Properties and Uses of Flame Resistant Clothing

Properties and Uses of Flame Resistant Clothing

What is Flame Resistant Clothing?

FR (flame-resistant) clothing protects people from fire dangers and heat exposure. It differs from regular clothes because it uses materials that resist flames or have flame-retardant treatments. These fabrics have the ability to put themselves out, which means they stop burning when you take away what started the fire. In this article, we discuss the properties and uses of flame resistant clothing.

Importance of Flame-Resistant Clothing:

Flame-resistant (FR) products market is, by all means, a niche market. Since flame-resistant clothing has major applications in industrial environments, a layman does not have much knowledge about it. This lack of information and understanding gives rise to many misconceptions and myths about flame resistant clothing. 

As flame resistant clothing normally presents the first line of defense for the industrial workers, a small mistake or misconception can end up costing big. So in order to counter some of the common misinformation among people, let us look at some of the facts that you need to know about FR clothing. 

Properties of Flame-Resistant Clothing:

Important properties of Flame-resistant clothing are mentioned in the below:

1. The Flame-resistant properties of the FR clothing can become damaged.
2. Flame-resistant clothing can burn or melt.
3. Flame Retardants can be detrimental to the health of pregnant women and small children.

All the above properties of Flame resistant clothing are explained in the following:

1. The Flame-resistant properties of the FR clothing can become damaged:

While chemical treatments today have been mastered to a level where they provide a very good quality life for ‘treated’ FR fabrics but adequate care is still required in their care and maintenance, treated or inherent fabrics. Since treated fabrics are chemically processed, they are prone to a chemical reaction when they come in contact with other substances. So special care must be taken with the use of washing supplies when home-laundering FR clothing.
For instance, detergents containing chlorine bleach or oxidizers such as sulfuric acid can adversely affect the FR properties of the fabric. In the same vein, FR clothing soaked in the combination of hard water with hydrogen peroxide can also result in damaging the flame resistance of the FR clothing. Similarly, grease, oils, solvents and other flammable substances such as dust particles, can contaminate the FR clothing rendering their FR protection less effective. 

2. Flame-resistant clothing can burn or melt:

People easily confuse fire resistance or flame retardancy to mean fire-proofing. But that is far from facts. FR clothing only provides ‘resistance’ against flames by self-extinguishing upon removal from the site of the fire. But FR clothing can burn or melt if exposed to fire or immense heat for a prolonged period of time. Upon reflection, you can say that FR clothing acts as your first line of defense against damage, but you do have to act fast for it to be effective. Furthermore, you also have to use the FR clothing properly for it to serve its purpose.

In this context, it is important to get your facts right about the limitations of the FR clothing. Every FR fabric is susceptible to an Energy Break-Open Threshold (EBT) which determines the incident energy measure at which point the fabric is no longer able to withstand the energy and stands a 50% chance of breaking open.

However, this does not mean that the worker also has a 50% vulnerability for sustaining second-degree burn injury.Usually, an area of 1.6cm² (0.5 in.² in old money) is referred to as break-open. In the same way, all FR clothing with protection against arc flash has an Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV).

3. Flame Retardants can be detrimental to the health of pregnant women and small children:

FR clothing while maybe life-saving in the events of energy outbursts, but the flame retardants used on FR clothing can be detrimental in some cases. Pregnant women need to be especially careful about exposure to flame retardants that contain PBDEs as not only these chemicals can be harmful to their own health but also pose a danger to the unborn child.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs are organobromine compounds that are used as flame retardants. Studies have found that PBDEs have the tendency to pass through the placenta and reach the fetus which can later cause problems for the child in the form of hyperactivity and even decreased learning ability and reduced memory retention.
Furthermore, little children should also not be exposed to flame retardants as they can cause severe allergies. It is best to remove FR clothing before going near children. Nor should FR clothing be left strewn around in places where children can reach them or mixed with regular clothing. 

Uses of Flame Resistant Undergarments and Disposable FR Garments:

There is a common misconception that it is okay to wear normal clothing under the FR garments. But as a matter fact, it is important, even essential that only non-melting or FR fabrics are worn as undergarments as well. This helps to provide a second line of protection.

In case, the out layer of FR clothing is exposed to fire long enough to start burning or melting, the second layer will provide protection from further damage keeping the skin underneath safe from severe burns that could result from melting FR fabric adhering to skin.

Likewise, proper FR gear must be worn under the disposable FR garments. Some jobs require workers to wear an additional outer layer of protection over primary protective clothing. While workers may feel that it is alright to wear regular clothing underneath disposable garments, it is actually a huge misunderstanding.

Disposable FR garments while do provide extra protection but they are not designed to withstand higher energy levels. Additionally, these garments have a shorter durability compared to primary FR gear and must be discarded and disposed of according to the manufacturer’s guidelines after use.

Why Flame-Resistant Fabrics Cannot Be Used Interchangeably?

When people are not well educated about the applications of FR clothing in different industrial sectors and, indeed different work environments, it is easy to acquire the misleading belief that all forms of FR garments provide the same level of protection and can be used interchangeably. This is a crucial lack of information.

All types of FR garments are designed and treated for specific use in different work environments. There are many variations available in the market. However proper research and understanding of compliance standards about a business’s own particular requirements can save the management from confusion and specify the FR protection needed for the workers.
A number of factors need to be gauged before deciding upon the best choice in suitable FR clothing including fiber blends, level of FR protection, fabric weight, shrinkage as well as style and size of FR clothing. All of these factors require thorough consideration before any flame resistant clothing can be deemed appropriate for workers.

Conclusion

Properties and Uses of Flame Resistant Clothing meet the demand for safety from the flame. These are very high-quality apparel, also known as protective clothing. Special capacity makes FR clothing different from regular clothes.