The Importance of Flame- and Fire-Resistant Clothing

When you think of something being able to resist fire, clothing is probably not the first item that comes to mind. But for certain industries and professions, this is a must for clothing. Fire-resistant clothing can often be a matter of survival in situations that may involve fire, explosion, flash fires, or arc flashes. Certain types may even be additionally protective against other chemicals or from static charge. You can visit a site such as www.tecgenselect.com to learn more about flame-resistant clothing.

Flame and Fire Resistant

Fire-resistant clothing is clothing items that have been treated with fire retardants—chemicals that prevent the clothing from burning in a fire. Certain fabrics, however, may be somewhat naturally fire resistant on their own. Some companies use flame-resistant, fire-resistant, and flame-retardant interchangeably. Others may differentiate between the terms by whether the clothing keeps the flame from spreading, resists the fire and stops its spread, and not continuing to burn once the source of fire has been removed. For the most part, however, a fire or flame retardant generally refers to the chemical substance used to create fire resistance. These chemicals may include such elements as chlorine, borax, boric acid, or more. The fire retardants generally work to remove or prevent the required conditions for fire to occur, such as by removing oxygen to smother the flame.

Importance of the Clothing

Certain professions have a greater risk of being exposed to flame than others. These can include military, emergency, or electrical personnel, or even racecar drivers. The clothing works to delay the flames from actually reaching the clothing or skin beneath the fire-resistant clothing. This can give the wearer more time to reach safety without sustaining serious burns or injuries. In the past, this type of clothing was often heavy and non-breathable.

Today, however, technology has allowed manufacturers to create lighter materials that allow the clothing more flexibility and the ability to breathe. In fact, fire-resistant clothing is even available as sleepwear for children and infants. Draperies, furniture, and bedding can also be treated with the fire retardants to help prevent the spread of fire. You can visit a site such as www.tecgenselect.com to learn more about the changes made to improve fire-resistant clothing for professionals.