Flame resistant (FR) clothing is a foundational way to help keep your employees safe and protected from burns caused by flash fires, electric arcs and combustible dust. These hazards can be especially prevalent in many different industries and trades like:
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Within each profession and industry, the legal requirements for safety workwear vary based on the duties each position entails. Because of these very specific requirements, there are distinct levels of flame resistance protection and a variety of FR fabrics available on the market.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) sets the standards and requirements that fire resistance garments must adhere to.
“Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace”, known as NFPA 70E, covers electrical safety requirements for workers, focusing on safeguards to remain productive within their respective job functions. The purpose of the standard is to provide “practical safeguarding of employees during activities such as the installation, operation, maintenance, and demolition of electric conductors, electric equipment, signaling and communications conductors.”
In short, NFPA 70E exists to protect electrical workers across all industries who work on or near electricity or energized parts/equipment capable of generating an arc flash.
NFPA 70E is considered the most widely practiced, comprehensive standard for electrical safety in the workplace. Electrical worker FR clothing must comply with these standards, which establishes CAT categories that define the level of arc rating needed by clothing to perform specific hazardous tasks. The standard identifies the distinct types of fire protective clothing needed for specific types of work.
Some of the key garment tests to comply with 70E include:
NFPA is the clothing standard for protection against flash fire hazards. This requirement is most commonly applicable to non-electrical work found in oil and gas industries, but it does encompass all potential jobs where flash fire is considered a hazard.
The purpose of NFPA is similar to 70E in that it exists to protect workers from burns caused by hazardous working conditions or materials in the workplace. It provides the minimum requirements “for the design, construction, evaluation, and verification of flame resistant garments for use by industrial personnel.” It intends to reduce burn injuries and the severity of burns for wearers.
The garment requirements laid out in NFPA are extremely stringent. FR clothing must tested and certified by a third party before being made available on the open market, and garments must defy melting, dripping, or after-flame burning, similar to 70E.
While FR garment designs do sometimes adhere to both standards, it is important to note that compliance with one standard does not mean compliance with the other.
While “flame resistance” and “flame retardant” are terms sometimes used interchangeably, there are differences. Flame resistance refers to any fabric where fibers have a natural resistance to burning when exposed to flame. Wool, for example, is highly unlikely to fully ignite because any flames introduced to a wool garment tend to be naturally extinguished by the fibers themselves.
Flame retardant fabrics, on the other hand, are made up of fibers treated by chemicals to make them exceptionally resistant to fire. They can burn, but at a much slower rate than all other fabrics and with the added ability to extinguish themselves.
If a flame is removed from either of these garment types, the fabric will stop burning. This means it will not burn on its own and wearers of these fabrics will have added protection against ignition.
Some of the leading clothing manufacturers we offer, like DRIFIRE® and SteelGuard®, design, test, and innovate FR clothing by using many types and blends of different fibers to make FR fabrics. Synthetic fibers continue to be a large portion of what comprises FR garments, but everyday fibers like cotton can also become flame resistant when flame retardant chemicals are added.
Nylon and polyester are both popular synthetic fibers that have fire resistant qualities. Plastic-based fibers (like nylon and polyester) tend to melt instead of burn, making them great for FR garment fabrics. Nylon and polyester are both popular materials used in FR clothing due to these high melting points and low thermal conductivity. Manufacturers often treat these synthetic fibers with a fire-resistant chemical for additional protection.
Aramid fibers are another type of synthetic fiber known for their resistance to high temperatures and corrosion. They are also extremely lightweight, yet high strength which make them an excellent fiber for usage in high-performance, FR fabrics. Aramid fibers are known for being stronger than steel at only a fifth the weight of steel.
Modacrylic are synthetic fibers known for their durability, comfort and protection. They have flame retardant qualities, but also are known to be comfortable due to low density of modacrylic fibers. These fibers can be easily dyed, shaped and are known to dry fast. As such, fabrics made with modacrylic fibers are commonly used in performance FR clothing and other workwear.
