Simple guide to choose best Fire resistant clothing
If you are an electrician or work in an oil industry or someone who works in an hazardous environment, you will be familiar with flame resistant clothes.
Many industries use flame resistant material as a protective gear against pyro hazards. Flame resistance clothing are used to keep the workers safe where there is a risk of flash fires or arc flashes etc.
Since flame resistant clothing protect you from potential risky situations, it is imperative that you choose the best ones.
With this guide we will assist in you choosing the best FR clothing as safety should be anyone’s primary concern.
- Understand the type of cloth you need
Before you decide to buy flame resistant clothes, you need to assess the type of hazards you will be under.
There are different standards of Flame Resistant clothing for different types of fire hazards.
Review all these standards thoroughly to get an idea of the grade of FR clothing that you will need.
- Climate
The climate in the area of your work environment also plays a big role in selecting the fabric.
Whether you work in a hot or cold climate, it can be a deciding factor for choosing the right type of flame resistant clothing.
Working in extreme climates puts the fabric in the risk of heat stress or frost damage.
Assess the climate conditions of your workplace properly so that you can buy the flame resistant clothes so that you can choose a fabric suitable to the weather and offer you the optimum safety.
The degree of exposure to certain elements can also affect the temperature of your work environment. Keep this factor in mind as well.
- Durability
A durable flame resistant clothing will offer you the best of results. It will not will keep you safe but also have a relatively longer life span.
Now you might wonder, how would you decide the durability of a garment. Well there are a few factors that you can take into example like the blend of the fabric. A nylon fibre blend are generally more durable against wear and tear and the longevity of the fabric is quite impressive as well.
Also look for the fabric construction. The way a fabric is weaved together can be a could indicator of its durability. Plain weaves tend to have lesser durability as compared to a herringbone weave.
- Should be able to laundered
Before you buy a flame resistant clothing check its wash care instructions. A flame resistant clothing should be able to withstand multiple washings.
An ISO certified FR clothing can withstand a minimum of 5 wash cycles. The fabric should be able to go through regular laundering so as to remove the soils and contaminants from the fabric without the fabric being discolored or shrinking excessively.
The fabric should also have the ease of wash ability. You cannot buy a new set of clothing every time it is exposed to flammable oil or dirt. So check the laundry requirement of your fabric and make sure that it is suitable for you.
- Comfort
This might not seem like an important factor when it comes to buying the best flame resistant clothing. A fabric along with being durable should also be comfortable to wear.
If you are working in extremely sultry conditions, you might feel like rolling your sleeves up to reduce the heat. But this leaves the skin on your hands exposed to risks.
Buy a flame resistant clothing with a fabric which is comfortable to wear and does not cause any kind of irritation.
Final words
Making sure that you wear the best flame resistant clothing is very important for your personal protection.
Buying a flame resistant clothing for the first time can be an intimidating task but with the help of this guide you can make the right decisions and choose the best clothes for yourself.
