7 June 2019
 Categories: , Blog

If your boss has asked you to buy flame-resistant apparel, you should be reading labels on the clothing before you buy it. You should not be purchasing flame-retardant clothes if your boss specifically asked for flame-resistant ones. There are some major differences between the two, and you should know what these differences are so that you can understand why your boss is requesting and requiring one over the other. 

Flame Retardant

"Retardant" is the key word here. It "retards," or slows, the spread of fire. It may even extinguish the fire if applied early on. In clothing, flame-retardant chemicals are applied to safety clothing that will prevent the spread of fire onto the wearer, thereby preventing extensive burns to the skin. That is helpful in situations where the work regularly involves being close to fire and flames and the risk of catching fire is high.

Flame Resistant

Resistant to flames is how you should think of this clothing. It means that it cannot catch fire at all. It resists the heat and flames well enough that you could walk through fire virtually unscathed (although that is definitely not recommended). It provides a higher level of protection against combustible products that could erupt into flames and substances in your job that are already constantly on fire. If given the choice between retardant or resistant clothing, you should always choose the flame-resistant variety, especially given your job requirements and work conditions. Flame-retardant clothing is more often reserved for the purpose of creating children's pajamas, which would prevent little ones from being burned if your house is on fire and you are trying to escape the flames. 

Understanding Why Your Boss Requested and Required the Flame-Resistant Variety of Clothing

If your boss specifically requested flame-resistant materials for your safety clothing, it means that your job presents potential dangers and situations in which you could be burned. Wearing the flame-retardant clothing would slow down the burning, but the flame-resistant stuff prevents any burning from occurring in the first place. Your boss requested this type of clothing specifically for its ability to keep you safe and to keep you safer from the dangers of the job. If you have already taken a tour of the plant or factory and have seen your work station, it becomes clearer why your safety clothing has to be the flame-resistant kind and not the flame-retardant kind.

For more information about flame-resistant apparel, contact a company like Oil & Gas Safety Supply.