Understanding Flame Retardant Fabric Is Crucial In The Workplace
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Not every flame retardant fabric is made the same. Just because a piece of work apparel says that it is flame retardant, that does not mean that it will keep you safe at work. You need to understand a little about flame retardant fabrics – and your needs – to select the gear that will keep you safest.
There are different standards for flame resistance and there are different types of flame retardant fabric. DRIFIRE flame retardant clothes are tested using the ASTM 6413-99 Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Flame Test) and Thermal Protective Property value of more than 7. DRIFIRE flame retardant clothes are compliant with NFPA 70 E and OSHA 1910.269. DRIFIRE is trusted by the navy, the military, law enforcement departments across the country, the nation’s fire fighters, and industrial workers in every part of the country. For all these professionals, DRIFIRE flame retardant clothes meet the most rigorous of standards.
Most flame resistant fabric is made by dipping a flammable fabric in a chemical brew. This creates a number of potential problems. The first problem is maybe the most obvious one: what is put on can usually be removed as well. If a non-flame-retardant fabric is treated with chemicals, usually those chemicals wear away with use and repeated washings. Unfortunately, this can mean that your flame retardant apparel is suddenly less effective. There is no way for you to know when the chemical wears off and you are more vulnerable to flames and extreme heat. DRIFIRE flame retardant clothes are made of fabrics that are inherently flame retardant, so that your protection is permanently woven into your clothes and cannot be washed away.
Another major problem with flammable fabrics that have been merely treated with chemicals is that these fabrics do not always perform well. Since these fabrics are not inherently flame retardant, some remain very hot after exposure to flame – hot enough to cause skin injuries even when the source of heat or flame has been removed. Some such fabrics drip or melt, fusing with the skin or causing painful burns. Since DRIFIRE flame retardant clothes are not only flame resistant but flame retardant, they do not drip or melt. They also cool very quickly and do not produce an after flame. Once the source of heat or flame has been removed, you don’t have to worry that DRIFIRE flame retardant clothes will remain hot enough to injure you. DRIFIRE flame retardant clothes even retain their integrity where they have been charred.
