What Fabrics Are Inherently Flame Retardant?

In various industries and applications, fire safety is a paramount concern. One crucial aspect of fire prevention is the use of flame-retardant fabrics. While there are numerous options available, certain fabrics possess inherent flame-resistant properties that provide long-lasting protection. This article aims to shed light on these exceptional fabrics and their benefits.

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Flame-Resistant Cotton

Flame-resistant cotton, also known as treated cotton, is a popular choice due to its natural feel and breathability. It is treated with a flame retardant chemical that bonds to the fabric fibers, creating a self-extinguishing effect when exposed to flames. This treatment enhances the fabric's resistance to ignition, flame spread, and heat transfer. Flame-resistant cotton is widely used in various industries, including manufacturing, oil and gas, and firefighting, as it offers excellent protection without compromising comfort.

Aramid Fabrics

Aramid fibers, such as Nomex and Kevlar, are renowned for their exceptional flame resistance and high strength. These fabrics have inherent flame retardancy due to their unique chemical composition and structure. Aramid fibers do not melt, drip, or support combustion, making them ideal for applications where heat and fire are significant hazards. These fabrics find extensive use in protective clothing for firefighters, military personnel, and industrial workers exposed to extreme heat and flame risks.

Modacrylic Fabrics

Modacrylic fabrics are synthetic fibers that are inherently flame retardant. They are made from copolymers containing at least 35% acrylonitrile, which imparts flame-resistant properties. Modacrylic fabrics have a low heat release rate, minimal smoke generation, and self-extinguishing capabilities. These attributes make them suitable for a wide range of applications, including protective clothing for electricians, chemical workers, and those exposed to arc flash hazards. Additionally, modacrylic fabrics are resistant to chemicals, mildew, and UV degradation, making them durable and long-lasting.

Wool

Wool is a natural fiber that exhibits inherent flame-resistant properties. Its high moisture content and unique structure contribute to its excellent fire retardancy. When exposed to flames, wool forms a char layer that insulates the fabric and slows down the spread of fire. Wool fabrics also have a high ignition temperature and produce low levels of smoke and toxic gases. These qualities make wool a preferred choice for blankets, upholstery, and carpets in public spaces, as well as for firefighters' turnout gear.

Conclusion

New Considerations for Selecting Flame-Resistant Workwear

In a real-world fire emergency, chances are that workers will need to flee to safety, so it is critical that FR workwear continue to provide coverage and allow mobility to protect workers after a flash fire or arc flash.

Millions of people across the globe go to work each day in environments with a heat or fire hazard. For these workers, flame-resistant (FR) or flame-retardant treated (FRT) protective garments are designed to provide a last line of protection against short-duration fires. Many different fibers can be used to make FR or FRT garments, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. With so many options, it can be difficult to select the best product for each specific job function.

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There is growing industry awareness about the importance of knowing how a garment will perform not only at the moment of heat or fire exposure, but in those vital seconds just after exposure when an employee needs to escape from the emergency.

Safety Expert Shares Process
A highly regarded industry safety expert who specifies and selects garments for a Fortune 50 oil and gas company recently shared with me the process he uses for FR garment selection. Like most safety professionals, he considers certification to key industry test standards and published performance results as a minimum requirement.

He prefers to witness actual burn testing of the garments and analyzes the results for himself. But he doesn't just stop there because he knows that the test methods simply establish minimums for performance and the live burn tests are conducted on a stationary manikin. As he explained, in the real world, a flash fire or arc flash is a dynamic event that either generates motion in the individual from the pressure wave or blast or from the worker's reaction to protect himself as he flees from the event. That's why he now considers the state of the garment post burn as a mandatory part of the selection process.

Is the garment still intact so it continues to offer protection? Is it flexible enough that, in a moment of crisis, an employee still has mobility to quickly escape heat and flames? If the garment passes this test, he then relies on extended-duration field wear trials to confirm a garment's durability, ease of cleaning, comfort, fit, style, and buy-in from workers who will be wearing the garments on a daily basis.

The Difference is In the Fiber
What properties determine how a fabric will perform after exposure to a thermal event? The answer has to do with the makeup of the fiber and fabric.

Fibers used for FR garments are either inherent or non-inherent. The term inherent is a scientific textiles term spelled out in the definitions sections of FR workwear standards NFPA , NFPA , NFPA , and Canadian standard CAN155.20. These North American industry standards define inherent flame resistance as "flame resistance that is derived from the essential characteristics of the fiber or polymer."1

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