Page 50 - OHS, April 2020

ELECTRICAL SAFETY
The Science Behind Your FR Clothing
Have you ever wondered how protective flame resistant (FR) fabrics resist catching fire? We have your answers.
BY DREW CHILD
46 Occupational Health & Safety | APRIL 2020
www.ohsonline.com
When a flame, spark or intense heat reaches a flammable substance, a chemical reaction occurs that produces heat and light. This reaction, termed “combustion,” is the basis of fire. Have you ever won- dered how protective flame resistant (FR) fabrics re- sist catching fire?
Arc flash, flash fire and combustible dust hazards are commonplace in many industrial settings, includ- ing the oil and gas and electric industries. Daily wear FR personal protective equipment (PPE) helps pro- vide a final safeguard to those who may experience these short-term thermal hazards. Yet, to provide this critical protection, PPE must harness the science be-
hind fire and FR fabrics.
To develop effective FR fabrics, textile manufac-
turers must first have a deep understanding of the sci- ence of fire. Manufacturers have developed different technologies to create FR textiles, each with their own merits. To help you understand how these approaches work to snuff out a flame, we explain the various tech- nologies, explore their advantages and drawbacks, and provide some insight into how they work to pro- vide flame resistance.
What is Fire?
We generally think of fire as requiring three separate components: oxygen, heat and fuel. Heat is required