Cotton, by nature, is not flame resistant. It is highly flammable. However, chemically-treated FR cotton is indeed flame resistant. FR cotton feels and performs much like cotton, but with the added protection against fire making it another common fabric found in FR clothing. Some garments are 100% cotton, yet the flame retardant chemicals make those same garments flame-resistant and able to comply with FR standards. Cotton and nylon fibers are often blended to form a popular flame resistant fabric option for FR clothing manufacturers.
Most FR fabrics are often a specific blend of these kinds of fibers coated with fire-resistant chemicals. The blend ratios and chemical treatments required depend on the application of the garment and which NFPA standards to which it needs to comply.
How do flame resistant fabrics work? Essentially, FR fabrics are made up of fibers that won’t ignite – often flame retardant fibers, but sometimes a mix of both flame retardant and naturally flame resistant fibers. With all these fibers, both synthetic and natural, FR clothing manufacturers can mix and match different blends to create new and innovative fabrics that increase protection and garment performance, like enhanced moisture wicking, comfort, air flow or durability.
The properties of these fabrics tend to perform well to meet various standard measurements, including:
Self-extinguishing – Garments should extinguish themselves after 12 seconds of flame exposure.
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Charring – Most FR fabrics should char (but not burn), which acts to eliminate the fire’s fuel while helping to block the heat from the fire.
Insulating properties – In certain workplace environments, insulating properties are needed to assess how well a garment can protect the wearer from the heat of flames as well as protection in freezing temperatures.
FR garments require special safety and care considerations to help the distinct types of FR fabrics retain their flame retardance. NFPA 70E standards state that garments should keep all their FR properties after 25 washes (and dries). But this is only possible if FR clothing is meticulously cleaned. Proper laundering and maintenance are necessary for FR clothing and critical for extending the longevity of the garments so that they keep you and your team safe.
Soils and stains MUST be removed entirely before FR clothing can be used in the field. A small oil stain on your flame resistant coveralls, for example, increases the risk of garment ignition. FR garments must also remain free and clear of other safety-compromising contaminants, like soap residue or calcium and magnesium salt build-up that can build up through washing or hard water.
Proper cleaning of FR garments is a bit more complicated than your standard cotton or polyester clothing items, but a uniform rental service can remove these challenges, shifting the responsibility of cleaning from your team to an experienced professional with established cleaning processes and protocols for FR fabrics.
A Vestis uniform rental program helps businesses just like yours save time and money while alleviating the challenges of cleaning, maintaining and managing critical safety apparel. Leveraging a uniform rental program, businesses can improve safety, ensure regulatory compliance and gain peace of mind knowing that all the routine maintenance and upkeep are handled by FR clothing professionals. Read more about the benefits of renting FR clothing and uniforms.
From superior fire protection to enhanced comfort and mobility, Vestis is proud to offer several FR clothing options from the industry’s top manufacturers. We are also the exclusive industrial laundry provider of rental DRIFIRE FR rental garments, a proven leader in the FR industry.
Along the way, we help ensure your facility remains compliant with all the statutory requirements related to flame resistant clothing based on your company’s protection needs. Here is how our FR uniform rental program works:
Static electricity is a considerable safety risk in many industries, especially those involving flammable materials. As charged particles accumulate, they produce sparks, capable of igniting flammable vapors or dust, causing fire and explosions. Static-induced fires can have devastating consequences in chemical plants, oil refineries, and grain silos. Hence, anti-static implementation is important for work safety and avoiding the risk.
BEGOODTEX has pioneered advancements in anti-static flame retardant technology to address these safety concerns. Our innovative approach combines permanent flame retardant performance with high-performance conductive fibers to offer superior protection.
BEGOODTEX fabrics, which are flame retardant, integrate the flame-retardant fibres during the entire process of spinning, weaving, and dyeing, and therefore the effect of the flame retardant is permanent. That means the flame-retardant man-made fiber properties are retained throughout the life of the fabric, despite multiple washing in severe conditions. Silicon and carbon fabrics are characterized with optimum wear resistant, temperature resistant, and high durability, which makes them perfect for using protective clothing industries like metallurgy and chemicals.
