Fire resistant fabrics are the fabrics that shows more resistance to fire and heat. The fire resistance of a textile fiber is affected by the chemical nature of fiber; ease of combustion, fabric weight and construction; efficiency of the flame retardant; environment; and laundering conditions. Fire resistant characteristics can change significantly when treated fabrics is exposed to sunlight followed by laundering, even though repeated washing and tumble dying of samples of the same specimen does not indicate any significant changes. Fire resistant fabrics are used in industrial protective clothing to provide protection against industrial fire such as pool fire, flash fire, jet fires and Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion (BLEVE) fire. Industrial protective clothing acts as a stable and an inert barrier between the fire and skin, protecting the wearer from direct exposure.
Fire resistant fabrics are classified into two types: inherent, and treated. Inherent fire resistant fibers are materials that have fire resistance built into their chemical structures. The actual structure of the fiber itself is not flammable, the protection is built into the fiber itself and can never be worn away or washed out. The other category is of fire resistant treated fabrics. These fabrics are made fire resistant, but the application of fire resistant chemicals. A chemical additive in the fiber or treatment on the fabric is used to provide some level of fire resistance. During a fire, chemically-dependent fabrics rely on chemical reactions to extinguish the flame. This reaction is triggered by the heat of the fire and the amount of time the fabric is exposed to the fire.
Fire resistant fabrics are used in various applications, including wore work, law enforcement services, and fire-fighting uniforms. Moreover, fire resistant fabrics are increasingly used in transportation, and residential and commercial furnishings to reduce the fire hazards. Fire resistant fabric manufacturers are trying to increase the durability and comfort of their products. Their focus has been shifted more on the improvement of overall performance of the material along with some additional features such as impact resistance and cooling to improve the durability and comfort. It becomes necessary for the people who work in hazardous environments to use fire resistant fabric clothing. The hazards can be electric arc (electric utility lineman, electricians), flash fire (chemical, refinery, and pharmaceutical workers), combustible dust explosion (workers in the food processing, pulp and paper industry, paint), and workers who come in contact with energized electrical equipment. Fire resistant fabrics are widely used in various purposes such as PPE clothing, apron, heat resistant gloves, and fire blankets.
The various industrial sectors using fire resistant fabrics are chemical, oil and gas, electrical and electronics, automotive, aerospace, road and rail transportation, office and home furniture, kitchen products, and outdoor products (tents, sleeping bags, and jackets). Beside industrial applications, such as defense and firefighting services requiring fire resistant properties in their uniforms, are the major users of fire resistant fabrics.
The fire resistant fabrics shows a lot of potential in the industrial protective clothing in the emerging economies. This can act as an opportunity for the fire resistant fabric market due to the fact that the major application of protective clothing is in the industrial sector and developing countries are experiencing rapid industrialization. As a result, this becomes very important for the people who work in a dangerous environment in industries to use protective clothing. China, India, Brazil and Thailand are the fastest developing economies and industries such as chemical, oil & gas, petrochemicals, transportation, electronics, and automotive are contributing significantly to these countries. All the mentioned industries face the constant risk of high temperature and heat related issues/incidents, which is expected to spur the demand of industrial protective clothing during the forecast period. Strict government safety norms are forcing all industry players to emphasize on worker’s safety and provide them with suitable safety clothing or equipment to minimize the threat of human injury. Companies are investing in establishing new facilities, mainly in emerging regions, to cater to the demand from emerging markets thereby increasing the market share in the global market.
Some of the major companies operating in the global fire resistant fabric market include E.I DuPont de Nemours & Co., Westex, Royal TenCate N.V., Kaneka Corporation (Japan), Solvay S.A., Teijin Ltd., PBI Performance Products Inc., Glen Raven Technical Fabrics LLC, Gun Ei Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Huntsman Corporation, Lenzing AG, W.L. Gore & Associates Inc.
