Jun. 10, 2024
Real-world applications have brought on an increasing demand for garments that are suitable for use in environments with multiple hazards.
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There are three basic uses for industrial flame-resistant clothing:
Twenty years ago, there were about five to six fabrics that were flame resistant, and there were two types of fabrics: treated flame-resistant fabrics and inherently flame-resistant fabrics. Today, there are many new flame-resistant fabrics, either treated or inherent, that provide workers with comfortable options.
Inherent fabrics are made with fibers that are designed to be flame resistant. Flame resistance is part of the fibers' DNA and is a permanent characteristic of the fabric.
Treated fabrics are cotton or cotton-blend fabrics that are treated with flame-retardant chemicals that change the molecular structure of the fabric, creating a permanent bond.
Sometimes there is misinformation in the marketplace that creates concern about whether the flame resistance can be washed out of treated fabrics. It's important to know that flame-resistance cannot be washed out as long as the recommended laundering instructions on the garment are followed. Therefore, workers who require FR clothing should opt for styles made with whichever fabric provides them the most comfort, as long as it meets the safety requirements established by their employer.
Why is comfort so important in flame-resistant garments? The day-to-day needs of the clothing are primarily function, not protection, so getting the worker to wear the clothing for the "one in a million" incident is difficult if the clothing is not comfortable. Fortunately, most workers work entire careers in potential hydrocarbon flash fire and potential arc flash environments without ever having an incident.
This article originally appeared in the March issue of Occupational Health & Safety.
Personal Protective Fire Retardant Clothing, and the types of fabrics or textile materials used to manufacture them, are of great importance when we consider how we can protect users from thermal hazards and fire.
For selecting the correct type of Personal Protective Fire-Retardant Clothing for the task at hand, there are some standards that should be consulted for further enhancement of your task-specific fire hazard risk assessment. These include:
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) develops and publishes more than 300 consensus codes and standards intended to eliminate death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. Two of these standards, NFPA and NFPA , are of special importance in guiding the design, manufacture and consumer selection of flame-resistant (FR) garments.
NFPA Standard on Flame Resistant Clothing for Protection of Industrial Personnel against Short Duration Thermal Exposures from Fire specifies the minimum design, performance, certification, and testing requirements for flame-resistant fabric and garments for use in areas at risk from flash fires.
&#;NFPA and NFPA , are of special importance in guiding the selection of flame-resistant (FR) garments&#;
NFPA establishes specific criteria for testing garments using primarily the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F manikin test and the ASTM D (vertical flame) test. In total, NFPA outlines 17 tests, including four pass/fail tests: flame resistance, manikin testing, thermal shrinkage resistance, and heat resistance. The other tests are report-based only; that is, data is collected and reported, but it is not used to pass or fail a fabric.
ASTM D/DM is the defining test method for compliance with OSHA .269 and one of the most commonly used tests on flame resistant fabrics. Adopted from Federal Test Standard No. 191A, method .1, the vertical flame test has been used for many years. The purpose of this test is to determine whether a fabric will continue to burn after the source of ignition is removed. A 12&#; specimen of fabric is suspended in an enclosed chamber (secured on three sides). The cut edge of the fabric on the bottom is exposed to a controlled methane flame for 12 seconds. After exposure to the flame, after flame, afterglow, and char length are measured. Five tests are performed, and the results are averaged and reported as the test result. ASTM D/DM is used to determine a pass/fail criterion for ASTM F, which requires a maximum char length of 6 inches.
Note: ASTM F requires a maximum char length of 6 inches under this test method, whereas NFPA requires a maximum of 4 inches. A 6-inch char length is more universally accepted as the maximum. Char length of Fire Resistant (FR) fabrics does NOT correlate to thermal protective performance in the manikin test. As long as the fabric sample does not ignite and continue to burn (called BEL for Burn Entire Length) char lengths at or below 6&#; are not meaningful predictors of thermal protective performance of the fabric in flash fire. In other words, some fabrics with relatively low char lengths have significantly higher body burn percentages in the manikin test than other fabrics with relatively higher char lengths. We do not recommend inclusion of char length in specifications for this reason.
NFPA requires the following:
All garments must have a product label or labels permanently and conspicuously attached to each flame-resistant garment. All garments labelled as compliant with NFPA must meet or exceed all applicable requirements specified in this standard and shall be Underwriter Laboratories (UL) certified. The UL certification organisation&#;s label, symbol, or identifying mark shall be attached to the product label, be part of the product label, or be immediately adjacent to the product label.