By adopting the high-performance conductive fibers in BEGOODTEX fabrics, the anti-static performance of these fabrics has been also improved. This enables the static charges to easily flow and dissipate through the fibers of the fabric. The integration mitigates static build-up and discharge which can cause static fires. Flame retardant and anti-static performance complement each other, providing overall protection in a fire-hazard environment.
BEGOODTEX acrylic cotton anti-static flame retardant materials represent a significant advancement in protective fabric technology. These materials are designed to offer enhanced safety features while maintaining comfort and ecological responsibility.
As a unique point, BEGOODTEX uses PFC-free water repellents for acrylic cotton materials. Conventional water-repellent treatments are based primarily on perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are environmentally and human health problematic because they can persist in the environment and bioaccumulate. With PFC-free alternatives, BEGOODTEX fills its fabrics with both water-resisting and eco-friendly standards, ensuring more environmental safety and awareness.
As a sustainable brand, BEGOODTEX adheres to Global Recycle Standard (GRS) criteria. By integrating recycled content into their fabric composition, their acrylic cotton anti-static flame retardant materials comply with these standards. It reduces waste, conserves energy, and is found to be less taxing on our environment.
BEGOODTEX aramid anti-static flame retardant fabric has high flame retardant standards, such as NFPA701, to protect people in many risky environments. All of these materials are rigorously tested to ensure they are flame-resistant and will still hold up to frequent use and washing. Moreover, the naturally flame-resistant aramid fibers integrated into these fabrics render them highly resistant to extreme temperatures and flame propagation.
With the high-end characteristics of BEGOODTEX aramid materials, it would be perfect for better protective workwear applications. These fabrics are called upon to provide critical protection from thermal hazards and static discharge in industries like firefighting, electrical utilities, and industrial manufacturing. By mixing these two massive properties flame retardant and anti-static, it guarantees protection against fire hazards as well as static electricity dangers for workers. BEGOODTEX contributes to such safety measures by delivering protective working apparel in all-in-one durable and dependable quality that prevents work-related accidents within different hazardous surroundings.
The BEGOODTEX 100% cotton flame retardant anti-static materials are also comfortable to wear for long periods as they do not compromise safety for comfort. They are natural cotton but contain advanced treatments for flame retardancy that still allow the fabric to remain soft and breathe. This generates a cloth with a soft to the contact, suited to prolonged put on at home or anywhere. The soft hand feel of these materials makes them especially desirable in use cases where comfort is key so the user can get the job done and be comfortable while doing it.
BEGOODTEX pure cotton materials have a broad application in the medical area of regular use as both safe and comfy. These fabrics help create garments for healthcare professionals that provide protection from the risk of static-induced accidents, while also being comfortable to wear. Flame Retardant: This quality provides an extra measure of safety when working around flammable materials. BEGOODTEX offers protective solutions that meet the specific needs of medical staff while providing safe practice in health care.
The BEGOODTEX wool blend flame retardant anti-static fabric offers a balance of functionality and nice looks. Made with anti-pilling fabrics that look good wash after wash so it stays looking like it did the first time you saw it. Wool makes up the third and adds a natural flame-retardant component to the fabric. This mix allows clothes to be fashionable while offering the needed precaution of being fire-resistant.
BEGOODTEX makes sophisticated wool blend suit style wear with safety features for industries that require professional dress but also protection. These suits have offered executives and professionals outfits that conform to occupational safety standards while keeping up with the professional look. The inclusion of anti-static properties minimizes the likelihood of static discharge occurring in office or corporate environments where such incidents can lead to devastating consequences. With safety at the forefront, BEGOODTEX provides practical solutions in the form of fashionable workwear that meets the unique needs of different industries.
To conclude, with the revolutionary development of flame retardant anti-static fabrics, BEGOODTEX remains the forefront champion in this field. With clear goals of maintaining strict levels of safety, while increasing user comfort and appearance, our excellence places them to be a major innovator for markets experiencing risks of fire. BEGOODTEX is committed to producing unique high-performance protective fabrics able to respond not only to existing occupational safety and health challenges but also to be prepared for the changing needs in the future through continued research and development.
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