Flame Resistant Clothing (FRC) — NFPA & ASTM Certified FR Workwear

Flame Resistant (FR) clothing is workwear specifically engineered to self-extinguish when exposed to flame or arc flash — it does not continue to burn once the ignition source is removed. FR garments protect workers by limiting burn injury and preventing the melting or dripping of fabric onto skin, which can cause severe secondary burns. FR clothing is required by OSHA in industries where workers face flash fire or arc flash hazards, including oil & gas, electrical utilities, petrochemical, welding, and mining.

NFPA 2112 covers flame resistant garments designed to protect against flash fire exposure, commonly required in the oil & gas and petrochemical industries. Garments are tested and rated by ATPV (Arc Thermal Performance Value) measured in cal/cm².

NFPA 70E (paired with ASTM F1506) governs arc flash protection for electrical workers. It assigns garments to Hazard Risk Categories: CAT 1 (minimum 4 cal/cm²), CAT 2 (minimum 8 cal/cm²), CAT 3 (minimum 25 cal/cm²), and CAT 4 (minimum 40 cal/cm²). Many FR garments are dual-certified to both standards. To choose correctly, your employer must first conduct a hazard risk assessment to identify which standard and category applies to your work environment.

Inherent FR fabrics — such as Nomex®, Kevlar®, and modacrylic blends — are flame resistant at the fiber level. The protection is built into the material itself and cannot be washed out or worn away. These garments maintain their FR properties for the life of the garment.

Treated FR fabrics are typically cotton or cotton-blend base fabrics that have had FR chemistry applied during the manufacturing process. They are generally less expensive, but the FR treatment can degrade over time with improper laundering, bleaching, or heavy wear. Always follow the care label instructions on treated FR garments to maintain their protective properties.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 (electric power generation and distribution) and 1910.132 (general PPE requirements) mandate FR clothing where workers are exposed to flash fire or arc flash hazards. Industries typically required to provide FR clothing include: oil and gas extraction and refining, petrochemical and chemical processing, electrical utility and power generation, arc welding, natural gas distribution, and mining. If your workplace has been assessed for flash fire or arc flash hazards, FR clothing is likely required for exposed workers.

Cal/cm² (calories per square centimeter) is the unit used to measure the Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) of FR fabric — it indicates the amount of incident arc flash energy the garment can withstand before a wearer has a 50% probability of sustaining a second-degree burn. A higher cal/cm² rating means greater protection. For example, a CAT 1 garment requires a minimum rating of 4 cal/cm², while a CAT 4 garment requires at least 40 cal/cm². Your employer's arc flash hazard analysis will specify the minimum cal/cm² rating required for your work tasks.

No — non-FR synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, or rayon should never be worn as a base layer under FR clothing. These materials can melt and ignite when exposed to flame or arc flash, significantly increasing burn injury severity even when the outer FR layer performs correctly. Base layers worn under FR garments should be 100% natural fiber (cotton or wool) or certified FR base layer fabrics. Safety Smart Gear carries a selection of FR base layers designed specifically for use under FR outer garments.

Proper care is critical — especially for treated FR garments. General guidelines include: wash in warm water (not hot) using mild detergent; never use chlorine bleach, fabric softeners, or starch, as these can compromise FR properties; tumble dry on low heat or hang dry; and inspect garments regularly for holes, tears, or contamination from flammable substances like grease or oil, which can reduce protection. Always follow the specific care label instructions on each garment. Inherent FR fabrics like Nomex® are more tolerant of laundering, but proper care still extends garment life.

Safety Smart Gear carries a comprehensive lineup of leading FR workwear brands, including Bulwark, DragonWear, DRIFIRE, Big Bill, Portwest, Flamesafe Workwear, Kishigo, OccuNomix, National Safety Apparel (NSA), and Blaklader. Our FR inventory includes shirts, coveralls, jackets, pants, rain gear, safety vests, sweatshirts, FR Hi-Vis combinations, accessories, and women's FR styles — all certified to current NFPA and ASTM standards.

Yes. Safety Smart Gear offers bulk and volume pricing for companies outfitting crews with FR workwear. You can request a bulk FR quote directly on our website. We also offer custom logo printing on select FR garments. Contact us at (508) 248-3141 or through our contact page for fleet or program pricing.

FR Hi-Vis clothing combines flame resistant protection with ANSI/ISEA 107 high visibility requirements — meeting both NFPA or ASTM FR certifications and ANSI Class 2 or Class 3 visibility standards in a single garment. This dual-certified workwear is required for workers who face both arc flash or flash fire hazards AND traffic or struck-by hazards in the same work environment — such as utility linemen, pipeline workers, and road construction crews working near energized equipment. Safety Smart Gear carries a full selection of FR Hi-Vis clothing.