First of all, what is flame‐retardant, flame‐retardant or flame‐resistant clothing? Are they synonyms? A literal interpretation could lead us to consider that we would be dealing with fireproof clothing, however, this is not the case. This type of personal protective equipment aims to protect the wearer when they are exposed to high temperatures. The material of this protective clothing has the ability to extinguish the spread of the flame when it comes into contact with the fabric, as long as the heat source is removed. However, if the item in question is exposed to fire for an extended period of time it will eventually burn.
Flame‐resistant (flame‐retardant) clothing is one in which the materials are naturally flame‐resistant, i.e. they have the ability to extinguish the spread of flame on their own, whereas flame‐retardant material, in order to offer the same protective characteristics, needs to be subjected to a prior chemical treatment.
It is common to believe that a 100% cotton garment naturally offers protection against heat and flame. It is true that cotton fabric melts less than, for example, polyester, but it does not have the ability to extinguish the spread of flame. When it comes into contact with a heat source, it burns completely like any other fabric that is not prepared for such conditions.
Heat and flame protective suits must fully cover the upper and lower body (including wrists and ankles) and may appear as a full suit (overalls) or in two pieces (jacket and trousers). Closure systems should be quick‐release so that the worker can quickly remove the protective equipment in the event of an emergency.
All accessories (pockets, zips and seams, for example) must also be tested for their ability to withstand high temperatures (at least 175°) for 5 minutes. So if you damage your flame retardant garment, you should be thoroughly informed about what materials you can use for a home repair.
The standard that governs the manufacture of flame retardant workwear is the ISO 11612. This is just one of the standards developed for protective clothing against heat and flame. For example, protective clothing for firefighters is covered by another standard, ISO 11613. ISO 11611, on the other hand, specifies the minimum safety requirements so that protective clothing can be used in welding to protect the worker from molten metal splashes.
In industry, risks often do not appear alone and sometimes a particular risk can generate another potential hazard. An example of this is the risk of explosion. For this reason, flame retardant clothing is often also antistatic to prevent sparks, which is essential in ATEX (explosiveatmospheres) environments. In many workplaces there are large machines, cranes and motorised vehicles (e.g. forklifts) and in such cases it would be wise to invest in high‐visibility clothing that offers you greater visual prominence and protection. This can be done by combining several protective standards into the same garment, giving the highest degree of protection to the worker.
Applications:
Steelworks, Zinc smelting, Copper smelting, Glass smelting, Aluminium smelting, Cement plants, Electricity companies, Electronic laboratories, White rooms, Oil rig workers, Gas industry, Chemical industry.
Subscribe to our UNIFARDAS® Newsletter to stay informed about the latest news, promotions, and exclusive updates.
UNIFARDAS® supports Espaço T, which is an inclusive organisation, of all and for all, and our common goal is to increase employment opportunities for young people with special needs and/or who, for some reason, have been excluded from the labour market.
We work hard to provide safe working conditions by going beyond the imposed and mandatory minimums.
We support, nurture and offer continuous training programmes aimed at improving skills.
At UNIFARDAS® we keep up to date with the latest technologies and innovations that can optimise our production process making it more efficient and close to zero waste.
UNIFARDAS® is a partner of Espaço T, an inclusive organisation, of all and for all, with the common goal of increasing employment opportunities for young people with special needs and/or who, for some reason, have been excluded from the labour market. In this organisation, immigrants will also find a support network in finding work and housing.
In addition to the sustainable path we have been taking throughout our production and supply chain, UNIFARDAS® participates, supports and organises a beach clean-up every year after the bathing season, in partnership with World Clean-up Day. We are also partners of Seaqual, an entity that, together with some other partners, promotes the collection of ocean waste and its transformation into upcycled marine plastic that will then be used in the production of fabric and other sustainable products.
In addition to the sustainable path we have been taking throughout our production and supply chain, UNIFARDAS® participates, supports and organises a beach clean-up every year after the bathing season, in partnership with World Clean-up Day. We are also partners of Seaqual, an entity that, together with some other partners, promotes the collection of ocean waste and its transformation into upcycled marine plastic that will then be used in the production of fabric and other sustainable products.
