How to Write an RFQ for Flame-Retardant Acetate Cloth Tape
State whether you need a test report or a certificate, name the method and conditioning, and fix the construction before you compare flame-retardant acetate tape quotations.
Flame-retardant acetate cloth tape is used for coil, transformer, motor and electronics insulation. Quotations for it are hard to compare because “flame retardant” can mean a word on a datasheet, a test report or a certification. This checklist makes the RFQ specific so the answers can be compared.
1. Say which evidence you need
| If your requirement is… | Ask for… | Do not accept in its place… |
|---|---|---|
| A flame test result | The report number, laboratory, method, specimen thickness, conditioning sets and result | A generic “V-0” line on a brochure |
| A UL recognized component | The UL file, standard and type designation, and the mapping of your model to that type | A UL 94 test report |
| A UL 94 classification | A UL file that lists that classification for that product | A test report to the method |
| Halogen-free | A third-party halogen report for the construction, with method and limit | A statement of intent |
2. Fix the construction
- Backing: woven acetate cloth, colour, and whether the fabric is the flame-retardant grade.
- Adhesive system and thickness; total thickness and tolerance with the method.
- Width, length, core, liner and packaging; slit roll or die-cut part.
- Operating temperature at the location; the datasheet states the measured service temperature for the model.
- Whether the tape touches live parts, in which case the end-product insulation requirement decides what is acceptable, not the tape’s datasheet.
3. What exists for the manufacturer’s flame-retardant acetate tape
| Evidence | What it states |
|---|---|
| Model range | 12 of 31 published acetate models are stated as flame retardant; 19 are not |
| UL 94 test report A2260546319101 | Vertical burn to the UL 94 method on flame-retardant acetic acid cloth tape: all five specimens met the V-0 requirements. Room-temperature conditioning set only; the laboratory states the data is for research and internal quality control |
| UL 510A record E544340 | Type Z1V020 only |
| Halogen report SZXEC26002546003_1 | Fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine not detected on the flame-retardant acetate cloth tape construction (SGS-CSTC, construction-level) |
The datasheets, report list and UL record are published by the manufacturer: see the acetate datasheets, the test-reports page and the UL 94 page.
4. Compare the quotations
| Field | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Model and revision | Same model on the quotation, the sample label and the datasheet |
| Evidence named | Report or record numbers, not adjectives |
| Conditions | Conditioning sets, specimen thickness and method on any flame result |
| Scope | Which models the report or record covers, and which it does not |
| Commercial terms | MOQ, price breaks, lead time, packing and shipment route for this exact specification |
5. Approve the sample, then the lot
Agree the sample you will approve against: model, lot, appearance, dimensions, adhesion and a flame check or report you accept. After approval, write the incoming checks and the change-notification rule into the order. A sample approval covers the construction approved; it does not cover a later change of backing, adhesive or site.
Send the requirement
Send the drawing or construction, the flame requirement and the evidence you need, the temperature at the location, the width and roll format, the annual volume, the destination and the target approval date. We reply with a model-controlled quotation, the documents that exist for it and what is not covered.
