Flame resistant clothing is important for numerous industrial workers who work in hazardous environments. These specially designed garments, such as flame resistant jackets, flame resistant vests, flame resistant shirts, and flame resistant pants, offer excellent protection against burns caused by combustible dust, electric arcs, and flash fires.
By wearing high-quality custom fire resistant clothing, workers in various industries can safely perform their duties, potentially saving their lives from severe injuries. Flame resistant clothing is used extensively in industries like research labs, electrical utilities, oil and gas, and firefighting, where the risk of incidents, explosions, and open fires is high.
Therefore, it’s essential to have the proper protection in place to make sure the safety of workers.
This comprehensive purchase guide covers all the important aspects of flame resistant clothing to help you in picking the right flame resistant uniform.
Flame Resistant Uniforms for Industries
If you work in an environment where heat, fire, and electrical mishaps occur more often, you definitely need flame resistant uniforms. OSHA (The Occupational Safety and Health Administration) clearly defined the guidelines for who needs to wear these uniforms based on the type of injuries or hazards a worker would encounter on their job. These categories include:
People Exposed to Electric Arcs
This category includes individuals working in high-tension electricity environments, like electricians, electrical engineers, etc.
People Exposed to Fire
This category includes individuals working in the pharmaceutical industry, chemical factories, and refineries.
People Exposed to Combustible Dust
This category involves people working in the industries like paper mills and food processing plants.
Clothes to Wear Underneath Flame Resistant Uniforms
It’s crucial to opt for non-melting fabrics to wear underneath your flame resistant uniforms, as this can significantly impact your safety and the overall protective capabilities. There are two key reasons for this.
Firstly, wearing protective clothes beneath your flame resistant uniform creates a second layer of fire-resistant protection. This means that even if your outer layer sustains damage or burns, you will still have an extra layer to protect you from harm. Additionally, the layer of air insulation between the two layers of clothing provides added safety benefits.
Secondly, the extreme environments in which you may be working mean that your undergarments could become overheated or even catch fire if they are not resistant, leading to severe injuries. So it’s crucial to be cautious and only wear non-melting garments under your flame resistant clothing.
Types of Protective Uniforms
Usually, there are two types of protective uniforms used in hazardous industries. They include:
• Flame Resistant
• Fire Resistant
It’s understandable for someone who isn’t highly familiar with this information to assume that these three terms are the same. Although they share some similarities, fire-retardant stands out as being different from the rest.
So, let’s explore the major differences between them:
Flame-Resistant
Flame resistant clothing is made of fabrics and materials that can prevent combustion. Such materials possess a chemical structure that naturally resists flames, enabling them to either extinguish themselves or burn slowly. The primary purpose of these materials are to seek protection from the fire.
Fire-Resistant
Fire resistant clothing undergoes a special chemical treatment process to gain characteristics similar to those in flame resistant clothing. As a result of this chemical treatment, fire-resistant fabrics can self-extinguish and burn slowly. Although any fabric can meet the criteria, it must undergo chemical treatment before being classified as fire-resistant.
Benefits of Flame Resistant Uniforms
The advantages of wearing flame resistant uniforms are quite obvious, as they enable workers to carry out tasks in potentially dangerous environment with a significantly reduced chance of harm. While no flame resistant uniforms can guarantee complete protection against all types of injuries in every circumstance, wearing these flame resistant uniforms reduces the risks to a remarkable extent compared to regular outfits.
The primary guarantee of flame resistant uniforms is not that they will not catch fire. Rather, it is designed to resist fire and generally fulfills its purpose in all but the most extreme scenarios. Nonetheless, the most exceptional property of flame resistant uniforms is that it blocks the spread of fire. Even if the clothing catches fire, it will extinguish itself rapidly, limiting the potential for harm. Thanks to its self-extinguishing features, the wearer is less likely to suffer burns and can escape from hazards with minimal risk of fire spreading through their clothing.
Factors to Consider When Buying Flame Resistant Clothing
When it comes to shopping for flame resistant clothing, it’s important to clarify a few points for those who may be unfamiliar with the process. You might be wondering about the proper fit, any special considerations to keep in mind, or if there are any gender-specific differences in flame resistant clothing. To help simplify any concerns you may have, here are some simple pointers to help you choose the best uniforms for your intended purpose:
• It’s important to note that in flame resistant clothing, a looser fit is generally recommended for optimal protection. This is because a looser fit allows for an additional layer of air between your body and the material. It also provides added insulation against heat and flames.
• Avoid wearing tight-fitting flame resistant clothing. It can leave the fire almost directly against your skin, even with the clothing acting as a protective layer. Allow for some breathing room between your skin and the fabric is a safer choice
• Never go overboard with an excessively baggy clothing. It is very necessary to maintain a balance. Choosing baggy flame resistant clothing can appear a good choice initially, but it can lead to severe consequences.
• Baggy clothing can get caught on surrounding objects, leaving you trapped. Additionally, loose-fitting clothing can easily tear, making you more susceptible to environmental hazards. The key is to find an ideal fit in between.
• Your clothing should have a comfortably loose fit without hanging off your body to the point of being liable to catch on to nearby objects. By finding the right fit, you can ensure that your flame resistant clothing offers optimal protection while avoiding unnecessary risks
• It’s worth noting that while some flame resistant clothing manufacturers do offer specific fits and styles for women, others do not.
• You may choose to buy them, but there’s no special difference. The primary function of flame resistant clothing is to provide protection, which works regardless of the wearer’s gender. Additionally, due to the slightly loose-fitting nature of these garments, many flame resistant clothing designs are gender-neutral.
• When shopping for flame resistant clothing, it’s also important to consider the manufacturer. Each manufacturer will likely offer a different selection of fabrics and styles, and the quality of the clothing can vary from one company to another.
Conclusion
Flame resistant uniforms are a must-haves for individuals working in industry with fire hazards. If you want to shop quality flame resistant uniforms, then ApparelnBags is your go-to destination. They offer a wide range of options, ranging from flame resistant pants and flame resistant shirts to flame resistant vests and flame resistant jackets.
So shop wholesale fire resistant clothing for your team and stay protected in hazardous work environments.