Flame retardant fabric is more resistant to fire than other fabrics, either through chemical treatment or manufacturing. They reduce the spread of fire but are not fireproof. Natural and manufactured fibers can be used, with the latter being more durable. Flame retardant fabrics are commonly used in firefighter overalls.
Flame retardant fabric, also commonly called flame retardant fabric, is a type of fabric that is more resistant to fire than others. Fire retardant fabric becomes resistant either through chemical treatment of its fibers or because its fibers are specifically manufactured to be resistant to fire.
It is important to note that neither “fire resistant” nor “flameproof” mean “fireproof”. While these fabrics may have a slower burn rate than others, it is still possible for them to burn. Furthermore, they are very likely to be damaged if exposed to fire and high temperatures for a long enough period of time. The purpose of these fabrics is to reduce the spread of a fire, not to preserve the fabric itself.
Natural fibers can be used to create fire resistant fabrics. Cotton, for example, can be treated with a chemical that reduces its flammability. The chemical applied topically to reduce the flammability of a fabric will react with the tars and gases naturally produced by the fabric. When the chemical reacts with these tars and gases, it causes tissue to char rather than burn.
Different flame retardant fabrics have different levels of durability when exposed to heat and flame. Normally, fabrics manufactured to be fire resistant are more durable in such conditions than natural fibers which are simply treated with chemicals to make them resistant to fire. Polyester, for example, can be manufactured so that the flame retardant properties are incorporated into the structure of the fibers themselves.
One reason why manufactured flame retardant fabrics are considered more effective at retarding fire than topically treated fabrics may lose their ability to resist fire over time. This is especially true for fabrics that are washed regularly.
One of the most common uses of flame retardant fabric is in overalls worn by firefighters. These coveralls are usually made from the most durable flame-retardant fabrics available, including state-of-the-art fabrics that have flame-retardant properties built into the molecular structure of the fibers. Not only do these fabrics have to resist fire, but it’s also important that they don’t char or thin when exposed to heat and flame. Additionally, it is important that these fabrics conduct as little heat as possible so as to protect the firefighter from the high temperatures of a fire.
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