Flame resistant (fr) clothing is necessary for certain jobs, including welders, electricians, utility workers, oil and gas workers, chemical plant workers, and pulp and paper industry workers. If you have recently gained employment in one of these or other risky fields, you’re probably already searching for fr shirts for men. Before you buy any, though, take a look at the types of flame resistant clothing materials to make sure you purchase shirts that will provide you the most protection possible.
Cotton
While cotton is a natural fire retardant, untreated 100% cotton clothing is not flame resistant. This distinction is important because cotton will ignite and continue to burn in the event of combustion or fire. It should never be worn as an outer layer and only treated cotton clothing should be worn as an under layer. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does allow 100% cotton to be worn as an under layer for jobs that are in the lowest risk hazard/risk category (HRC 1), but in HRCs 2-4, the cotton must be treated with various chemicals to increase its Arc rating.
Nomex
Nomex is the brand name of a man-made fabric that is manufactured by DuPont that is naturally flame resistant. Nearly all firefighters in the United States have some Nomex clothing because of its superior protective qualities. It inherently withstands exposure to high-intensity energy such as that associated with explosions and fires for a longer amount of time than many other FR fabrics on the market. The actual structure of the fabric is flame resistant, which means that any clothing made from the fabric is permanently fire resistant as well. It can’t be washed away during laundry and it won’t wear off with use, a frequent criticism of fabrics treated with fire retardant chemicals. There are different kinds of Nomex fiber that provide various levels of flame resistance.
Kevlar
Another man-made fiber manufactured by DuPont, Kevlar is designed to protect against hazards of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit. It won’t melt or drip, and it will not sustain flame once the source is removed. As with Nomex, most firefighters have under clothing made from Kevlar, and their jackets and overalls are almost always made from Kevlar, or a Nomex-Kevlar blend. When the two materials are used together, you get an almost fireproof garment, but anything can break down if exposed to flame for too long, so even if you’re wearing Kevlar or Nomex-Kevlar clothing, you still want to get away from the source of combustion or flame as quickly as possible.
ModAcrylics
Modified acrylic, or ModAcrylic, fabric is inherently flame resistant and because it is often blended with cotton, provides a more comfortable experience than either Nomex or Kevlar. Since it’s not fabric that is treated with a fire retardant, but instead, is made to be flame resistant, it will never lose those properties to wash and wear. This makes it superior to treated cotton in terms of protection, but equal to cotton in terms of comfort.
Conclusion
With the number of fabrics available today that are inherently flame resistant, you’ll be able to find FR shirts, pants, coats, overalls, and more that are both comfortable and highly protective. Check the Arc rating requirements for your job and then choose the material you prefer. You’ll be able to perform your job, secure in the knowledge that you’re keeping yourself safe.
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