Flame-resistant (FR) clothing is specialist personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to protect the user from flash fire or electric arc flash. FR clothes are commonplace in various industries, such as oil and gas and electricity. Fire-resistant clothing is an important part of every business or industry’s protection plan. Workers wear these garments to protect themselves from occupational burns caused by fire. When you operate in an environment where flame-resistant clothing is necessary daily, you will want to maintain it nice and clean. Flame-resistant clothing may be kept in good condition for a long period if properly washed. Workers are typically responsible for ensuring appropriate maintenance, cleaning, and repair of PPE, even though employers are responsible for supplying and replacing damaged equipment.

Tips to clean for FR Clothes

• FR clothes should be washed individually

To guarantee durability and injury prevention, washing fr clothing individually. When flame-resistant and non-flame-resistant clothing is cleaned together, the FR clothing loses its flame resistance property. Furthermore, because they are cleaned separately, they do not come into touch with pollutants from other garments, preventing exposure. Fabrics and components used in fire-resistant PPE clothes are naturally non-flammable. The chemical composition of the fabrics is naturally flame-resistant.

• While washing, flip the clothes inside out

When cleaning your FR clothing, turn them inside out to avoid friction and damage. If there are any stains on them. It should not be necessary to turn them inside out. Make sure your clothes are on the correct side to avoid stains. Flip them inside out and maintain them in good shape in most cases. Avoid over-drying your FR clothing. As soon as the garments are no longer dry, remove them from the dryer. Shrinkage can occur when flame-resistant clothing is over-dried, reducing its usefulness. When cleaning your FR clothes, stay away from chlorine-based detergents. A liquid detergent is typically a safe option for washing FR clothing.

• Clean your FR clothes when it is dirty

Keep your flame-resistant clothes out of the dirt for as long as possible. If you spill oil, paint, or any flammable substance on your FR clothing, clean it immediately or get it cleaned as soon as possible, otherwise, your garments will lose their flame resistance.

• Use hot water and laundry detergent to remove grease stains

If you have an oil or dirt stain on your FR clothing, wash them in hot water with laundry detergent. Soak your clothes in a bathtub half filled with hot water. After that, apply a liquid detergent to the discoloured spots and soak it in water. After a few minutes, rinse the clothing.

• Check if you can dry clean the clothing

In certain cases, washing the clothing in hot water will not dissolve the strains. Check if you can clean your clothing dry. If this happens, a dry cleaner can remove your clothes from the hard stain. It is safest to throw away severely damaged clothes.

• Minimizing the Effects of Shrinkage

While certain FR fabrics shrink more than others, there are a few methods you may employ to ensure that your FRC lasts as long as possible. The majority of FRC is made of cotton, which shrinks when washed. No matter who creates the fabric or manufactures the garment, flame-resistant textiles, like many non-FR materials, are subject to shrinking. It is crucial to notice that the shrinking of a garment occurs within the first five washes. Garments should be washed at a warm temperature. If you must use a dryer, take the item from it while it is still damp. Excessive shrinkage can occur when a garment is dried on high heat. At the very end of an over-dry setting, the biggest shrinking happens.

Useful Wear Life

Do you know when FR clothing should be retired from service? Stop wearing the garment if any of these wear indications appear to reduce the risk of harm. First and foremost, make sure you follow your company’s safety guidelines.

• Non-removable stains might cause your garment’s finish to deteriorate, therefore it is preferable to discard them than to chance to wear them. Use any standard washing detergent in your home.
• To minimise friction damage, turn textiles inside out before washing. Set the water level to high and fill the washer no more than two-thirds full. It is not possible to use chlorine bleach or liquid non-chlorine bleach. Because starch and fabric softeners can coat textiles, conceal FR output, and function as fuel in the case of a clothing fire, they should not be utilised.
• Toxins can be removed from clothing more easily if you use soft or conditioned water. Soap precipitates in hard water, which can lead to calcium and magnesium accumulation. Toxins can be removed from clothing more easily if you use soft or conditioned water. Hard water precipitates soaps, which can lead to the accumulation of calcium and magnesium salts. These can be utilised as gasoline if they are introduced to a source of combustion.
• During the washing procedure for clothes. All dirt and other pollutants must be completely removed from the clothing. If any toxins cannot be removed with at-home treatment, garments should be dry cleaned. Over-drying clothes are not recommended.
• Is dirty with a combustible material that will not come out with laundry? When exposed to a flame or an electric arc, flammable dirt can ignite and burn even if the clothing itself is not burning.
• To prevent decreasing the flame-resistant garment’s performance qualities, repairs of flame, thermal, and arc resistant clothing should be done with components that are equal to those used in the original manufacture. Clothes with irreversible damage, that are worn out, or that are useless for other safety concerns should not be reused and should be thrown away.
• Knowing how to properly launder fire resistant ppe clothing helps guarantee that your protective gear lasts as long as it should and performs as intended. In addition, knowing when your FR clothing needs to be fixed or replaced is critical for your workplace safety.

Author bio 

The author Williams has many years of experience in this field. With his extensive knowledge and experience, he helps give awareness about PPE wear and its importance to the people.

The Bottom line

You must handle your FR-resistant clothes appropriately to avoid occupational fire burns. The steps above will assist you in properly washing your flame-resistant clothing without risking its loss or decreasing its utility.