Protect your workers with the right equipment


Combustible Materials and Fire Retardents

All fabrics will burn but some are morePeople unfamiliar with fire retardants are
combustible than others. Untreated naturalsurprised to hear that wood or fabric can
fibers such as cotton, linen and silk burnqualify as a non-combustible material to a
more readily than wool, which is morecertain degree. Should a fire strike, the
difficult to ignite and burns with a lowchemicals react with combustible gases and
flame  velocity.tars normally generated by the material. The
tars are converted to carbon char which forms
The weight and weave of the fabric willon the surface, slowing the burning rate .
affect how easily the material will igniteThe combustible gases are rendered
and burn. Recommended fabrics are materialsnonflammable for the most part due to
with a tight weave. Heavy, tight weavedilution with harmless carbon dioxide and
fabrics will burn more slowly than loosewater vapor released in the reaction. This
weave, light fabrics of the same material.happens automatically, driven by the heat of
The surface texture of the fabric alsothe fire, and requires no coating
affects flammability. Fabrics with long,maintenance, batteries, or plumbing; it is
loose, fluffy pile or "brushed" nap willtrue  passive  protection.
ignite more readily than fabrics with a hard,
tight surface, and in some cases will resultAccording to the NFPA's National Fire Safety
in flames flashing across the fabric surface.Survey findings: Although the U.S. has a
higher fire death rate than Canada, Western
Most synthetic fabrics, such as nylon,Europe and the Pacific Rim, the majority of
acrylic or polyester resist ignition.Americans are very confident about their fire
However, once ignited, the fabrics melt. Thissafety. Older adults express the greatest
hot, sticky, melted substance causesconfidence even though they have the greatest
localized and extremely severe burns. Whenrisk of fire death. Men are more confident
natural and synthetic fibers are blended, theabout fire safety than women; although, of
hazard may increase because the combinationthe two groups, men are at a higher risk of
of high rate of burning and fabric meltingfire death. The majority of Americans feel
usually will result in serious burns. In somesafest from fire in their homes, when in
cases, the hazard may be greater than that oftruth, home fires account for roughly 80% of
either  fabric  individually.all fires - and they pose the greatest threat
to  life.
Curtains, draperies and other articles in the
home can have their burning rates reducedThe cost of operating public fire prevention
with flame retardants applied throughservices in the U.S. costs the taxpayers
chemical treatment. Such flame-retardantbillions of dollars per year, most of which
treatment after manufacturing is notis spent on suppression of fire. Many people
recommended  for  clothing.have the attitude that "fire only happens to
other people." But until fire strikes their
In terms of flammability, silk may be thehome and family, fire prevention is ignored.
worst with a high burning rate, which may beOnce fire prevention week comes and goes each
increased by the dyes and other additives toOctober, little thought is given to fire
provide  color.safety and prevention until next year's
campaign. Fire suppression is a necessary and
Cotton and linen also have a high burningvitally important service. It is, however,
rate but this can be alleviated by the"after-the-fact". This includes smoke
application of flame-retardant chemicaldetectors, alarms, sprinklers and
additives.extinguishers. The use of fire retardants or
firestops is logical "before-the-fact" steps
Acetate and triacetate are as flammable orthat should be taken. Fire spreads 1100% in
slightly less flammable than cotton. However,the first 4 minutes. Heat rises at 90 feet
they can be made flame-retardant withper  second  or  approximately  60  mph.
chemical  treatment.
Approximately 90% of fire fatalities are in
Nylon, polyester and acrylic tend to be slowthe home and 90% of the fatalities occur
to ignite but once ignited, severe meltingduring the sleeping hours 10pm to 6am.
and  dripping  occurs.Remember, smoke alarms and sprinklers cannot
prevent the fire, but fire retardants in most
Wool is comparatively flame-retardant. Ifcases can prevent and/or slow the spread of
ignited, it usually has a low burning ratefire, which can greatly prevent lose of life
and  may  self-extinguish.and property in addition to using smoke
alarms or sprinklers. By applying fire
Glass fibers and moacrylic are almostretardants to your curtains, furniture,
flame-resistant. These synthetic fibers arecarpeting, etc., is very easy and is an added
designed and manufactured to possesssafety precaution for smokers and small
flame-retardant  properties.children in the home. Your home and family
deserve the best fire protection possible, so
What  is  a  Fire  Retardantwhy not invest in it.



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