Inherent vs. Treated Flame Resistant Fabrics: What's the Difference?

Many workers are presented with thermal hazards such as molten metals, arc flash, hot liquids, and flame. In environments where these hazards are present, flame-resistant (FR) personal protective equipment (PPE) is of paramount importance. When selecting such gear there are many important terms that one may be confronted with. The most common distinction is inherent fabric vs. treated fabrics.

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A piece of protective equipment can be classified as an inherent fabric if it is woven using some percentage of a fiber that is itself chemically flame-resistant. These are generally oxidized fibers or fibers synthetically derived from petrochemicals that have been chemically altered. In such garments, the flame-resistant properties are inherently present in the fiber’s polymer structure and can never be lost due to washing the garment.

Protective equipment may be labeled as a treated fabric if fibers have been chemically treated to achieve FR properties, either before weaving or as a chemical finish on the garment. Some treated fabrics can lose their FR capabilities over time or with frequent or improper washing, although advances in the FR field have produced treated fabrics that retain their protective qualities for the entire lifetime of the product. The first such treated fabric was introduced in , and the difference in efficacy between treated and inherent FR fabrics has been shrinking ever since. Even so, many purchasers of FR equipment turn instead to inherent fabrics or inherently flame retardant fabric due to the ongoing misconception that all treated FR garments will lose their protective properties over time.

Inherent vs. Heat Treated Fabrics

Heat-treated fabrics are materials made from the addition of flame-retardant chemicals to provide some level of flame resistance. The additive forms a strong bond with the polymer of the fiber, which is often itself not flame-resistant. This bond is difficult or impossible to remove when proper laundering and care is applied. One potential pitfall of such gear is that there is no way to visually inspect that the FR quality of the equipment is intact. If outside the useful lifetime of the equipment, or if improperly laundered, the FR qualities may be reduced or removed with almost no way to determine that this has happened.

This problem is not present with inherent FR fabrics, as the chemical properties of the fibers themselves cannot be washed out. This may cause inherent fabrics to sell at higher costs since they typically offer longer useful lifetimes. Since there is no regulatory body governing the use of this term, however, it has often been applied loosely—often to garments containing no more than 15% FR fibers blended with naturally flammable fibers. Some garments that are woven of natural fibers treated before the weaving process have even been marketed as inherent, so to some extent, the term has lost meaning.

Inherent FR Fabrics: Pros and Cons

The primary advantages of inherent FR fabrics include:

• High level of protection from thermal hazards
• Often present higher thermal protective performance (TPP) scores than treated fabrics
• Long service life
• FR properties will never wash out
• Garments will not ignite in normal O2 concentrations
• May char or expand (typically garments created with oxidized fibers) to provide increased thermal resistance under continuous exposure to a thermal hazard
• Lightweight

The most notable disadvantages of inherent FR fabrics include:

• Higher upfront cost (albeit offset by longer useful lifetime)
• Purportedly less comfortable than some treated fabrics of cotton or other cellulosic origins
• Inconsistency in application of the term ‘inherent fabric’ or ‘inherently flame retardant fabric’ that is often driven by marketing motives, rather than science and metrics relating to performance

Treated FR Fabrics: Pros and Cons

Here are some of the primary advantages of treated FR fabrics:

• Cheaper than most inherent garments
• Many available treated fabrics now provide life-of-garment FR protection
• Generally considered more comfortable
• Many available treated fabrics now only char similar to inherent fabrics, rather than combusting when exposed to a heat source
• Most treated fabrics will spontaneously extinguish a flame when the source of heat is removed

The largest disadvantages of treated fabrics include:

• Some treated fabrics will lose their protective qualities over time
• Some treated fabrics off-gas as a method of flame retardancy, producing harmful gases that in some cases include gaseous cyanide
• Many treated fabrics use increased mass as a means of increasing FR metrics such as TPP, which can increase heat strain and decrease comfort when wearing a heavier garment for extended periods
• Some 88% cotton, 12% nylon (88/12 FR) and 100% cotton blends, in particular, lose their protective qualities over time with even proper laundering
• If the flame-resistant capabilities have diminished, there is no way to tell upon visual inspection

Tex Tech: The Industry Leaders in FR Fabric Technology

Even with an understanding of the differences and usages of terms such as treated and inherent, the key factor is ultimately the safety and protective value offered to the wearer. In this regard, a more important distinction is proven vs. unproven. Tex Tech and our CarbonX brand have repeatedly proven effective in laboratory testing, as well as in the field—all with the added benefits of comfort and affordability. We work primarily with inherent fabrics.

