Many workers are presented with thermal hazards such as molten metals, arc flash, hot liquids, and flame. In environments where these hazards are present, flame-resistant (FR) personal protective equipment (PPE) is of paramount importance. When selecting such gear there are many important terms that one may be confronted with. The most common distinction is inherent fabric vs. treated fabrics.
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A piece of protective equipment can be classified as an inherent fabric if it is woven using some percentage of a fiber that is itself chemically flame-resistant. These are generally oxidized fibers or fibers synthetically derived from petrochemicals that have been chemically altered. In such garments, the flame-resistant properties are inherently present in the fiber’s polymer structure and can never be lost due to washing the garment.
Protective equipment may be labeled as a treated fabric if fibers have been chemically treated to achieve FR properties, either before weaving or as a chemical finish on the garment. Some treated fabrics can lose their FR capabilities over time or with frequent or improper washing, although advances in the FR field have produced treated fabrics that retain their protective qualities for the entire lifetime of the product. The first such treated fabric was introduced in 1987, and the difference in efficacy between treated and inherent FR fabrics has been shrinking ever since. Even so, many purchasers of FR equipment turn instead to inherent fabrics or inherently flame retardant fabric due to the ongoing misconception that all treated FR garments will lose their protective properties over time.
Heat-treated fabrics are materials made from the addition of flame-retardant chemicals to provide some level of flame resistance. The additive forms a strong bond with the polymer of the fiber, which is often itself not flame-resistant. This bond is difficult or impossible to remove when proper laundering and care is applied. One potential pitfall of such gear is that there is no way to visually inspect that the FR quality of the equipment is intact. If outside the useful lifetime of the equipment, or if improperly laundered, the FR qualities may be reduced or removed with almost no way to determine that this has happened.
This problem is not present with inherent FR fabrics, as the chemical properties of the fibers themselves cannot be washed out. This may cause inherent fabrics to sell at higher costs since they typically offer longer useful lifetimes. Since there is no regulatory body governing the use of this term, however, it has often been applied loosely—often to garments containing no more than 15% FR fibers blended with naturally flammable fibers. Some garments that are woven of natural fibers treated before the weaving process have even been marketed as inherent, so to some extent, the term has lost meaning.
The primary advantages of inherent FR fabrics include:
The most notable disadvantages of inherent FR fabrics include:
Here are some of the primary advantages of treated FR fabrics:
The largest disadvantages of treated fabrics include:
Even with an understanding of the differences and usages of terms such as treated and inherent, the key factor is ultimately the safety and protective value offered to the wearer. In this regard, a more important distinction is proven vs. unproven. Tex Tech and our CarbonX brand have repeatedly proven effective in laboratory testing, as well as in the field—all with the added benefits of comfort and affordability. We work primarily with inherent fabrics.
Tex Tech Industries has been a leader in the advanced textile industry for over a century. Throughout this time, we have devoted enormous resources to research and development in the areas of textile and fiber solutions. We have pioneered more than 7,000 of the best performing products in the marketplace and a wide range of high-performance materials.
We provide innovative solutions for all individual fabric requirements, backed with best-in-class customer service. We invite you to contact our experienced material scientists to discuss how to discuss how Tex Tech can provide the material solutions you need.
The company is the world’s best heat retardant material supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
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Does your fabric need fire retardant treatment (a.k.a. "flameproofing")?
Some fabrics come from the manufacturer already treated with fire retardant, but most textiles do not.
We specialize in fire retardant treatment of curtains and short runs of custom fabric rolls, less than 1,000 yards, with many customers sending 30 to 100 yards. Depending on volume, our usual turnaround time is one week.
What about scenery, props, or room decor of paper, wood or foam? Upholstery or carpeting for an assembly hall, school, or church?
Turning Star will deliver a custom fire retardant treatment – on site or at our location – for your specific items - so you’re in compliance with local and national fire codes.
Why do we "treat" things, instead of "flameproof" them?
Flameproofing is actually a misnomer; everything can burn or melt if it's hot enough. Instead, we say we "treat" or apply flame resistance, just like a coating to make something water resistant.
Your place or ours, Turning Star is your one stop for all your fire retardant treatment needs.
We also offer flame testing and fire code certification and shepherd you through the bureaucratic maze of state and municipal fire codes.
For more Fabric Frinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.