The most recent update to NFPA is the edition. Changes of note related to flame resistant protective apparel include:
The term &#;flash fire&#; was changed to &#;short-duration thermal exposure from fire&#; throughout the standard, including the title. According to the standard, short-duration thermal exposure from fire is defined as &#;A period of egress from or accidental exposure to thermal events, including but not limited to, vapour cloud fires, jet flames, liquid fires (pool fires or running liquid fires), solids fires (fires of solid materials or dust fires), or warehouse fires. The term &#;inherent flame resistance&#; has been added to the standard from NFPA , Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. Inherent flame resistance is defined as &#;Flame resistance that is derived from the essential characteristic of the fibre or polymer,&#; according to the standard.
&#;some fabrics with relatively low char lengths have significantly higher body burn percentages&#;
On top of flash fire, there are many other fire hazard risks in process industries that handle flammable materials. These fire hazards occur from unplanned equipment failures that release, with subsequent ignition, process gases, liquids and solids from spills or pressurised line breaks. Many of these fires begin when a flash or vapour cloud fire burns back to the source of the release. Overall, industrial fire hazards were generally classified as:
Vapour cloud fires, with:
Fireballs (instantaneous release and ignition of liquefied gas above boiling point), jet flames (directed fire from flammable materials escaping under pressure), flammable liquid fires, forming one or both:
Solids fires, in the form of:
Head, neck, and hand protection are also included in these standards. NFPA -18 now applies to the design, manufacturing, and certification of shrouds/hoods/balaclavas, defined as items intended to protect the head and/or neck, and gloves, defined as garments designed to protect the hands and wrist.
Shroud, hood, and balaclava fabric should not melt and drip, separate, or ignite during the heat resistance test and should also comply with the following requirements:
FR gloves should meet all of the criteria above and may not exceed 5.0% of their original weight in consumed material.
It is important to note that the ASTM F Thermal Manikin Test is not required for fabrics for use in shrouds, hoods, balaclavas, and gloves.
Cold Weather Insulation Guidance
The standard now provides guidance for FR cold weather insulation. The standard states that a flame resistance test is performed according to the ASTM D Vertical Flame Test, and the NFPA performance criteria require the fabric to self-extinguish, not melt and drip, result in a char length of fewer than 4.0 inches, and have an after flame of fewer than 2.0 seconds once removed from the direct flame.
Non-FR Emblems
Annex A.7.1.2.1 was added to specify requirements for non-flame resistant (non-FR) emblems. No more than five non-FR emblems may be attached to the exterior of a garment, individual emblems may not cover an area exceeding 16 square inches and combined, the non-FR emblems are limited to covering an area of 40 square inches per garment.
General Understanding of the Risk Categories
First thing first, the choosing of the Fire-Resistant Clothing is to assess the risks present in the workplace. Chemical or gas fire, flammable liquids, molten slags and electrical arc fire are some examples of fire hazards. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) cites four fire hazard risk category levels as below:
Certification Mark / Label &#; How Does CE Differ from UL Certifications?
Even if we aren&#;t familiar with UL, you might have seen other similar logo seals in other countries. For example, CE is a similar organisation in the EU that sets standards for common electronics. CE stands for Comformité Européenne which is French for &#;European Conformity&#;. CE is similar to UL, the main difference being the country in which it is manufactured and sold.
Want more information on is fleece flammable? Feel free to contact us.
Related links:Much like UL, CE gives companies an advantage by being able to sell anywhere within the EU, while also being able to market the CE logo in much the same way. For these reasons, many companies opt to get CE certified to expand their marketing capacities.
NFPA Standard on selection, care, use and maintenance of flame-resistant garments for the protection of industrial personnel against short-duration thermal exposures from fire.
NFPA is a companion standard to NFPA and describes the selection, care, use, storage and maintenance of clothing used to protect against flash fire. It offers recommendations on best practices to follow and is a helpful guide for users and administrators of FR clothing programmes. The standard was updated in .
As indicated in NFPA , the first step in the selection process is to conduct a thorough hazard assessment to establish the need for FR clothing. Next, you should investigate the types of Fire Retardant (FR) clothing designs available to determine which type will offer workers the best protection against the risks identified in your hazard analysis. Finally, use the results of the two previous steps to develop specifications to guide the selection and purchase of appropriate FR clothing for your workforce.
Ascertaining the duration of a fire is usually important in understanding potential damage to infrastructure and fire escalation factors, as has occurred in large industrial incidents. However, when selecting Personal Protective Clothing and/or Equipment, the duration of the thermal exposure a person might experience during escape is the important factor. This is normally determined through a site and task hazard analysis. Several tools can assist in this process. The Centre for Chemical Process Safety of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (CCPS) and the NFPA standard have been recognised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as guides to assist with this process and selection of the appropriate thermal-protective PPE.