• CarbonX’s range hoods, gloves, undergarments, and other protective garments for industrial, motor-racing, and firefighting are superior in comfort and durability and made with inherent FR fibers.
• Tex Tech provides aircraft seat fire blocking with only inherent fibers—and nothing else blended in—that lasts for many years on an airplane
• Tex Tech offers high-tech Thermal Protection System (TPS) fabrics and materials for space launch vehicles to withstand rocket burn and the thermal stresses of re-entry

Tex Tech Industries has been a leader in the advanced textile industry for over a century. Throughout this time, we have devoted enormous resources to research and development in the areas of textile and fiber solutions. We have pioneered more than 7,000 of the best performing products in the marketplace and a wide range of high-performance materials.

We provide innovative solutions for all individual fabric requirements, backed with best-in-class customer service. We invite you to contact our experienced material scientists to discuss how to discuss how Tex Tech can provide the material solutions you need.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Flame Retardant Fabric Suppliers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Fire retardant fabrics have plenty of uses. They are known to be used in upholstery, curtains, soft furnishings, industrial worker uniforms, firefighter uniforms, etc. If you are interested in fire retardant fabrics, then this article is for you. Read on to learn more about fire retardant fabrics and what these can do for you and your needs. 

What is a Fire Retardant Fabric?

A fabric is considered a fire retardant type based on the length of time it needs to burn and at what specific temperature it does so. The different types of fabrics are tested in laboratories to know how long it takes to burn and at what temperatures with different types of methods. 

Fire retardant fabrics are fabrics that are slow to burn. They are different from fireproof fabrics and materials that never catch fire; they are only resistant to flames compared to other fabrics in the market. Fabrics can become fire retardant depending on their natural structure. For example, cotton is a type of fabric that easily catches fire, while wool, on the other hand, does not catch fire and resists flames. The tighter the fabric is, the more time it will need to burn or catch flames. 

Fabrics can be inherently fire retardant because of their fibers’ unique fire-retardant properties. An example of inherently fire retardant fabric is polyester; it is durable and easy to care for. Wool, on the other hand, may shrink after you wash it, so this can be a problem for your soft furnishings, curtains, carpets, etc. 

Most fabrics in the market are immersed with fire-retardant chemicals to help them withstand fire by preventing them from catching fire and put out the fire. Fire retardant fabrics have inherent fire retardant properties which are ingrained in the microscopic composition of their fiber, so they will never decline. An example of a fabric that is naturally fire retardant is polyester. It has a high base level of fire resistance. It looks and feels like natural fabrics and they undergo thorough testing to ensure their safety standards. 

What Fabrics Are Inherently Fire-Retardant?

• Wool – considered as the most fire-retardant natural fiber, it does not easily ignite or catch fire and it is capable of putting out smaller flames on its own. It has a slow-burning rate.
• Silk – this fabric burns extremely slow. It does not easily ignite or catch flames and can be capable of extinguishing small flames on its own, depending on the situation.
• Acrylic – it is a fire retardant fabric and does not easily ignite. It requires a higher temperature and longer time of exposure to catch fire compared to other natural fibers, but once it catches fire it may burn vigorously and will melt and drip.
• Nylon – Slow to ignite, however, when ignited, severe melting can occur.
• Polyester – A naturally fire retardant fabric, it resists ignition. However, once ignited, the fabric will melt but this occurs in high temperatures.

What Are the Different Ways to Make a Fabric Fire-Retardant? 

There are different ways fabrics can become fire retardant. Check out the two treatments below that can be applied to fabrics that will make them become fire retardant.

• Coating – This type of technique is performed when a coating is applied to fabrics. This makes the fabric stiff and is often used for upholstery such as seats, paddings, springs, webbing, covers, etc. This technique is not applicable for fabrics that will be used as curtains.
• Dipping – This type of technique is also known as chemical dipping. It is usually done for fabrics that are manufactured from natural fibers or made with a high amount of natural fibers. This technique is done by dipping the fabric in a chemical solution.The fibers on the said fabric will absorb the chemical solution, thus, creating a protective barrier that will protect the fabric against fire. When the said fabric catches fire, the chemical solution coating it will be activated by the extreme heat to produce a chemical reaction that will put out the flames. Its technique is the same as how fire extinguishers function.

