Fire Retardant Fabrics
Fire retardant fabrics have special ingredient to minimize fire ignition or spreading. These materials are suitable for applications where fire outbreak can occur and may cause a disaster. They are made from special material and can be used in different capacities.
Most high traffic areas such as mall, hospitals, and schools are guided by regulations on the use and application of fire retardant fabrics to mitigate fire accidents.
Benefits Of Fire Retardant Fabrics
Fire Protections – Fire retardant materials serve to protect individuals, property, and buildings from accidental fires. They also slow down ignition.
Safety Regulations Compliance – Most public spaces and building are governed by strict safety standards that the proprietors must adhere to.
Enhanced Workplace Safety – Non-combustible or slow combustion is integral when ensuring work places safety procedures.
Fire-Retardant Fabrics Classification
· Nomex – It is a fire-retardant fabric that is manufactured using aramid fibers. Mostly, it is used in making protective gear for first responders and firefighters from intense heat exposure. Ideally, Nomex is durable, breathable and comfortable besides, having superior fire retardant properties.
· Kevlar – Kevlar is a high strength material which can withstand extreme high and low temperatures. It is a good example of aramid fabric.
· Indura – Indura is made up of pure cotton and thus offers fire retardant fabrics that are durable and washable. It is treated using polymers that are fire retardant in a way that ensures the garment is protected from fire and heat.
· PBI – It is mostly used by professional utility workers and firefighters. PBI fire retardant fabric has a gold coloring that blends well with other fabrics to achieve premium quality fabric. This fabric is durable, light in weight, and very good at offering protection against fire.
· Levitex – Levitex fire retardant fabrics are used in the production of clothes that protect workers from injuries in case they are struck by flames or molten metals. It is a self-extinguishing fabric that doesn’t melt when subjected to high temperatures. Levitex also stops burning once the source of heat has been removed.
· Modacrylic – Modacrylic is a material when combined with other fabrics produces fabrics with fire resistance properties. It is mostly used in making clothes for workers in industries.
· Fiberglass – Fiberglass is used in the provision of insulation and other applications that require resistance to heat.
Fire Retardant Fabric Treatments
Let’s look at common options:
· Coating Method – In the coating method, a fire-resistant back coating is applied to the fire-retardant fabric being used. The back coating helps enhance the fire-retardant fabric stiffness.
· Chemical Dipping – Chemical dipping is a treatment technique that involves immersing the fire retardant fabric in a chemical solution to make it dissolve into the fibers and create resistance to flames.
· Textile Treatments – Here you will blend fabrics with certain chemicals making them fire retardant.
Remember, there exist permanent and non-permanent fabric treatments. Take for example, you can treat fabrics with salty water. Once you immerse and treat fabric during the process, you will then dry it.
The salt will remain on the fabric thus assisting the system to delay the spread of fire.
· Permanent Treatment
Permanent treatment entails two types of treatment methods which include:
- Polymerization: the first method depends on the polymerization of the material itself to form a network around the fire-retardant fabric. It does not form a chemical bond between the fabrics.
- Chemical binding: it involves chemically binding the cellulose using a molecule to form fabrics that are fire retardant.
Fire Retardant Fabric Specifications
Fire retardant fabric safety specification is different from one country to another. Some of the most common fire-retardant fabric specifications include:
NFPA 701 – This is a USA fire retardant fabric safety standard. It has been adopted globally as a safety measure.
ISO 15025 – This is an internationally recognized fire-retardant fabric standard. The standard specifically provides for the evaluation of flame spread, after-flame, and afterglow.
BS 5852 – This is a fire-retardant fabric safety standard provided by the British and accesses the ignitability of upholstered seating when subjected to a small flame. It has different test levels from smallest flames to big flames.
DIN 4102 – DIN 4102 fire-retardant fabric standard is a German standard that classifies the flammability behavior of building materials and components.
AS/NZS 1530 – This is an Australian and New Zealand fire-retardant fabric safety standard. It provides for the procedures of testing a fire-retardant fabric and also consists of different test levels that test different aspects of fire-retardant fabric.
Applications Of Fire-Retardant Fabrics
Some of the applications of fire-retardant fabrics include:
· Upholstery And Furnishings
They can be used as curtains, carpets, drapes, or even bedding. They are ideal in the prevention of rapid flame spread in case of a fire accident.
· Transportation Industry
Common applications include insulation, headliners, roofing, etc. They are ideal for minimizing fire from spreading rapidly in case of a fire accident.
· Military And Defense Applications
The fabric is used in almost all elements of the military starting from uniforms, and tents, to other sophisticated equipment such as tanks. They serve to protect military personnel and equipment from fire hazards.
· Hospitality And Public Spaces
Hospitality and public areas are guided by strict fire regulations on fire safety issues. These can be used in the form of drapes, curtains, seat covers carpets, and beddings. All these serve to keep the occupants of these spaces safe if a fire accident occurs.
· Medical And Healthcare
Common examples include curtains, drapes, etc. They make part of the elaborate safety standards.
· Electrical And Electronics
This ensures that components cannot catch fire easily in case of an electrical fault such as overheating and short circuits of any components. You can find the material in cables or other insulators.
· Outdoor and Recreational gear
Tents, awnings, and canopies can be made from fire retardant fabric. It is used purposely to enhance fire safety during outdoor activities and protect users from potential fire hazards.
Get A Quote Now