Care and Maintenance

CARE TIPS:   

    Most flame-resistant garments can be handled safely using common laundering and care procedures. However, a few precautions must be followed to ensure your FR garments maintain their maximum effectiveness. Remember: FR clothing is safety equipment that just might save your life. It is imperative to make sure your FR garments are properly cleaned and maintained.

    Carefully follow the manufacturer's care label when laundering FR garments. Many FR fabrics require mild wash and dry conditions to maximize the life of the garment. *Wash new flame-resistant garments prior to wearing.

    *Wash flame-resistant garments separately from standard clothing.

    *Do not use chlorine bleach.

    *Make sure FR garments are clean and in proper repair before each wearing.

    *Remove oils and flammable contaminants from FR garments. Flammable contaminants can be a fuel source that adds to burn injury.

    *Repair garments using "like materials." Use FR fabric, thread and components. Return garments to the manufacturer for repair, or use an authorized FR repair facility.

   *Repair garments using "like materials." Use FR fabric, thread and components. Return garments to the manufacturer for repair, or use an authorized FR repair facility.

PROPER WEARING

    FR clothing can only provide protection if the wearer follows garment manufacturers' recommendations for proper use:

    *Do not put on or take off the garment in proximity of flammable gasses, vapors, dusts or in other potentially explosive environments.

    *In potentially explosive atmospheres, proper grounding procedures must be used.

    *Wear garments with the appropriate arc rating as dictated by an electric arc hazard analysis. Consult employer if unsure.

    *Wear garments properly – collars closed, sleeves and cuffs down and secured, shirt tails tucked, closures secured, and other manufacturer recommendations.

    *Wear looser-fitting garments that provide adequate mobility.

    *Do not wear non-FR clothing over FR garments. The outermost layer must be FR

    *Wear only FR or non-melting undergarments (e.g. cotton, silk, wool.)

    *Wash garments thoroughly after each wearing to remove contaminants.

FAQ:

Is FR clothing uncomfortable?

     FR clothing is a safety item for personnel working in environments with a hazard of clothing igniting. There are many climates where long pants and long sleeve shirts are hot, no matter what the fabric is made of. A variety of FR fabrics are available today, some of which are perceived as being more comfortable than others. FR clothing does not necessarily need to be more uncomfortable than standard clothing.

What do all these standards and test methods mean?

     Performance standards and test methods allow users to objectively evaluate materials, and define minimum performance criteria for fabrics or garments. Using FR products that meet performance standard requirements helps ensure your people are wearing acceptable FR garments.