What Are the Two Types of Fire Retardant Materials?

• Inherently fire retardant fabric – This type of fabric is flame-resistant because of the chemical makeup of the fabric. They prevent and slow down the spread of the flames. They do not melt or drip when they are exposed to flames and most of the time they are self-extinguishing. These kinds of fabric are not fully fireproof, but if they catch fire, they will burn at a much slower rate compared to other fabrics. Overall, they will remain fire retardant, especially if treated with the proper care even when exposed to frequent washing, normal usage, wear and tear, or after a long time of use. 
• Chemically treated fire retardant fabric – This type of fabric started out as a flammable type of fabric, but when treated with a chemical solution, they become fire retardant fabrics. They are slow to catch fire, and when exposed to flames, they can be self-extinguishing or can put out the fire without any assistance from anyone. This type of fabric can be washed, but can become less fire retardant after some time. You must properly care for it to prolong its use. 

What Are the Advantages of Using Inherent Fire-Retardant Fabrics?

• Protection against extreme heat
• Long term use
• Fire retardant properties will never fade out
• Lightweight

What Are the Disadvantages of Inherent Fire-Retardant Fabric?

• More expensive than its counterparts
• Less comfortable than the other treated fabrics in the market
• Some companies market their fabrics as fire-retardant, but they are not “truly” inherent fire retardant fabrics

What Are the Advantages of Chemically-Treated Fire-Retardant Fabrics?

• Cost-effective when compared to inherent fire retardant fabrics
• More comfortable to wear, not stiff
• Does not combust when exposed to fire, will char just like inherent fire retardant fabrics
• Can self-extinguish the flames when the heat source causing it is removed 
• After leaving the fire source, it will stop burning
• Can reduce the impact of the flames
• Works like a fire extinguisher

What Are the Disadvantages of Chemically-Treated Fabrics? 

• After a while, some chemically treated fabrics will lose their fire retardant properties
• Most fabrics produce dangerous gases when exposed to high temperatures
• Cotton blend fabrics lose their fire-retardant properties after a while, even with proper washing and care
• There is no way to check if the flame retardant properties of the fabric have been reduced just by basing off visual assessment
• Needs special attention during the cleaning process to conserve its fire-retardant properties and protective efficiency for as long as possible. 

Applications of Fire-Retardant Fabrics

Inherent fire retardant fabrics and chemically treated fabrics are used in different types of applications. Most of the time, they are used in different places such as schools, theaters, and hospitals for curtains, blinds, and drapes. 

They are also used to create tents, hospital drapes, tarps, banners, signs, and even in the military. It has industrial uses when manufacturing occupational suits, welding protective clothing, firefighter uniform, military gear, industrial protective clothing, etc. Chemically treated fabrics can be used to create foam for different types of furniture, car seats, blinds, decorative textiles, and insulation for buildings and homes. 

Conclusion

Flame retardant clothing is usually manufactured from cotton fire retardant fabric. It is commonly used for general industrial fire retardant and thermal protection. There are different types of fire retardant fabrics, inherent fire retardant, and chemically treated fire retardant fabrics. Inherent fire retardant fabrics have a unique structure on their fibers that resist fire. On the other hand, chemically-treated fire retardant fabrics are applied with a chemical solution to make them slow-burning and not easily catch fire. 

If you need fire retardant fabrics, make sure to check out a reliable wholesale distributor like Spandex Warehouse. If you want to order any type of fabric, please check out this link to send us a purchase order. You can also request a quote here. If you have any questions or inquiries about our products, you can contact us by filling up this contact form here. 

If you are searching for a wholesale supplier of fire retardant fabrics, Spandex Warehouse is the perfect solution for your dilemma. Our company has been in the fabric industry for more than 15 years and we have catered to our clients’ wholesale fabric needs. If you need different types of fabrics such as fire retardant fabrics, please let us know. We will help you find the best fabric that will suit your needs.

For more Fireproof Fabrics Wholesaleinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.