The difference between flame retardant clothing and anti-arc clothing

Flame-retardant clothing and arc-proof clothing are common equipment in industrial labor protection products.Many people think that there is little difference between flame-retardant clothing and arc-proof clothing,while the two are very different. Flame retardant clothing is mainly used in oil fields, petrochemicals, gas stations, chemical industries and other industries, and anti-arc clothing is mainly used in the power industry.

So, what is the difference between flame-retardant clothing and arc-proof clothing?

The purpose of AR clothing (anti-arc Suit) is to protect workers from arc flash hazards. An arc flash is a sudden, violent release of heat and energy. The protective effect of anti-arc clothing is based on the principle of arc discharge, and the ability to resist arc damage is mainly due to the special function of the arc-proof clothing fabric. When an arc explosion occurs, this functional fabric will rapidly expand and the fabric will be carbonized, thereby increasing the density and thickness of the anti-arc clothing, and quickly forming a protective layer, thereby minimizing the contact damage between the human skin and the arc heat. Arc protection clothing helps protect these workers in the event of electrical equipment failure.

Special functions determine the excellent characteristics of arc protection clothing, such as lightness, breathability, moisture permeability, intrinsic flame retardant without molten droplets, no weakening of flame retardant effect due to washing, health and environmental protection, etc.

FR clothing (flame retardant clothing) is designed to protect workers from fire-related hazards. FR clothing is not as resistant to ignition as AR clothing. Its working principle is that the flame-retardant fiber in the fabric or the fiber that has been post-treated to achieve the flame-retardant effect greatly slows down the burning speed, and it can extinguish itself immediately after the fire source is removed, and the burning part does not produce molten droplets, giving people time to evacuate Burn the scene or take off the burning clothes on the body, reduce or avoid burns and scalds, and achieve the purpose of protection. So if exposed, the FR will catch fire, but it won't continue to burn. Flame retardant clothing is divided into intrinsic flame retardant clothing and post-treatment flame retardant clothing. Usually, the cost of intrinsic flame-retardant fabrics is higher than that of chemical flame-retardant fabrics, but work clothes made of intrinsic flame-retardant fabrics will be more durable than work clothes made of chemical flame-retardant fabrics. Work clothes made of intrinsically flame-retardant fabrics will not lose their flame-retardant properties after repeated washing. At present, the main flame-retardant fabrics are: chemically treated flame-retardant fabrics, such as pure cotton, polyester cotton, etc.; intrinsic flame-retardant fabrics, such as aramid, acrylic cotton, Dupont Kevlar, NOMEX, Australia PR97, etc. Many employees in the oil and gas industry are required to wear FR overalls. Flame-retardant clothing is the work clothes of many companies, because the nature of such enterprises is relatively special, and flame-retardant clothing can protect the life safety of employees.

There are many similarities between arc protection clothing and flame retardant clothing. The difference is that arc protection clothing can provide a higher level of protection. All arc protection clothing is flame retardant, but not all flame retardant clothing is arc resistant.

According to "DL/T 320-2010 General Technical Requirements for Personal Arc Protection Products", the protection level of arc protection clothing generally adopts the ATPV value. There are four arc flash classes. Class 1 has a minimum arc rating of 4 cal/cm2. It involves single layer arc flash suits. The minimum rating for Category 2 is 8 cal/cm2. It feels similar to Category 1, with more protection, so many companies usually choose Category 2. Types 3 and 4 require additional layers. Category 3 has a minimum rating of 25 cal/cm2. It is typically worn by firefighters and includes an arc flash shield, insulated gloves, and extra PPE. Category 4 has a minimum rating of 40 cal/cm2. In most cases, workers should be equipped with at least a Class 2 arc flash rating. This will protect workers in most flash fire threat situations. Professionals working in or around areas prone to flash fires may need to consider upgrading to Category 3 or 4 coveralls.

In the 1950s, there were only two types of fabrics: flame retardant and non-flame retardant. FR garments are made from treated cotton or aramid, while non-FR garments are made from regular cotton. The treated fabric is designed to stop the spread of fire, thus protecting the wearer from first, second or third degree burns. However, there are companies that cheat FR tests by using cheaper materials that melt when exposed to extreme heat. This has created a lot of confusion among those who rely on these materials, with some companies mistakenly selling non-flame resistant clothing that promises protection. Sometimes, wearing non-FR clothing can be worse than wearing nothing. If the clothing catches fire, non-FR fabrics can melt onto the wearer's skin, increasing their chances of internal injury, including permanent damage to their heart, skin and lungs. Flame-retardant clothing reduces the chance of catching fire and protects workers from spreading fire, something that some fabrics with this label do not. It wasn't until the 1990s that FR fabrics were subjected to more stringent testing, now known as arc flash ratings.

In summary, the difference between flame retardant (FR) and arc flash or arc rated (AR) clothing is clear, FR clothing is made of materials that naturally resist burning, melting or igniting, while helping to insulate heat. AR clothing should be worn when working near electrical equipment or anywhere where arc flash hazards may occur. Clothing should be labeled with the official arc flash rating. Arc flash and flame retardant clothing is designed to protect workers from burns associated with open flames, sparks and other possible fire hazards. Each follows different standards and classifications to provide different levels of protection. It is important to remember that all arc resistant clothing is flame retardant, but not all flame retardant clothing is eligible for arc protection. While FR clothing can protect the wearer from potential fire hazards, these materials often do not reach the same protection thresholds as AR clothing.

Workers and managers should avoid buying low-cost products from unfamiliar retailers to ensure job safety. Nothing is more important than protecting workers from these types of fire and arc flash threats.