Regular textile fibers and fabrics ignite and continue to burn when exposed to an ignition source such as flame or electric arc exposure. Most people know this, and consequently exercise caution around fire and flame. Because clothing constructed from these normal fabrics meets federal flammability requirements for apparel, it is considered satisfactory for wear under ordinary conditions.
Flame resistant (FR) apparel requires special fabrics. FR fabrics and garments are intended to prevent the spread of flames away from the immediate area of high heat impingement, and to self-extinguish almost immediately upon removal of the ignition source.
When work environments or occupations pose a risk of garment ignition and burning, flame resistant apparel should be considered and selected.
Normal fabrics and garments will burn away from the point of ignition with increasing flame spread and continue to burn after removal of the ignition source. Normal fabrics will continue to burn until they are extinguished or all flammable material is consumed. FR fabrics and garments are intended to prevent the spread of flames away from the immediate area of high heat impingement, and to self-extinguish almost immediately upon removal of the ignition source.
FR fabrics and garments prevent the spread of flames away from the immediate area of high heat impingement, and to self-extinguish almost immediately upon removal of the ignition source.
FR garments will not provide significant protection from burn injury in the immediate area of contact with the ignition source. However, flame resistant garments do provide protection against clothing ignition and sustained flame spread.
Flame resistant garments should be removed immediately if they become fouled with flammable material and replaced with clean FR apparel. If flammable contaminants cannot be removed by laundering or dry cleaning, the contaminated garments should be removed from service.
There is a common perception that untreated 100% cotton fabric is somehow “flame resistant”. This is not true. Untreated 100% cotton fabric can and will ignite and continue to burn if it is exposed to an ignition source.
Flame and thermal resistant fibers and fabrics are generally divided into two groups: those that are inherently flame resistant, and those that achieve flame resistance through special treatments.
Inherently flame resistant fibers/fabrics is an essential characteristic of the fiber from which textiles are made.
Treated fibers/fabrics have an applied chemical treatment to change the original level of a fabric’s specific property or properties, in this instance flame resistance.
Non-Durable FR Treatments are not recommended.
Primary Protective Clothing is designed for activities where significant exposure to molten substance splash, radiant heat, or flame is likely to occur. Secondary Protective Clothing can be used in areas where intermittent exposure to molten substance splash, radiant heat, and/or flame is possible.
FR work apparel, since it is designed for continuous wear, is considered to be secondary protection.
In such extreme exposures, primary protective garments like fire fighter turnout gear or fire entry suits are required. Secondary protective garments would be worn under primary garments.
For more than 300 years, various combinations of ammonium salts of sulfuric, hydrochloric, or phosphoric acid have been used to impart flame resistance to cotton textiles. Today, flame retardant finishes for 100% cotton fabrics are available with varying levels of durability, including finishes guaranteed for the life of the garment.
Synthetic flame resistant fibers were developed in the 1950’s. As with the development of FR cotton, new finishes and additional fibers have been produced to address identified shortcomings. Currently, various blends and finishes are available for a variety of end uses.
There is no perfect flame resistant garment system that meets all needs. Each FR fiber has certain properties that, depending on end use requirements, can be either benefits or shortcomings. Blending such fibers can balance these properties for maximum fabric performance. It is important to be aware of these properties so garments may be selected to meet the specific requirements of a given application.
Your review of fabrics should consider thermal protection, static resistance, comfort, durability, stability, employee acceptance, appearance, ease of laundry maintenance, color availability, and relative cost.
The question of garment identification and personalization is always difficult to answer. The only comment of the consensus standards writing organizations, such as NFPA and ASTM, is that nothing on an article of clothing may increase the extent of wearer injury in case of garment ignition. No OSHA or military standards address this area. The association for race car drivers, the SFI Foundation, has not addressed this issue.
Bulwark does not recommend the use of non-flame resistant embroidery or emblem attachment to flame resistant garments. In the final analysis, the end user must weigh the benefits of identification and personalization against the potential risk from using non-FR materials.
It is not currently possible to produce comfortable, affordable, and fashionable everyday wearing apparel that is flame resistant.
about flame resistant fabrics