Industry Update Volume 15
48Pages

INDUSTRY UPDATE Secondary Flame-Resistant Apparel

the leader in secondary flame-resistant apparel For Further Information Contact: In the U.S. and International: Denise Statham (615) 565-5000 In Canada: Tim LeMessurier 1-800-667-0700 Bulwark® is the leading provider of secondary flame-resistant apparel in the world. Bulwark garments offer superior flame-resistant protection, comfort, and durability to thousands of workers in electrical utilities and the chemical, oil, gas, mining and petrochemical industries. Bulwark has a 42-year heritage of technical innovation and industry leadership, always remembering that wearer safety is the primary...

» INDUSTRY UPDATE Bulwark® closely follows the continually evolving development of both domestic and world wide resources of flame-resistant and thermally protective fibers and fabrics. Educate specifiers in the need for and function of flame-resistant protective apparel. Provide independent evaluations of available flame-resistant fabrics. TREATED FABRIC Update developments in the areas of fibers, fabrics, and garments. Advise changes in standards and regulatory requirements. FAST FACTS FOR QUICK REFERENCE, USE » FAST FACTS LOCATED AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

» ntroduction to fr apparel and standards i The flame-resistant garment business is standards and specifications driven. A basic understanding of how flame resistance is defined and measured is very important. Included is an overall listing of common www.bulwark.com industry standards, as well as a discussion of the requirements of standards related to specific activities, such as power generation and distribution or petroleum refining. General Garment Flammability Standard General FR Garment Information Recognizing Hazards in the Workplace Industry Terms Tests and Standards for FR Clothing...

All are required to meet the same federal flammability standard: 16 CFR Part 1610. The standard, administered by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, was originally adopted in 1954 as CS 191-53, the Flammable Fabrics Act. The purpose of the standard is to reduce the danger of injury and loss of life by providing, on a national basis, standard methods of testing and rating the flammability of textiles for clothing use. This standard does not apply to children’s sleepwear or protective clothing. The standard measures two fabric attributes: ease of ignition and speed of flame spread. A...

introduction to fr apparel and standards treated fabric treated fibers Is there a need for Flame-Resistant protective garments? All fabrics made of untreated natural fibers and most synthetic fibers are combustible. It is normal and expected that they will ignite and continue to burn when exposed to an ignition source such as flame or electric arc. Because clothing constructed from these normal fabrics meets flammability requirements established by 16 CFR Part 1610, it is generally accepted as having no unusual burning characteristics. What type undergarments should be worn? National Fire...

2. Contact with, or close proximity to, molten metals. 3. Contact with sparks and slag from flame cutting or welding. 4. Contact with open flames. 6. Explosion of vapors from volatile liquids or from flammable gases. 7. Ignition of combustible dusts. treated fabric 5. High energy electrical discharges or other electric arc events. introduction to fr apparel and standards How do I choose the correct Flame-Resistant garments? Any flame-resistant fabric must provide the wearer with the expected degree of protection for the useful life of the garment. Garments are specified based on the...

introduction to fr apparel and standards treated fabric treated fibers BLENDS OF TREATED & INHERENTLY FR FIBERS Flame-Resistant The characteristic of a fabric or garment to resist ignition and to self- extinguish if ignited. Reusable Protective Clothing Garments which are capable of withstanding a maintenance procedure to remove soil and other contaminants, yet retain the garment’s protective characteristic. FLAME RETARDANT A chemical substance used to impart flame resistance. FR Disposable/Limited Use Protective Clothing FR garments which generally cannot be cleaned; usually provided for...

Important considerations in any flame-resistant protective apparel program are testing and standards requirements. Outside of military specifications, the primary existing and proposed tests and standards for the civilian clothing market are as follows: Performance Standards and Test Methods category Clothing and textiles intended for clothing Clothing and textiles intended for clothing except hats, gloves, footwear, and interlining fabrics Canadian Standards Association Canadian version of NFPA 70E. Initially based on 70E, but to be modified and updated for Canadian requirements Canadian...

introduction to fr apparel and standards Clothing for employees working on energized electrical circuit parts General industry standard for combustible dust; addresses need for FR clothing Clothing except hats, gloves, footwear, and interlinings Performance requirements for garments and fabrics used in protective clothing for structural fire fighting Performance requirements for garments and fabrics used in station and work uniforms for fire fighters Performance requirements for garments and fabrics used by fire fighters in combating wildlands fires Performance requirements for garments and...

How is the test “Flame Resistance of Cloth: Vertical” conducted? In an enclosed cabinet, 12-inch long fabric specimens are vertically suspended in a holder with the fabric restrained on three sides. A controlled flame is impinged on the bottom cut edge of the fabric for 12 seconds. What results are recorded from this test? The flame is extinguished at the end of 12 seconds and three sets of data are recorded: Afterglow: The number of seconds (in tenths of seconds) during which there is a visible glow remaining on the fabric. (Reported, but not part of most performance standards.) Char...