Care for Flame Resistant Garments
courtesy of Bulwark Protective Apparel by VF Imagewear
Proper cleaning flame resistant (FR) garments is essential to avoid a build-up of materials that could mask performance. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for each type of FR garment. ASTM Standard F 1449 is a good general reference for care and maintenance of flame resistant and thermal protective clothing.
What if local conditions require cleaning procedures that are different from the manufacturer’s recommendation?
To ensure continued performance, it is necessary to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for textile maintenance processing of each type of flame resistant garment. Whenever deviations from manufacturer’s recommendations are necessitated by local conditions, testing must be conducted to ensure that the protective properties are maintained through the expected service life of the garment.
What is the best way to repair FR garments?
Minor repairs that do not affect the integrity of the garment should be made with like materials by sewing on patches or darning small holes. To provide continued flame resistance, garments must be repaired with materials that have at least the same FR performance characteristics as the original fabric and sewing threads.
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