Fire-retardant fabrics are not to be confused with fireproof. Fireproof fabrics are usually made of carbon fibre or other materials that can withstand temperatures above 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit for more than five minutes without sustaining damage. Fire retardant fabrics, on the other hand, are designed to prevent a fire from spreading after it starts.
While it’s true that many types of clothing will burn when exposed to a flame, this is not necessarily because they were made with flammable materials. Instead, it’s because they’re being worn on the body and have lots of potential fuel sources around them (like hair and skin cells). If you’re wearing clothes made from synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon, they can ignite faster than cotton since they don’t absorb moisture as readily as natural fibres do. This means that if there is an open flame nearby (like an oven burner), your synthetic clothes could catch on fire before your natural fibres do. So how do you protect yourself from this? By using fire-retardant fabrics in your clothing designs!
Why Choose Fire Retardant Fabrics?
Fabrics can burn very quickly, and once they do, they often feed the flames by acting as fuel sources. When this happens, it’s possible for a small fire to turn into an all-consuming blaze that rips through the room and destroys everything in its path. Flame retardant fabric contains chemicals that slow down the combustion process, giving people more time to escape from dangerous situations. They may also act as a physical barrier between flame and human skin or other materials that would be damaged if exposed to high temperatures for long periods of time.
What Is Fire Retardant Fabric?
There are several types of fire retardant fabrics that are designed to provide protection against both flame and heat. Some will only work against one type of hazard while others work against both types simultaneously. The most common material used in fire resistant fabrics is polyester fibreglass (PF).
When you buy fabric, remember that there are two main types of fire retardant fabrics:
Nylon 6 or Nylon 6/6 – this is the most common type of fire retardant fabric. Nylon 6/6 is a combination of nylon 6 and either 1 or 2% carbon black pigment, which makes it easier to dye dark colours without showing through the surface. Nylon 6/6 has an excellent balance between strength and abrasion resistance and can be used in many applications where abrasion resistance is important (such as outdoor equipment).
Polyester – Polyester fire retardant fabrics are generally more expensive than nylon based fabrics – but they offer better thermal insulation properties and don’t shrink when they’re washed!
