in our furniture meet a minimum of 80,000 double rubs for durability and are generally easy to clean and maintain.
When choosing a fire rated fabric, choose based on the utility of the piece. Lighter colours will show more staining and be more difficult to keep clean.Soft fabrics provide a more cozy feel while faux leathers are sophisticated and the easiest to maintain. Some faux leathers we offer are very advanced, with textures that mimic fabrics, even linen and silk!
This guide shows the general range of fire rated fabrics you can choose from here. Should you wish to see faux leathers in tan for example, Folio can send you a selection of 5 to 10 swatches or a line card. Speak to us to request fire rated fabrics to meet your specific needs and we can send you a selection. Availability changes regularly so we will provide you with the current offerings.