Page 37 - Occupational Health & Safety, May 2019

report does not show, but what is clearly evident in these photos, is that the non-inherent shirt became brittle and broke into frag- ments. In sharp contrast, other than a color change due to the fab- ric dyes being exposed to high temperatures, the inherent pants were still flexible enough to crumple into a ball multiple times and stayed fully intact with no breaks, holes, or tears.
Real-World Implications
In a real-world fire emergency, chances are that workers will need to flee to safety. A recently published study from the American Gas Association shows that workers may need up to six seconds to safe- ly escape from a flash fire.2 Therefore, it is critical that FR workwear continue to provide coverage and allow mobility to protect workers after a flash fire or arc flash.
Inherency Means Peace of Mind
The bottom line when it comes to selecting FR workwear is that inherent FR products help give you peace of mind. That’s because you can be confident that if a garment is intact (no holes or worn- through areas), the FR properties of inherent materials are intact.
On the other hand, FRT fabrics can have their FR properties diminished or severely compromised depending on how they are laundered; how many times they are laundered; or with exposure to certain chemicals in the laundering process or work environ- ment. In fact, garment labels are commonly found in non-inherent wmorckrw-0e5a-r1c9a_rAr9yiAnSg-mOHulStihppleh_wAadrn4in/5g/s1:9no3t:2to4uPsMe bPleagche o1r hydro- gen peroxide; that improper laundering can adversely affect the
flame resistance of the fabric; or garments can lose flame-resistant properties if not laundered and maintained according to manufac- turer instructions.
Unfortunately, there is no quick, easy test to confirm that the FR protection is still present in a non-inherent garment without destroying it. Further complicating the situation is the fact that the wear and tear a garment experiences in the field and through wash- ing is highly variable, making it difficult to know when to retire it.
The key thing to remember is that with inherent materials, if the fabric is there, the built-in flame resistance is there. It’s that simple.
Caroline Holtzman is a member of the DuPont Nomex® Thermal Apparel Technical Team based in Richmond, Va. She has a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and master’s degree in Systems Engi- neering. She began her career in the textiles industry in 1991 and has held roles in sales, marketing, manufacturing, product development, product testing, and end user education.
REFERENCES
1. NFPA 2112-2018 section 3.3.13.1; NFPA 1975-2019 section 3.3.12; NFPA 1971-2018 section 3.3.67; CAN/CGSB-155.20-2017 section 3.13.
2. “Natural Gas Workers and Natural Gas Fires, Observations and Analysis of Heat Intensity, Escape Time, Extinguish Time and Flame-Resistant Garments.” Report issued in 2018 by the American Gas Association, Safety & Occupa- tional Health Committee, Technical Guidance Subcommittee.
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