As indicated in the NFPA , a hazard assessment must be conducted that will deliver a quantified energy level for the various tasks that workers perform. To conduct a proper hazard assessment, you must answer the following critical questions:
Once FR clothing had been purchased and distributed to your employees, they need training in the proper use, care, and maintenance of the garments to ensure they provide full protection. This includes things like:
Manufacturers and suppliers of FRC provide much of this information through garment labeling and additional materials.
The NFPA standard provides further, specific guidance on what information and training you need to provide to your employees. But in the end, it is your responsibility to train your workers and to monitor their compliance with proper use and maintenance requirements.
Changes to the edition of NFPA include:
It is essential for users, manufacturers, and certifying agencies of fire-resistant garments for industrial personnel to understand the requirements in NFPA , Standard on Flame-Resistant Clothing for Protection of Industrial Personnel against Short-Duration Thermal Exposures from Fire.
&#;employees need training in the proper use and care of garments to ensure full protection&#;
Reduce the severity of flash fire burn injury, and increase survival odds for industrial personnel, by following the latest rules for flame-resistant clothing in the edition of NFPA .
Tentative Interim Amendment 12-2 was issued to address cold weather insulation and interlining, and the edition of the Standard incorporates these allowances for the performance and testing requirements. Typically, these materials serve as internal insulation when used in garments in the field, and therefore not directly exposed to fire. However, during testing, the materials had been directly exposed to fire, which resulted in restricted use of cold weather gear without adding additional safety to the garments.
Other changes in the edition of NFPA include:
It is essential for manufacturers and certifying agencies of fire-resistant garments for industrial personnel to understand the requirements in NFPA .
Importantly, we need to further strengthen our in-depth knowledge and understanding on the technical aspects and material science of textiles materials for garment manufacturing with focus on:
Quality Assurance and Quality Control from the raw materials procurement to manufacturing process, Testing & Accreditation standards for FR Clothing, and consumer&#;s monitoring for wear and tear on replacement of FR Clothing, plays an important mechanism in the chain of Personal Protective Clothing. Look out for a part two on more standards for Protective Clothing in the March issue.
References
Flame resistant (FR) clothing arc flash standards () Tyndale USA. Available at: https://tyndaleusa.com/fr-safety-resources/technical-library/standards-and-test-methods/arc-flash-standards/.
NFPA standards for FR clothing. Dupont. Available at: https://www.dupont.com/personal-protection/nfpa-standards-fr-garments.html.
Fr safety protective C&G. Available at: http://frsafety.chengge.com.cn/showroom/fire-resistant-clothing-standards-nfpa-/.
NFPA , standard on flame-resistant clothing for protection of industrial personnel against short-duration thermal exposures from fire (no date) Buy NFPA : Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel. Available at: https://catalog.nfpa.org/NFPA--Standard-on-Flame-Resistant-Clothing-for-Protection-of-Industrial-Personnel-Against-Short-Duration-Thermal-Exposures-from-Fire-P.aspx.
ASTM F903 10 ASTM &#; CTCIC. Available at: https://www.awahapp.co/astm-f903-10-astm/.
Textile Technology Center () Physical testing, Textile Technology Center. Available at: https://www.gaston.edu/textile-technology-center/product-testing/physical-testing/.
TyndaleFRC () ASTM D: Vertical flame test for flame resistance of textiles, Tyndale USA. Available at: https://tyndaleusa.com/blog//02/10/
astm-d-vertical-flame-test-for-flame-resistance-of-textiles/.
NFPA Standard explained. TenCate Protective Fabrics. Available at: https:// us.tencatefabrics.com/blog/nfpa--standard-explained.
Standard on protective ensembles for structural firefighting ... - NFPA. Available at: https://www.nfpa.org/Assets/files/About TheCodes//Errata-13-1.pdf.
c3controls. What is UL certification? the difference between UL recognized and UL listed, v2. Available at: https://www.c3controls.com/white-paper/difference-between-ul-recognized-ul-listed/.
Johnson, D. () Selection, care & use of Fr garments, ISHN RSS. ISHN. Available at: https://www.ishn.com/articles/-selection-care-use-of-fr-garments.
NFPA , standard on flame-resistant clothing for protection of industrial personnel against short-duration thermal exposures from fire (no date) Buy NFPA : Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel. Available at: https://catalog.nfpa.org/NFPA--Standard-on-Flame-Resistant-Clothing-for-Protection-of-Industrial-Personnel-Against-Short-Duration-Thermal-Exposures-from-Fire-P.aspx.
Singapore Standard ISO/TR : Clothing for protection against heat and flame - General recommendations for selection, care and use of protective clothing
Singapore Standard ISO: Protective clothing against hear and flame - Determination of heat transmission on exposure to flame.
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