Buying FR Clothing? Here's What You Should Know

Investing in flame-resistant (FR) clothing protects workers and saves lives. How can EHS professionals ensure that they are making the best purchase decision? Workrite Uniform offers this list of "10 Things to Consider When Buying FR Clothing.”

1. Delivers protection: FR clothing should offer the correct level of protection against the identified hazard, bet it electric arc, flash fire or molten metal splatter.
2. Offers guarantee: Protection offered by FR clothing should be guaranteed for the life of the garment.
3. Meets standards: FR clothing should meet or exceed safety and performance standards, such as ASTM F1506 and NFPA 2112 .
4. Provides comfort: FR clothing should be comfortable to wear (soft, smooth, fit well) and should not interfere with job performance standards.
5. Manages moisture: FR clothing should provide moisture control, with sweat-wicking and fast-drying properties.
6. Retains fit: FR clothing should have a good level of fit retention with low shrinkage rates when laundered.
7. Remains durable: FR clothing fabric should be strong and should resist abrasion.
8. Maintains strength: FR clothing should be built to last, including strong seams and reinforcement in high-stress areas.
9. Retains color: The color of FR garments should have good retention after laundering.
10. Vendor supports: The company from which you purchase FR clothing should have expert staff readily available to support FR needs and answer questions.

"All FR products have a balance of properties, including protection, cost, comfort, appearance, color
selection and wear life," Workrite explains. "Each company should select the product that provides the best protection for its specific workplace hazards."

The company also post white papers and tech briefs on FR clothing and industry standards such as NFPA 70E on its website.