In today's safety-conscious world, the importance of fire safety in textiles cannot be overstated. Whether you're outfitting a commercial space, designing stage curtains, or simply looking to enhance the safety of your home, choosing a suitable fire-retardant fabric is crucial. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about these materials, from their composition to their applications and care.
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Fire retardant fabric is a textile that is suitable for potential fire-risk applications, including:
The science behind these fabrics varies from product to product, utilising different mechanisms to combat fire:
Fire retardant fabrics generally fall within two main categories - Natural Inherent Flame Retardant (NIFR) fabrics and Non-Durable Flame Retardant (NDFR) fabrics:
Important! The choice between these types depends on your project's specific application and requirements. However, it is crucial to note that in the United Kingdom, businesses are legally required to use fire-retardant upholstery fabric to comply with fire safety regulations and ensure consumer protection.
For commercial applications where long-term fire safety is paramount, NIFR fabrics are often the preferred choice due to their durability and consistent flame-resistant properties. These fabrics maintain their protective qualities even after repeated cleaning, making them ideal for high-traffic commercial environments.
It's crucial to understand the distinction between flame retardant and fire retardant fabrics, as these terms are often used interchangeably but have specific meanings in the textile industry.
Both types of fabrics play vital roles in fire safety, but their specific properties and performance characteristics differ. When selecting fabrics for safety-critical applications, it is essential to understand these differences and choose the appropriate type based on your specific requirements and relevant safety standards.
In the UK, various tests and standards are used to evaluate the flame-retardant properties of fabrics. Here are the standards you may need to know:
When browsing our products at Online Fabrics, you'll notice we've added information about which fire safety standards it meets (if any) in each fabric's description. We also provide care instructions to help you maintain the flame retardant properties, ensuring you can make informed decisions and properly maintain your fire safety textiles.
Fire retardant fabrics find use across a wide range of industries and applications:
In domestic settings, not all items are required by law to be fire retardant, but using these fabrics can significantly enhance home safety. Items that typically don't need to be fire retardant for domestic use include:
Despite not being required by law, using fire-retardant fabrics for furniture in your home is always advisable.
Selecting the appropriate fire retardant fabric involves considering several factors:
Proper care is essential to maintain the fire-retardant properties of your fabrics:
Visit our guide on Keeping Fire-Retardant Fabrics in Top Shape for more information on maintaining and caring for fire-retardant fabrics.
Here are some useful tips for working with fire retardant materials:
At Online Fabrics, we offer a range of high-quality fire retardant fabrics to suit various needs:
Q: Can fire retardant fabrics be washed?
It depends on the fabric. Some can be washed, others can't due to the applied treatments. Always check the care label or fabric supplier for correct washing instructions.
Q: Do fire retardant fabrics feel different from regular fabrics?
Some might have a slightly different texture, but many modern fire retardant fabrics are designed to feel similar to their non-treated counterparts.
Q: How long do fire retardant properties last?
It varies depending on the type of fabric and treatment. Inherently fire retardant fabrics maintain their properties for the life of the fabric, while treated fabrics may need periodic retreatment.
Q: Are fire retardant fabrics more expensive than regular fabrics?
Due to the special treatments or materials used, they tend to be more expensive. However, the added safety they provide often justifies the investment.
Ready to explore the world of fire-retardant fabrics? Visit our fire retardant fabric category to discover our range of safety-conscious textiles. From elegant draperies to durable upholstery materials, we have the perfect fire-retardant fabric for your next project.
If you need personalised advice on choosing a suitable material for your project, don't hesitate to contact us. Our team of experts is always here to assist you.
Happy crafting!
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:
Want more information on Fire Retardant Cotton Fabric? Feel free to contact us.
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.
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:
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