Welcome to Flame Resistant Clothing
You may have heard of flame resistant clothing, but what really is it? Unless you go walking through flames, what are the benefits of it? Here is a quick over view of flame resistant clothing.
What Is It?
Commonly referred to as FR, flame resistant clothing consists of certain materials. These materials, once in contact with arc ash or flames, tend to burn very slowly. Needless to say, fire resistant clothing works to provide protection from flames and fire. So, say for example, if someone wearing normal clothing were exposed to such heat, their clothes would easily catch on fire and burn at a rapid speed. Thus, the fabric from the normal clothing will burn in seconds and cause cause serious injury, or even death. However, the slow burning speed at which flames is greatly decreased for this very reason. They can also have the ability to self-extinguish upon removal of the heated source (i.e. flames).
Why?
The toughest jobs you can ever imagine, typically require the toughest of uniforms. For instance, flame resistant clothing will protect you against flames, arc flash, and other potential dangerous that an everyday job full of risks would present (such as a firefighter). And yet, such clothing can actually be comfortable to wear. Why? Because if it weren't comfortable to wear, then it would be very hard for certain workers, such as firefighters and people in the military, to get their job done.
How?
In order for fabrics and materials to be accepted as FR, the material needs to consist of fabrics that have been chemically treated, or made from materials that have inherent flame resistant properties. Treating fabrics in order to make clothing resistant to flames, means treating clothing with chemical bath or spray. Such a potent chemical brew will be required in order for the content to be considered flame resistant.
Clothing that has fibers that are naturally flame resistant (as in, there is no need to add chemicals to them), are also available. This means that before said fabric is woven, it is actually flame resistant.
PPE
Flame resistant clothing can also be described as PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment. This comes back to the idea of why fire resistant clothing is actually made and available on the market – certain jobs require clothing that is resistant to flames. A properly protective garment that is worn by such a worker appropriately, will provide protection for the individual, and help to prevent against certain health risks and hazards that could otherwise happen on the job. PPE can come in anything from eye protection, to lab coats, to shields and masks, to gloves.
Benefits
Previously made fire resistant clothing have been worn by firefighters and other workers in the past. Once uncomfortable, awkward and bulky, today's FR clothing has sure come a long way. Manufacturers have actually made it possible for such clothing to not only feel comfortable now, but some of the garments they make even look very similar to regular clothing worn by the average Joe. And yet, besides being comfortable and appearing normal, today's FR garments provide the protection someone might need in a dire situation.
When it comes to fire resistant clothing, such a protection can be a blessing to its users. In the end, flame resistant clothing works to prevent tragedies for workers in dangerous fields.
What Is It?
Commonly referred to as FR, flame resistant clothing consists of certain materials. These materials, once in contact with arc ash or flames, tend to burn very slowly. Needless to say, fire resistant clothing works to provide protection from flames and fire. So, say for example, if someone wearing normal clothing were exposed to such heat, their clothes would easily catch on fire and burn at a rapid speed. Thus, the fabric from the normal clothing will burn in seconds and cause cause serious injury, or even death. However, the slow burning speed at which flames is greatly decreased for this very reason. They can also have the ability to self-extinguish upon removal of the heated source (i.e. flames).
Why?
The toughest jobs you can ever imagine, typically require the toughest of uniforms. For instance, flame resistant clothing will protect you against flames, arc flash, and other potential dangerous that an everyday job full of risks would present (such as a firefighter). And yet, such clothing can actually be comfortable to wear. Why? Because if it weren't comfortable to wear, then it would be very hard for certain workers, such as firefighters and people in the military, to get their job done.
How?
In order for fabrics and materials to be accepted as FR, the material needs to consist of fabrics that have been chemically treated, or made from materials that have inherent flame resistant properties. Treating fabrics in order to make clothing resistant to flames, means treating clothing with chemical bath or spray. Such a potent chemical brew will be required in order for the content to be considered flame resistant.
Clothing that has fibers that are naturally flame resistant (as in, there is no need to add chemicals to them), are also available. This means that before said fabric is woven, it is actually flame resistant.
PPE
Flame resistant clothing can also be described as PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment. This comes back to the idea of why fire resistant clothing is actually made and available on the market – certain jobs require clothing that is resistant to flames. A properly protective garment that is worn by such a worker appropriately, will provide protection for the individual, and help to prevent against certain health risks and hazards that could otherwise happen on the job. PPE can come in anything from eye protection, to lab coats, to shields and masks, to gloves.
Benefits
Previously made fire resistant clothing have been worn by firefighters and other workers in the past. Once uncomfortable, awkward and bulky, today's FR clothing has sure come a long way. Manufacturers have actually made it possible for such clothing to not only feel comfortable now, but some of the garments they make even look very similar to regular clothing worn by the average Joe. And yet, besides being comfortable and appearing normal, today's FR garments provide the protection someone might need in a dire situation.
When it comes to fire resistant clothing, such a protection can be a blessing to its users. In the end, flame resistant clothing works to prevent tragedies for workers in dangerous fields.