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:
With competitive price and timely delivery, Xinxing FR sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
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.
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.
The company is the world’s best Flame Retardant Fabric Suppliers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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:
Flame Retardant Fabric - Fire safety is a critical concern amongst and throughout many different industries and applications. Fabric and the textiles industry are no different. Flame retardant fabric has been used for decades and in different ways. Wide use within various commercial communities opened the door for more secure methodologies regarding the fabric. Namely, a standardization system agreed upon by multiple organizations. Fireproof fabric and flame proof fabric are two very different things, and which should be noted. The only similarity between them is the flame, which means that when there is a flame, it is followed by fire. If there is no flame, then there is no fire, simply enough.
The uses for flame retardant fabrics are endless, and we have many different flame retardant fabric types and options to consider, such as: Fire Proof Retardant Cotton Fabric, CVC Fire Proof Retardant Fabric, CN88/12 Fire Proof FR Fabric, and many more types and colors found here.
Here we explore the history of flame retardant fabrics, their main uses, and how this fabric can work to your advantage. Learn more on how flame retardant fabric improves the success of a project overall, and ensures better safety precautions as a result.
Flame resistance is not a new concept. It dates back to ancient Chinese and Egyptian times, respectively. Simple methods created used various materials such as vinegar or salty sea water to treat fabrics. Fire safety precautions prevented costly fabrics from being lost to fires or damage due to extensive use over time.
In the 's however, manufacturers of fire retardant fabrics developed a new method for industrial purposes. With the help of flame retardant chemicals like tetra phosphonium chloride (THPC), fabric manufacturers could apply this chemical compound onto a slew of fabrics, making them flame retardant for a length of time. This would change industrial safety in many ways.
The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) would later create guidelines on the flame-resistant properties of garments and other coverings in industrial businesses. These safety qualifications lead to the Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, or more commonly known as the NFPA 70E. Under the NFPA 70E came the NFPA 701, which outlines the standard of fire testing against textiles and films.
Eventually, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) adopted the guide. It became the point of reference for all businesses centered around a manufacturing or industrial environment.
While durable fire-retardant fabrics aren't a new concept, there are many ways to make fabric flame resistant. Fire resistance testing uses the guidelines provided in the NFPA 701. Manufacturers treat flame retardant chemicals with compounds like THPC.
These make a textile flame retardant during an immersion (fully dipping the fabric in a chemical solution) process prior to the finalization of a textile. While most immersion processes keep fabric flame resistant for an extended length of time, those properties can fade or break down depending on many factors such as environmental conditions or the amount of upkeep given to said fabric.
Create your own flame retardant fabrics at home! Using over the counter chemicals such as borax can also have a similar effect as other chemical compounds used during the immersion process.
Flame retardant fabrics can be anything from treated wool or cotton to woven inherent fibers that are up to the NFPA 701 code. For example, at Canvas Etc., we carry IFR Banjo Cloth made from inherently fire retardant polyester fabric. While polyester is synthetic, this fabric is up to NFPA 701 standards and is flame resistant. The woven fibers in the fabric make this fabric flame retardant.
Whether fibers or already made fabric, the differences between what makes something fire retardant from fiber versus what makes it flame resistant through an immersion treatment is key. Each classification affects the use of the fabric.
Classification is necessary when knowing how to find the right fabric for your fire retardant application. Finding the right fabric for your project aligns with understanding the difference between each fabric classification. Per the NFPA 701 code, flame retardant fabrics are classified as:
ㆍNon Fire Retardant (NFR): Used to classify fibers and fabric that are not in any way fire or flame resistant or retardant.
ㆍFire Retardant (FR): Used to classify fabrics that are fire retardant or resistant through topical treatment after being woven that are up to code with the NFPA 701 guidelines.
ㆍInherently Fire Retardant (IFR): Used to classify fibers that when woven into fabrics that are up to fire code and do not require any additional chemical treatment after being transformed into a textile. These fabrics also uphold the NFPA 701 standard.
ㆍDurably Fire Retardant (DFR): Used to classify synthetic fibers (i.e. nylon or polyester) that are woven into fabrics which are considered flame retardant for a lifetime. Washing or cleaning these fabrics do not disturb its fire resistance. These essential fabrics service for certain industrial applications.
ㆍCan Be Made Fire Retardant (CBFR): Fabrics that can be treated once created to be considered flame retardant.
ㆍCannot Be Made Fire Retardant (CNFR): Fabrics and fibers (typically a small number of synthetic fibers or metallic fabrics) that cannot be processed or treated to become fire resistant. Properly labeled fabrics discourage use in public spaces or dangerous situations.
Flame retardant ratings are under the determination of the NFPA 701 guide, as well as state and federal guidelines. The NFPA suggests a step-by-step process on fabric testing. Tests conducted on fabrics require these guidelines to maintain compliance.
Tests are typically performed in a lab prior to the sale of the fabric. The NFPA also developed the NFPA 705 field test (like the NFPA 701) for fabrics tested on-site during manufacture. This form of on-site testing upholds the standards set out by the organization.
Small scale special event NFPA 701 and 705 tests record the “resistance of ignition” to a treated fabric. Brief tests assess and assist in classifying a fabric's retardant properties.
As a result, flame retardant fabric comes in all shapes and distinctions! Standard guidelines mean applications are never in short supply. Some interesting uses for flame retardant fabric are:
ㆍDrapery (Indoor & Outdoor): Flame retardant fabric can be purchased from online fabric stores. Fashion flame resistant fabrics into stylish indoor or outdoor curtain applications! Make your own with the variety of FR and IFR fabrics.
ㆍCoverings: From industrial machinery to grill covers, some flame retardant fabrics (especially DFR fabrics) can not only be safe against fire. but also bad weather! Use indoor or outdoor to keep your most precious items safe.
ㆍGarments: Clothes of all styles can be made with fire resistant fabric! Make yours with a simple pattern.
ㆍBags: Want to add a layer of protection to your travel? Consider something like our Sunforger Canvas to make a duffle bag that will withstand even the toughest of conditions!
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Fireproof Fabrics Wholesale.