We are all aware of the risks that fire accidents can pose upon individuals. This is exactly where Fire-Resistant clothing comes in the picture as a protective gear.
In this blog post we will get to kow more about this clothing and its numerous benefits as well as features.
Understanding Fire-Resistant Clothing
Fire-resistant clothing, also known as flame-resistant (FR) clothing are specifically designed to provide protection against flames — obviously, along with heat and thermal hazards.
Constructed using advanced materials, fire-resistant clothes are commonly used in industries such as firefighters, oil and gas, welding, electrical utilities and chemical manufacturing.
The materials used to manufacture these fire-resistant clothing are engineered to resist ignition, prevent the spread of flames and self-extinguish once the heat source is removed.
Key Features of Fire-Resistant Clothings
- Heat and Flame Resistance
These clothes which can withstand the exposure to high temperatures and heat provide a critical barrier between te wearer and the heat source.
2. Thermal Protection
The clothing’s insulating properties properties protect against heat transfer and reducing the risk of burns and keeping the wearer safe.
3. Durability
Fire-resistant clothing is built to withstand repeated use and rigorous conditions, ensuring it remains effective over time.
4. Comfort and Breathability
While prioritizing safety, modern fire-resistant clothing is also engineered to offer comfort, flexibility, and breathability, allowing for ease of movement and reducing heat stress.
Types of Fire-Resistant Clothing
- Flame-Resistant Apparel
These garments are made from fire-resistant materials and do not require additional chemical treatments.
They are ideal for environments where the risk of fire is constant, such as firefighting or military operations.
2. Flame-Retardant-Treated Clothing
These garments are made from materials that are treated with flame-retardant chemicals to enhance their fire resistance.
They are widely used in industries like oil and gas, where intermittent exposure to flames is a possibility.
Benefits of Fire-Resistant Clothings
While fire-resistant clothing may have a higher upfront cost, it can lead to significant cost savings in the long run by minimizing the risk of workplace injuries, medical expenses and downtime caused by accidents.
Investing in fire-resistant clothing not only complies with safety regulations but also ensures the well-being of workers, leading to a safer and more productive work environment.
Indian regulations for firefighters clothing (Source: Bureau of Indian Standards)
INDIAN STANDARDS ON FR TEXTILE PRODUCTS/Work place safety
•Indian Standards published/Finalized by BIS on FR Textiles/work place safety so far cover the following:
–IS 15748 Protective Clothing for Industrial Workers
–IS 15742 Protective Clothing with Limited Flame Spread Properties
–IS 16655 Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes
–IS 15809 High Visibility Warning Clothing
–IS 14744 Flame retardant protective hoods
–IS 15321 Molten metal splash protective hoods
–IS 15071 Chemical protective clothing
–Protective clothing for Fire fighter
–Protective gloves for fire fighter
–Test Methods for testing and evaluation of Flame Retardancy/Flammability/Ignition Resistance of these FR Textiles, Floor Coverings, Blankets, etc.
IS 15748:2007 TEXTILES — Protective Clothing For Industrial Workers Exposed to Heat (Excluding Firefighters’ And Welders’ Clothing) (With Amendent №1)
•Applicable to protective clothing consisting of outer garments made from flexible material to protect specific parts of the body. Hoods and gaiters are included, but all other types of protection for the head, hands and feet are excluded.
It specifies the following requirements:
–The limited Flame Spread Index (code letter A) (IS 15748–4/ISO 15025)
–Heat resistance as per ISO 17493 at a temperature of (180 ± 5) °C; no ignition or melting and shrinkage not more than 5 percent and
–One or more of the other heat transmission performance requirements (code letters B to F) at level 1 or above:
•Convective Heat — Heat Transmission Index (Code Letter B; Levels B1 to B5) (IS 15748–1/ISO 9151)
IS 15748:2007 TEXTILES — Protective Clothing for Industrial Workers Exposed to Heat (Excluding Firefighters’ and Welders’ Clothing) (WITH AMENDMENT NO. 1)
•Radiant Heat (Code Letter C; Levels C1 to C4) (IS 15748–2/ISO 6942)
•Molten Aluminum Splash (Code Letter D; Levels D1 to D3) (IS 15748–5/ISO 9185)
•Molten Iron Splash (Code Letter E; Levels E1 to E3) (IS 15748–5/ISO 9185)
•Contact Heat (Code Letter F; Levels F1 to F3) (ISO 12127–1)
•Durability of Flame Retardant Treatment (50 Laundering Cycles)
IS 16655 Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes
•Specifies minimum basic safety requirements and test methods for protective clothing including hoods, aprons, sleeves, and gaiters that are designed to protect the wearer’s body including head (hoods) and feet (gaiters) and that are to be worn during welding and allied processes with comparable risks.
•This type of protective clothing is intended to protect the wearer against spatter (small splashes of molten metal), short contact time with flame, radiant heat from an electric arc used for welding and allied processes, and minimizes the possibility of electrical shock by short-term, accidental contact with live electrical conductors at voltages up to approximately 100 V d. c. in normal conditions of welding.
•Sweat, soiling, or other contaminants can affect the level of protection provided against short-term accidental contact with live electric conductors at these voltages.
IS 16655 Protective clothing for use in welding and allied processes
•This standards covers the following requirements:
1) General and design requirements (Size designations and fit, clothing configuration, pockets and flap closures, closure and seams, Hardware)
2) General performance requirements-
a) Classification- Class 1- For lower level of spatter and radiant heat, Class 2 — For higher level of spatter and radiant heat
b) Tensile strength- 400 N minimum both for machine and cross machine direction
c) Tear strength- Class 1- 15 N minimum, Class 2- 20 N minimum
d) Bursting strength of knitted material and seams- Minimum 100 KPa for test area of 50 cm2 or 200 kpa for 7.3 cm2 test area.
e) Seam Strength- Minimum 225 N
f) Dimensional change- ±3 % for woven and ±5 % for knitted
3) Specific performance requirements:
a) Limited flame spread for clothing assembly, seams, hardware, closure system, Labels, badges, retroreflective materials etc.
b) Impact of spatter (small splashes of molten metal)
– The outer material or material assembly shall require:
• — at least 15 drops of molten metal to raise the temperature behind the test specimen by 40 K for Class 1, and
• — at least 25 drops of molten metal to raise the temperature behind the test specimen by 40 K for Class 2.
c) Heat transfer (radiation) — At a heat flux density of 20 kW/m2, single layer or multilayer garments, and/or clothing assemblies shall meet a radiant heat transfer index (RHTI for 24 °C) of
• — for Class 1: RHTI 24 ≥ 7,0, and
• — for Class 2: RHTI 24 ≥ 16,0.
d) Electrical resistance — Under an applied potential of (100 ± 5) V, the electrical resistance shall be greater than 105 Ω (corresponds to less than 1 mA leakage current) for all assemblies of the clothing. Seams shall be taken into account when preparing test samples.
Conclusion
All in all, we now have a much better idea about what Fire-Resistant Clothings are and how they add onto the greater benefit — not only to the wearer but to the industry as a whole.
