The flame retardant coverall is a piece of personal safety equipment that protects the wearer against fire and other environmental disasters. The FR coverall has been around for quite some time now and has proven to be a valuable asset to those that work in potentially dangerous situations. As working conditions continue to become more and more demanding, it is important that these workers are protected against hazardous conditions.
What is flame retardant coverall?
Flame retardant coveralls are a type of personal protective equipment (PPE) used for fire fighting in the petrochemical industry. The coveralls function to protect the wearer’s body from flames.
As their name suggests, flame retardant coveralls are primarily made of flame retardant fabrics, which have an inherent ability to resist or self-extinguish after the source of ignition has been removed. It is worth pointing out that FR garments do not always aim to eliminate the combustion process. Instead, they usually work by delaying it.
It is important that you understand what type of flame retardant fabrics are available in order to choose the best one for your needs. There are two primary types: inherently flame-retardant and surface-treated flame-retardant fabrics. Inherently FR fabrics are designed during their production process with chemical compositions that make them resistant against flames and fire, while treated FR fabrics receive a surface treatment during production that temporarily makes them resistant against flames and fire.
Composition of flame retardant coverall
FR coverall, as a product that can directly protect users’ lives, is most concerned about the protection ability of flame retardant. The protection ability of FR coverall mainly comes from the combination of flame retardant fabric and flame retardant accessories.
- Flame retardant fabric: Flame retardant fabric refers to the fabric whose ignition duration and flammability index are regulated by national standards. According to GB8965-1998 “Flame Retardancy Test for Textiles”, textiles with a certain time exceeding the second level after being ignited under certain conditions are called flame-retardant textiles, which basically meet the requirements for flame-retardancy (but not including national special standard products);
- Flame retardant accessories: accessories refer to elements that are used in combination with the main fabrics when making clothes. These include buttons, zippers, reflectors, tapes and so on. FR clothing must be equipped with corresponding fire-resistant accessories according to different uses and occasions. For example, three reflective strips must be attached on external work clothes used in engineering construction or other places where traffic accidents occur frequently at night; buttonholes need to be sewn; gussets need to use anti-static tape; buttonholes need sewing thread or yarn with anti-static function; zipper bags need zipper closures and so on.
Classification of flame retardant coverall
- Flame retardant coverall
A flame retardant coverall is a garment that is especially designed to prevent burns, self-extinguish, and not allow any molten particles to come into contact with the skin. You’ll often see these styles worn by firefighters, race car drivers, and welders. These styles generally have heat resistant properties as well.
- Anti-static flame retardant coverall
These are used in industries where static electricity could cause an explosion or fire. They are made from fiber materials that are inherently anti-static, and they also generally offer high performance protection against hazards such as flash fires and electric arcs. Anti-static flame retardant workwear will often be found in chemical plants and oil refineries.
- Ultra-high temperature flame retardant coverall
These are the most advanced types of FR garments on the market today. They’re able to withstand temperatures up to 1100°C (2012°F) and provide second degree protection for 60 seconds.
Flame retardant coverall features
The flame retardant coverall comes with a number of features as listed below:
- Anti-Static – This property is good for the electricians, engineers and other professionals who work in risky environments.
- Oil Resistant – This property really helps when it comes to protecting from oil splashes.
- Anti-Acid and Alkali – This property helps while dealing with aggressive chemicals.
- Weather Resistant – Frost, rain, wind are all well dealt by this feature.
- High Visibility – The high vis colors help to be spotted in dark places or hard weather conditions like fog or snowfall.
- Comfortable – These garments are made with special fabrics that provide you comfort along with protection against fire and heat.
Flame retardant coverall maintenance and cleaning
There are a few best practices when it comes to maintaining and cleaning your FR coverall. The primary goal of these instructions is to prolong the life of your product, as well as its flame-retardant function.
- Wash it in time after use. If you can, wash an item as soon as possible after each use. This will reduce stains, prevent odor build-up, and keep the item in good condition for longer.
- Use neutral detergent. When washing your FR coverall, always use a neutral detergent without softener or any other additives such as bleach or enzymes; products with these added ingredients can damage the material’s properties.
- Do not iron: Heat might activate the flame retardant chemicals on your garment’s surface, making them less effective than they were originally intended to be.
- Do not dry clean: The solvents used during dry cleaning are highly likely to destroy the flame retardant coating on your item of clothing—if you accidentally launder something that should only be dry cleaned, do not try to correct this mistake by having it professionally dry cleaned instead!
Flame retardant coverall use tips
- It’s recommended to wear a full-body flame retardant coverall when working with chemicals that could catch fire.
- Wear a flame retardant coverall with a hood for maximum protection in the event of fire or explosion.
- A flame retardant coverall with a face-shield can also protect you from dangerous chemical burns or toxic fumes.
- If you’re doing work that requires more dexterity, then consider wearing a flame retardant coverall with a cap attached to it instead of going for the hood option.
- In the case of an emergency, be sure to have a respirator available so that you can breathe while wearing your flame retardant coveralls—and if possible, keep one nearby even when working on less hazardous tasks as well!
