FABRIC GUIDE

TECHNICAL INFORMATION & TERMINOLOGY:

FR garments are made from a wide variety of fabric. Each offers a combinations of features to be best suited for each job application. There are 2 main types of FR fabric:

FR treated fabrics – fabrics are made flame resistant by a chemical treatment. The treatment is durable to laundering and can meet the requirements of the NFPA 2112 standard for flammability before and after 100 industrial wash and dry cycles.


Inherently FR fabrics – are made with a fiber or a combination of fibers that are flame resistant without additional chemical treatment.

 

FABRIC & DESCRIPTION

 

Inherently FR Fabrics

Fabric Composition Well-Known Fabric Mfg. Common Applications
       
Nomex IIIA 93% Nomex IIIA, 5% Kevlar 
2% Carbonated Nylon		 Southern Mills dba TenCate, 
Milliken		 Flash fire protection 
Fire Service station wear
       
Comfort Blend 65% Nomex IIIA 
35% FR Lenzing		 Southern Mills dba TenCate Flash fire protection 
Fire Service station wear 
Electric Arc
Tecasafe Plus 700 48% FR Modacrylic 
37% Lyocell 
15% Aramid		 Southern Mills dba TenCate  
       
Vinex 85% Vinal 
15% Polynosic		 Distributed by Westex 
Fabric imported fr. Japan
Molten metal protection 


Notes: *Nomex IIIA is a trademark of FR fiber made by DuPont 

FR Treated Fabrics

Fabric Composition Well-Known Fabric Mfg. Common Applications
       
FR Cotton 
(Excel FR, Indura, etc.)		 100% Cotton 
FR Treated

Westex 
Mt. Vernon,  Milliken

 Flash fire protection 
Electric Arc 
Welding
       
FR Cotton Blends 
(Excel FR, UltraSoft)		 88% Cotton 
12% Nylon 
FR Treated		   Flash fire protection 
Electric Arc 
Welding
       
FR Cotton Knit 
(Excel)		 100% FR Cotton Interlock   Flash fire protection
       
FR Cotton Knit 
(UltraSoft)		 88% FR Cotton 
12% Nylon 
FR Treated		   Electric Arc

 

Arc Rating

 

Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV): The incident energy, expressed in cal/cm2, on a material or a multilayer system of materials that results in a 50% probability that sufficient heat transfer through the tested specimen is predicted to cause the onset of a 2nd degree burn injury based on the Stoll curve. Source: ASTM F1959.


Breakopen Threshold Energy (EBT): The incident energy on a material or material system that results in a 50% probability of breakopen. Source: ASTM F1959.

 

Hazard Risk Category (HRC): HRC 1: minimum 4 cal/cm2
HRC 2:min. 8.0cal/cm2
HRC 3: min. 25cal/cm2
HRC 4: above 40 cal/cm2
HRC 3 & 4 are usually seen in outerwear, with multiple layers of FR fabric.

 

Fabric Weight (wt./yd2) Arc Rating (cal/cm2) HRC (single layer)
       
Nomex IIIA 4.5 oz 
6.0 oz 
7.5 oz		 4.6 
5.7 
6.6		 1 
1 
1
       
Comfort Blend 5.5 oz 
6.5 oz		 5.2
6.1		 1 
1
       
Tecasafe Plus 700 7.0 oz 8.4 2
       
Tecasafe Plus 700A 7.0 oz 10.1 2
       
Tecasafe Plus 850A 8.5 oz 10.4 2
       
Vinex 6.0 oz 5.6 1
  8.5 oz 8.5 2
       
FR Cotton 
(Excel FR, Indura, etc)		 7.4 oz 
9.0 oz		 6.3 
7.7		 1 
1
       
FR Cotton Blends 
(Excel FR, UltraSoft)		 7.4 oz 
9.4 oz		 8.2 
11.1		 2 
2
       
FR Cotton Blends 
(Excel FR, UltraSoft)		 6.25 oz 
6.5 oz		 11 
10.9		 2 
2
       
FR Cotton Blends 
(Excel FR, UltraSoft)		 6.25 oz 
6.5 oz		 11 
10.9		 2 
2