Overalls can protect you from serious burns. However, if garments are not made with the correct flame retardant materials, they can increase the risk of serious injury in the event of a fire. For this reason, it is important to wear flame retardant (FR) clothing when working in potentially hazardous areas with sparks and flames. Flame retardant clothing is made from non-combustible fibres that prevent catching fire or quickly extinguish themselves in the event of a fire. These fibres also do not melt, rip or tear and are insulating, protecting the wearer from heat and burns.
What is flame retardant clothing?
Flame retardant clothing is a type of protective clothing that does not continue to burn after the fire or heat source is extinguished. If you are exposed to fire while wearing this type of clothing, the clothing will not burn even if the fire continues to burn. Injuries can still occur, but they are usually less serious because they, unlike flame retardant clothing, do not burn or go out.
Clothing that does not have this protection can pose a serious danger because it can burn long after a person has been exposed to fire or extreme heat. This is because ordinary fabrics such as cotton or polyester conduct heat, which can cause the fire to spread to the person's body. The fabric may also melt into the victim's skin, increasing the severity of the injury. In some cases, unburned clothing may continue to burn until the fire consumes the entire garment.
Non-combustible clothing is less likely to catch fire than non-combustible clothing because it is made of materials with lower thermal conductivity. However, non-combustible clothing can catch fire if it comes into direct contact with fire or is sufficiently heated. If non-flammable clothing catches fire, the team can focus on eliminating the source of the fire without having to worry about the entire uniform catching fire. Coveralls give workers more time to get out of the danger zone or to extinguish the fire.
There are many types of flame retardant clothing, including flame retardant shirts, jackets, jeans, trousers, overalls, gloves, scarves and other accessories. Professionals in a variety of industries use flame retardant clothing on a regular basis. These include workers in the oil, gas and mining industries, as well as first responders and maintenance workers.
How does flame retardant clothing work?
Flame retardant clothing reduces the chances of a fire occurring by stopping the flow of heat and electricity through the fabric. Even if the garment catches fire, it is designed to limit combustion to the specific area exposed to the heat or flame, thus preventing the fire from spreading throughout the garment or melting away from the wearer's skin. This feature minimises the risk of serious injury. It also maintains the integrity of the garment and provides protection until the fire is extinguished.
What materials are flame retardant garments made of?
Flame retardant clothing is usually made from naturally heat and flame resistant fabrics such as Nomex, Kevlar and modified acrylic. There are also products made from less flame resistant fabrics such as cotton, which have been given a special chemical treatment to enhance their heat resistance. These two types of garments work together to provide the same level of protection.
Flame retardant clothing provides a different level of protection than arc-resistant clothing.
Arc Resistant Clothing (AR Clothing) is rigorously tested and rated for arc resistance to achieve a certain level of protection. All AR-rated garments are inherently flame resistant, but not all flame resistant garments have an AR rating. Both flame retardant garments and garments with an arc resistance rating can be identified by their labelling.
Flame-retardant coveralls have a service life of 12 months to 4 years if properly cared for. Refer to the product manufacturer's documentation for care and service life instructions. Disposable flame retardant clothing may be suitable for certain jobs. Prior to use, flame resistant clothing should be inspected for damage and to determine when it needs to be repaired or replaced.
Workers should also keep this information in mind when wearing flame resistant clothing. It is important to remember that overalls and protective clothing can still catch fire under certain circumstances, so care should be taken in confined spaces and the air should be checked regularly for the presence of flammable and combustible gases. You should also have a clear fire evacuation plan and the necessary fire-fighting equipment.
About Us
Ningbo Staneex Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd is professional company integrating the design and manufacture of a wide range of hi-vis jacket Safety Vest,safety sweatershirt,High Visibility Hoodies,Safety Shirts,safety protective garments,Safety Shoes and Safety Work Gloves accessories.
Our factory can produce a variety of Safety Vests, class 1,class 2, Class 3 Vest,Day vests Mesh vests Hi-vis clothing
All our high visibility workwear are produced strictly according to standards European EN13688,EN ISO20471, EN343, EN11611, EN11612, EN1149; American ANSI/ISEA 107-2020, Canadian CSA Z96-15 and Australian AS/NZS 1906.4, AS/NZS 4602.
