The most important rock solid part you want your FR Clothing to do is to keep you safe. How you maintain its cleanliness plays a huge role in retaining the integrity of the materials it's made from.
WHAT IS FLAME RESISTANT CLOTHING?
Flame-resistant clothing is clothing made from flame-resistant fabric that protects those who work in environments in which they are exposed to flames or heat. FR clothing is designed to resist igniting, stop the spread of flames, and self-extinguish as soon as the clothing is removed from the fire or heat source.
All fire-resistant clothing must meet the requirements laid out in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 2112. These clothes are made from specific types of fabric that are each designed to resist flames and heat.
Generally speaking there are four types of fabric used for FR clothing:
- Inherently FR fibres: Inherently FR fibres are fibres that are naturally flame resistant. There is no need to apply additional flame-retardant chemicals to this fabric.
- Treated fabrics: Treated fabrics are fabrics with an applied flame-retardant chemical that makes the clothing flame resistant. Fabrics such as cotton which is not naturally flame resistant can be treated with these chemicals.
- Treated fibres: Treated fibres are synthetic fibres that are extruded with a flame-retardant chemical during their formation which makes them flame resistant. The flame retardant cannot be washed out of treated fibres and they can provide protection for the life of the garment.
- Blends: Some FR clothing can be made from a fabric that is a blend of inherently FR fibres and treated fibres. (divergentalliance.com)
So now we have covered the theory and make of the materials lets move onto cleaning them so you don't find yourself going up in flames the next time you hit the track.
DON'T DO THE FOLLOWING:
- Do not use bleach or detergents that contain bleach. Bleach will break down the molecular bond between the fabric and FR treatment over time, reducing its flame resistance.
- Do not use fabric softeners or detergents with fabric softeners. Fabric softener can reduce flame resistance by masking the fabric and it is even flammable itself.
- Do not use starch or detergents with animal fats. Starch acts as a propellent and animal fats are flammable. If you have your FR clothing dry cleaned, make sure there is no starch used in the process.
- Do not apply DEET to FR clothing. DEET is a common and effective mosquito repellent that should only be applied directly to your skin because it is flammable. However, you can apply a permethrin to your FR clothing because it will not affect the flame-resistant quality of your clothing or add any flammability. Make sure to use powder permethrin when washing it into your clothes or a water-based spray when applying it. Non water-based sprays typically use flammable propellants. (divergentalliance.com)
Home Washing
Follow these steps when washing your FR clothing in your home washing machine:
- FR clothing can be washed in a normal cycle or permanent press depending on the type of garment. Insulated outerwear and canvas garments can be washed in normal cycles while FR shirts and other knit clothing should be washed in the permanent press cycle using cold water.
- You do not need to wash your FR clothing separate from your normal clothing but washing them separately will prevent them from getting your normal clothes dirty and help you avoid overloading the machine.
- Most FR clothing can be washed and dried at any temperature in home washing machines and dryers. It is best to check the labels of your clothing for washing temperature recommendations to avoid shrinkage.
- Turn your FR clothing inside out to avoid streaking caused by abrasion. If you do not turn your garments inside out and streaking does occur, this is a cosmetic issue and will not affect the flame-resistant qualities of the garment.
- Remember to avoid bleach, fabric softeners, starch, and the cleaning products discussed in the section above.
- Use soft or conditioned water as this will help remove contaminants. Hard water will cause soap to precipitate which will lead to calcium and magnesium salt buildups. These buildups can be fuel for an ignition.
- Make sure all soil and contaminants are removed from the garments. You can presoak them and wash them in hot water to help remove embedded contaminants. If the washing process does not remove stains, you can try to remove them with stain remover products or have them dry cleaned.
- Dry your FR clothing at a low heat and if you iron them, use the low setting.
- If you have additional questions about the care of your specific FR clothing, you can consult the manufacturer. (divergentalliance.com)
Industrial Laundry
If you are washing your FR clothes in an industrial machine at a laundromat or somewhere else, follow these instructions:
- With industrial machines, you need to wash your FR clothing separate or you could damage the luminescent effect.
- FR clothing should be washed with soft water because hard water will disrupt the cleaning and cause deposits of mineral salts to build up on the clothing. These deposits will negate the flame-resistant qualities of your clothing. Hard water also precipitates soaps and causes a buildup of magnesium salts and calcium which can mask the flame resistant and luminescent properties of the fabric.
- Use only non-ionic detergents and avoid natural soaps.
- The correct detergent types and temperatures according to the manufacturer’s instructions should be followed to thoroughly clean your clothing.
- Remember to avoid using bleach, starch, fabric softener and the other cleaning products discussed above.
- Heavily soiled garments should be flushed at 105 degrees at the beginning of the cycle to help loosen the soil and reduce abrasion.
- Use a short extract time to prevent wrinkles.
- Be careful not to over dry to avoid shrinkage, keep the total temperature below 280 degrees.
- Tunnel finishing at less than 280 degrees followed by a cool down to 100 degrees will improve the appearance of the clothing.
- You can press your FR clothing using a short cycle but makes sure the temperature of the press head does not exceed 280 degrees (divergentalliance.com)
Stain Removal
Stains from flammable substances like gas, oils, and grease should be removed right away. In many instances, simply washing your FR clothing in the washing machine can remove the stains, but the detergents may not be strong enough to remove stains from flammable materials. Residual stains from flammable materials can compromise the flame resistance of your FR clothing.
After laundering, check your FR clothing to see if there are any remaining stains or odours from flammable contaminants. If the stain remains, wash your clothing with an industrial or commercial washer or have your clothing dry cleaned.
At the End of the Day
Regularly washing your FR clothing using the tips discussed above will help you keep your clothes free of stains and contaminants and extend their life. If you are unsure of how to wash a specific FR garment that you own, always check the washing instructions or reach out to the manufacturer for more information.