What is flame-retardant clothing?
Flame-retardant clothing is workwear that doesn't keep burning or melt when it comes into contact with flames, sparks or heat. The fabric chars and self-extinguishes as soon as the flame is gone. That difference is crucial: ordinary polyester or cotton workwear can keep burning or melt onto the skin, making burns far more severe. Flame-retardant clothing gives you the seconds you need to get away.
You'll find this clothing mainly among welders, petrochemical technicians, electricians, workers in the steel and glass industry, shipbuilders and anyone working in an environment with flammable gases, dust or liquids.
Which standards matter?
The label of flame-retardant clothing carries pictograms with standards. These are the most important:
- EN ISO 11612 – protection against heat and flame. The basic standard for industrial heat protection, with letters (A to F) for the type of heat the garment protects against.
- EN ISO 11611 – protective clothing for welding and related processes, in class 1 (light welding work) and class 2 (heavier welding work with more spatter).
- EN ISO 14116 – limited flame spread. Suitable as an extra layer or for environments with incidental flame contact, not as sole protection against radiant heat.
- IEC 61482 – protection against the thermal effects of an electric arc, expressed as an ATPV or ELIM value (cal/cm²) or as class 1/2.
- EN 1149-5 – antistatic properties: dissipates static charge so no spark occurs in an explosive (ATEX) environment.
Do you work in an environment where multiple risks come together? Then take a look at multinorm clothing: those garments combine flame retardancy with antistatic, chemical-splash and often high-visibility properties too.
Which fabric suits your work?
Not every flame-retardant fabric works the same way. Broadly, there are two types: inherently flame-retardant (the property is built into the fibre and never wears off) and fabrics with a flame-retardant finish (a treatment that slowly diminishes after dozens of washes).
- Bizweld – 100% cotton, fully flame-retardant and made for welding work. Heavy, comfortable and spatter-resistant.
- Bizflame – a patented flame-retardant finish on sturdy work fabrics; an attractively priced choice for general industrial work.
- Modaflame – 60% modacrylic, 39% cotton and 1% carbon fibre: inherently flame-retardant and antistatic, pleasant against the skin.
- Araflame – lightweight and very strong, inherently flame-retardant aramid for the toughest conditions and long-term use.
Not sure which fabric suits your risk assessment? Get in touch – we're happy to think it through with you.
Flame-retardant clothing by garment
Care: keeping the protection intact
Flame-retardant clothing only protects as long as it's intact and clean. Wash according to the label instructions, don't use fabric softener or bleach, and don't wash it with ordinary clothing: residues of grease, solvent or fabric softener can themselves be flammable. Replace a garment as soon as it has tears, holes, burn marks or worn seams — a repair with ordinary thread or a non-flame-retardant patch makes the garment unsuitable.
Buying flame-retardant clothing at Total Protex
At Total Protex you buy flame-retardant clothing from Portwest: a complete, certified range in the sizes you need, from XS up to 5XL and in various leg lengths. Ordering as a business? Then you can apply for an account and order on account, including attractive volume pricing for larger quantities. Not sure about size or standards, our specialists are happy to help.
