In short, FR fabric doesn’t allow flame to easily burn it and consume it. FR fabric does this by using naturally flame-resistant materials (like Kevlar or Nomex) or treating some other material via a chemical process (making fire resistant 100% cotton clothes). Some FR fabrics have a chemical reaction that “chokes” the fire out of oxygen, while others expand and don’t allow the flames or the heat to pass and harm the wearer. Most FR fabric is often effective only once, and after the suit saves the wearer, it is then discarded.
Similar to how bullet-proof vests work, you shouldn’t wear a used, burned or charred FR garment that’s not as effective and might not save you.
Predominantly, the Oil & Gas industry workers, electricians, utility workers like linemen, firemen, and combustible dust industries. The workers are often at risk of fires, arc fires or flash fires.
Arc fires are what happens when an electrical circuit short-circuits and releases a lot of heat, sparks, molten metal and energy. Arc flashes can reach temperatures of around 35,000 degrees, which is hotter than the surface of the Sun, but they only reach these heats for an incredibly short time. That’s enough to singe and penetrate most clothing, and make it burn, often grievously injuring the individual.
Flash fires are fires that happen when the air is rich with combustible material, like wheat dust or natural gas; these fires are explosive and quick, but thankfully they only last a short time. FR suits save people caught in these fires by being able to chemically react to such quick flames, where regular clothes would’ve caught fire and seriously harmed the wearer.
In short, Fire-Resistant material is inherently fire resistant at a molecular level (like Kevlar and Nomex), while Fire-Retardant material is treated to become fire resistant via a chemical process. There’s a lot of discussion to which is better, and this discussion is moot.
Most modern FR clothing is made from a blend of both, utilizing the best material in the best place to maximize the comfort and breathability of the wearer. Long gone are the days of dedicated, cumbersome and uncomfortable Arc suits as these new FR clothing is far more comfortable to wear and work in.
If the clothes are comfortable, there’s a higher chance the workers will use them; thus, there’s a higher chance of these garments saving lives at work
Fire-resistant suits will burn after being exposed long enough to a flame, and are meant to protect the wearer from arc and flash fires. The time needed to make them combust is about a minute or two, which is very good compared to regular clothing that’ll start to burn in seconds.
Fireproof suits are those fire proximity suits designed to protect a firefighter or a volcanologist from the extreme heat of a volcano or a raging inferno. Those silver bunker suits are truly fireproof, not fire resistant.
Arc Rated clothing is capable of withstanding the horrific arc fire, which can get really hot and spew molten metal at the operator. All Arc-rated clothing is flame resistant and can withstand flash fires, while not all flame-resistant clothes can withstand the immense power and hear of an electric arc.
Some FR clothing that isn’t AR (Arc Rated) might catastrophically fail if there’s an Arc Fire and harm the wearer. It’s important to wear the proper protective clothing for the task at hand.
Arc Rated clothing is capable of withstanding the horrific arc fire, which can get really hot and spew molten metal at the operator. All Arc-rated clothing is flame resistant and can withstand flash fires, while not all flame-resistant clothes can withstand the immense power and hear of an electric arc.
Some FR clothing that isn’t AR (Arc Rated) might catastrophically fail if there’s an Arc Fire and harm the wearer.
It’s important to wear the proper protective clothing for the task at hand.
There are 12 Arc flashes happening daily in the USA, and around 2000 brave workers end up in the ER every year. FR clothing is the last line of defense against a sudden, searing hot flame. Without these clothes, there would be many more men sent to the burn center, and sadly, there would be a lot more fatalities too.
Flame resistant clothing turns third and fourth degree burns that can kill into second degree burns that aren’t life threatening and easily treatable. If FR gear is improperly maintained and washed, it could lose its FR properties, and instead of saving people it would aid in burning them. Stay vigilant and be prepared to fix FR gear, and when it’s too worn out, damaged, stained or old, be ready to replace it.
It is very important to take good care of your gear so that it could take great care of you.
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