Safety & Care
- Nomex® and CoolTouch Nomex® Blends
- Flame Resistant High Visibility
- Excel FR® and Comfortouch FR® Cotton and Cotton Blends
- Bulwark® FR High Visibility Rainwear
- Excel FR® 100% Cotton and Excel FR Comfortouch® 88% Cotton/12% Nylon
- Bulwark® PBI/Kevlar®
- Bulwark® High Visibility
- Bulwark® Molten Metal Splash Resistant
- Garments Made of Inherently Flame Resistant Fibers
Safety & Care
What kinds of protection does Bulwark offer?
Bulwark's FR protective work apparel is secondary protective clothing, which is designed for continuous wear in designated areas where intermittent exposure to flame or heat is possible. It is to be used in conjunction with primary protective clothing for activities where significant exposure to flame or heat is likely, such as molten substance splash.
Performance Requirements
All Bulwark garments meet the requirements specified by:
- ASTM International Standard F2302 for labeling protective clothing as heat and flame resistant
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 70E
- Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces, 2012 Edition
- ASTM Standard F1506-10a, Flame Resistant Materials for Wearing Apparel for Use by Electrical Workers Exposed to Momentary Electric Arc and Related Thermal Hazards
Because these fabrics are flame resistant, they are also acceptable under the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Final Rule 1910.269, Final Rule on Electrical Protective Equipment.
Where appropriate, Bulwark garments have been certified by Underwriters laboratories to the requirements of NFPA 2112, Standard on Flame Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire and Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) Standard 155.20, Workwear for protection against Hydrocarbon Flash Fire.
Caring for each type of flame-resistant fabric
Each type of Flame-Resistant fabric requires special safety and care considerations.
Inherently FR Fibers Inherently flame-resistant fibers are defined as having flame-resistance as an essential characteristic of the fiber.
Treated Fabrics Treated fabrics are treated with a flame retardant chemical to make them flame-resisant. The fibers used in these fabrics, such as cotton, are not normally considered protective and become flame-resistant because of the treatment.
Treated Fibers Fabrics made from treated synthetic fibers, which are extruded with a flame retardant chemical in the fiber-forming process, become flame-resistant for the life of the garment because the flame retardant cannot be removed by wear of laundering.
Blends Some fabrics are blends of treated and inherently FR fibers.
How flame-resistant fabrics work
Flame-resistant (FR) fabrics and garments are intended to resist ignition, prevent the spread of flames away from the immediate area of high heat impingement, and to self-extinguish almost immediately upon removal of the ignition source.
Normal work apparel will ignite and continue to burn if exposed to an ignition source such as flame or electric arc. Everyday fabrics will continue to burn until they are extinguished or all flammable material is consumed.