Abstract: A process for manufacturing a coated, smooth, fabric useful as a Navy board facing and the like is described by first applying to at least one face of a glass fiber substrate a uniform layer of a flame-retardant coating containing a pigment, a flame-retardant and a resin contacting and encapsulating substantially all of the yarns of the substrate with a tough, adherent film, then drying the thus-coated substrate. The coated fabric, when exposed to heat or flame, emits vapors of low-toxicity and low-smoke.