Have you heard the term “FR clothing” and asked yourself, “What does the ‘FR’ stand for?” The ‘FR’ in FR clothing means ‘flame resistant.’ By definition, flame resistance is the ability of a material, in this case clothing, to self extinguish once the ignition source is removed. It also prevents the spread of flames.
NFPA 70E and OSHA’s 1910.269, Maintenance Standard, require anyone working within a flash protection boundary to wear flame-resistant protective clothing. Anyone working in an area exposed to flash fire, electric arc or combustible dust explosions, or anyone working near energized electrical equipment, falls into the category where FR clothing is required. This includes a number of workers, such as electricians, utility linesman, refinery workers, and even pharmaceutical professionals.
Below are some answers to typical questions regarding FR clothing. For guidance and direction in selecting the best FR-rated clothing for your employees, consider partnering with a comprehensive safety equipment supplier.
Hazard Risk Categories, or HRC, are specified in the NFPA 70E standard by specific jobs. There are five categories that apply, starting at HRC 0 through HRC 4. These categories specify what types of clothing are required as well as how many layers you are required to wear for each risk category.
For example, HRC 0 allows a worker to wear one layer, which can be an untreated cotton material, whereas HRC 4 requires a worker to wear cotton underwear, an FR shirt and pants, as well as a multi-layer flash suit with a total of three or more layers.