Flame-retardant materials are designed to resist ignition and slow the spread of fires. These materials can help protect workers, equipment, and property from fire hazards.
At Singer Safety, many of our products are made of flame-retardant materials to improve fire safety and protect your workers and business. In this article, we’ll discuss how flame-resistant fabrics work, the difference between non-flammable and fireproof items, and the benefits of choosing non-flammable materials in your workplace.
How Do Flame-Retardant Fabrics Work?
Flame retardant fabrics work by combining a mix of chemicals and physical characteristics to reduce fire risk in industries where fire is a concern, and to limit the spread of flames if a fire occurs.
Flame retardant materials are treated with chemicals to disrupt a fire’s combustion process. Most commonly, these chemicals work like radical “scavengers,” capturing the free radicals that are produced during a fire and stopping them from creating more reactions. By interrupting this process, non-flammable materials can slow the spread of flames or prevent them from igniting in the first place.
Additionally, some flame retardant materials have the ability to absorb energy from a fire, lowering the temperature of the surrounding materials. This can help reduce the rate of combustion and stop a fire from spreading.
Finally, certain materials can be treated so that they form a char layer when exposed to heat. This char acts like a barrier between the fire and the unburned material, shielding the fabric from further damage and cutting off the fire’s oxygen supply.
How Do Flame-Retardant Materials Improve Safety?
At Singer Safety, our flame-resistant materials improve safety in two main ways: by reducing the likelihood of a fire, and by slowing the spread of flames if one starts.
Flame-retardant materials have low ignition levels. This means they can be exposed to high heat without catching fire. Flame-resistant fabrics like those found in our welding curtains improve safety by reducing the overall instances of fires, particularly in high-risk industries like restaurants, manufacturing companies, and warehouses.
If a fire does happen to start, flame-resistant materials can slow the rate of ignition. Since flame-retardant fabrics are not highly flammable, it takes longer for them to catch, meaning it takes longer for a fire to spread. By delaying ignition and slowing the spread of flames, these materials give people time to react to fires, either by using a fire extinguisher, calling 911, or evacuating the building.
Finally, flame-retardant materials can reduce the amount of heat released during combustion. By lowering the total heat produced by a fire, these materials help lower the risk of flashovers, which is a sudden increase in fire intensity that can cause serious damage to people and buildings.
Additional Benefits of Non-Flammable Materials
Smoke inhalation is a leading cause of fire-related injuries. Many flame-retardant materials are designed to reduce the amount of toxic gasses that are released when the material is exposed to fire. By reducing the release of toxic gasses, non-flammable items can improve health outcomes for workers who are caught in a fire.
Additionally, flame retardant fabrics can help protect your business from fire damage. By limiting the spread of fire, these materials reduce the destruction of buildings, equipment, and other assets, reducing overall financial losses that can occur if a fire starts.
At Singer Safety, our flame-retardant materials meet Federal Standard CS 191-53, which is a U.S. specification that approves materials for their ability to resist ignition, stop flame growth, and self-extinguish when exposed to certain ignition sources.
By using our products such as welding curtains, first aid blankets, and roll-up welding screens, you can ensure that your business meets legal requirements for fire safety, reducing liability risks.
Is Flame-Resistance the Same as Fireproof?
Flame-resistant material is not the same as fireproof material. If a material is flame-resistant, that means that it can resist ignition and slow the spread of flames when exposed to fire. However, a flame-resistant material can still burn when exposed to high heat, though it does so at a much slower rate compared to non flame-resistant materials.
Fireproof materials are impervious to fire. This means they won’t burn when exposed to flames. It’s important to note that not many materials are truly fireproof, and even materials with high fire resistance will eventually burn when exposed to a fire for enough time.
Practically speaking, using flame-resistant materials and fire safety equipment is an excellent way to improve fire safety in the workplace, giving people time to evacuate or put out the fire. Though fireproof materials can withstand fire indefinitely, achieving true fireproofing often requires costly materials and specialized construction that are not generally accessible to most businesses.
Applications for Flame-Retardant Fabric
Flame-retardant fabrics and materials have many applications in a wide range of different industries. For example, our customers use our non-flammable industrial curtains as welding enclosures to protect their workers and equipment against sparks and welding spatter, which can be a fire risk. Similarly, our customers use our non-flammable vinyl strips in processing plants to segment off production areas with potential fire hazards, and to prevent unauthorized people from entering dangerous areas.
Non-flammable materials have applications in industrial storage, warehouses, auto shops, and chemical processing plants. They can help contain flammable materials like fuel and solvents, prevent overspray of dangerous chemicals, and create partitions for handling hazardous compounds.
At Singer Safety, we offer a wide range of products constructed from flame-retardant fabrics to improve safety. Our customers use our products in many industries, from manufacturing and processing to aerospace, automotive, and healthcare settings.
Learn More About Singer Safety’s Fire-Resistant Materials
At Singer Safety, our mission is to provide high-quality products that improve safety and reduce workplace accidents, including those caused by fire. We use flame-retardant materials in many of our products such as our standard welding panels, safety screens, and first aid blankets. Our flame-retardant solutions meet rigorous safety standards and deliver the reliability you need to protect your workers and business.
To learn more about our selection of fire-resistant products, contact us today.