FR shirts stands for Flame Resistant, referring to the material in the garment being able to self-extinguish itself once the ignition source (such as an arc flash fire) is removed.
FR shirts are typically worn by people who are exposed to arc flash hazards and flash fire hazards. Electrical workers who come in contact with energized electrical equipment, or are exposed to similar hazardous working conditions, must wear proper Flame Resistant shirts. All FR shirts and clothing are considered part of your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Every shirt – or garment – has an ATPV (Arc Thermal Performance Value), which is a rating of the arc burn protection capability of each garment. To determine the rating of a shirt, the higher the number, the more protection it offers.
To determine which ATPV is best for your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), an arc flash hazard analysis should be performed to determine the potential incident energy in the work environment.
Shopping for the necessary PPE for employees can be a tedious, confusing affair – so many companies instead opt for an “all inclusive” kit to meet all of their PPE needs.
Realizing this, manufacturers have since started bundling PPE items into arc flash kits with various styles and fabrics. These kits are listed as compliant to a level or hazard risk category (HRC), as defined by NFPA 70E: Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (CSA Z462 Standard in Canada).
The five hazard risk categories go from Category 0, which allows untreated 100% cotton, to Category 4, that requires an FR shirt and pants plus a double layer switching coat and pants.
The latest edition of NFPA 70E stipulates that all garments for HRC 1 through 4 must be flame resistant. Older editions of the standard have allowed for "layering" solutions using 100% cotton, non-FR T-Shirts worn under rated FRC.
All styles of clothing offer superior protection, but it is absolutely critical to select the correct hazard rating for the job at hand. For additional information on the NFPA 70E Standard, see www.nfpa.org, or purchase online the CSA Z462 standard from our website: http://www.electricityforum.com/arc-flash/index.html
As for untreated material, cotton is the material of choice. Unlink polyester blends and nylon, cotton will simply burn off and not melt into the skin – which will happen during the intense heat of an arc flash explosion. As a rule of thumb, roughly 90% of all electrical trade workers fall into Categories 1 and 2 – requiring FRC with an ATPV rating of 8 or higher.
Some of the protective fabrics for FRC include:
Tecasafe Plus from TenCate Protective Fabrics
This FR technology provides all the benefits of FR cotton, including higher ATPV ratings and softer, more comfortable fabric. Tecasafe Plus is "inherently" Flame Resistant, combining the best features of all fabric options (a blend of three inherently FR fibers, combining the best attributes of flame resistance, strength, and comfort).
Nomex and CXP Nomex
Whereas Dupont is the sole manufacturer of Nomex fiber, CXP Nomex from Milliken is manufactured using a patented process in which traditional Nomex IIIA fiber is combined with Kevlar using a special weave for a noticeably softer, more comfortable wear than traditional Nomex (yet retaining all the protective quality levels).
Indura and Indura Ultra Soft
Westex produces both products, and both are FR Cotton and FR treated for the life of the garment — but there are significant differences. While Indura is chemically treated 100% cotton Indura Ultra Soft consists of 88% FR Cotton and 12% Nylon woven together to make the garment more durable and comfortable. This is an important factor, as it increases the lifetime of the garment through industrial laundering while also increasing the garments’ ATPV or Arc Rating.
(It should be noted that although there is nylon in the Indura Ultra Soft, and nylon is meltable, it is a very small amount that is blended or woven tightly on the inside of the fabric and the combination produces maximum protection.
The cleaning/washing and maintenance of FRC should be left to the professionals. Chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxides found in some detergents can degrade the FR properties of your PPE. In addition, there is always the danger of flammable materials and soils building up on the surface of the clothing, creating a potentially flammable situation.
Read More Here: Arc Flash and Electrical Safety
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For more information, see:
Electrical Safety OSHA
Electrical Safety Workplace
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