Everything you need to know about flame-proof ...

Vocab lesson:
IFR - inherently flame resistent
FR - flame resistent

For more information, please visit Fire Rated Fabric By The Yard.

Gone are the days where the band go on stage and play their songs to a crowd, in front of a simple scrim with a few spotlights. The reality is that more often than not, we're playing with fire. Literally.

The method for flameproofing depends on what the item is. Seamstresses working in live entertainment, theatrical productions, and at ginormous sporting events (think: Superbowl) know the fire element can make or break you. Follow along so you don't experience the latter.

Every state plays by a different set of rules. In order for your item to actually be called flameproof, every venue in every state will have a fire marshall show up on the day of the concert, expecting certificates stating that item is in fact IFR/FR. If you're the seamstress creating the backdrop, piece of clothing, whatever - that certificate is on you to collect for the tour. During my last project I learned that the strictest venues in the country are actually just the ones in the middle of cities with huge populations (i.e. Boston).

If you're making a backdrop, or a large item - it's best to get the fabric already IFR/FR.

The best way to do this is to order your fabric from a reputable production/entertainment fabric brand (I really love working with Rosebrand.com, but you do you). My backup source for IFR/FR certified fabric is from from a supplier in California. Here's why: Their restrictions are generally toughest, so by having a certificate of FR from the state of California, you know that no matter what state you tour through, you're covered. Just this last week Rosebrand was out of the width of charmeuse I needed for a panel in a backdrop - they usually have everything, but if you're like me and need an odd FR fabric in a crazy large width, you may have to do what I did. My backup supplier for this fabric was Afabricagenda.com, who FR'd my charmeuse in two days (this normally takes 3-5 in most places) and drop shipped it to me just three days later. 

No matter what certificates you have for your fabric... test it out. Get out in the open and take a lighter to that fabric BEFORE you do anything with it. Even though you wouldn't be on the hook if it burned up, it would be a nightmare to put all that work in and find out that a newbie was flameproofing in the supplier warehouse that day. Do your homework  - your tour/production/play will thank you.

Once you've finished sewing your fabric, cut swatches of the FR material to 12" x 12" so that fire marshalls at each venue have a large enough piece to flame test.

If you're making a smaller item, or a piece of clothing (or just asked to flameproof a pair of pants), flameproof it yourself.

You can get away with using Rosco's Flamex. I use NR (for natural fibers). You can do it several ways, one of the most popular being a spray bottle. This stuff is liquid gold and it goes SO FAST, so spraying it really makes sure none is wasted. I decided to waste because it was felt and I was nervous about its thickness/good saturation, so I soaked each piece in a bowl of Flamex. After wringing it out well I let my material air dry, and it's good to go.

Once again, always test before you sew - in an open, airy place away from buildings and regular (non-flame retardant) fabrics :) 

My best advice:

- use different needles, scissors, and tools when handling these fabrics. The chemical will rust your scissors and dull all points & blades.
- wear gloves, or wash your hands every 15-20 minutes when handling these materials. Anything you rub on your skin is part of your diet, and you really don't want this chemical in your diet, do you?!
- Don't forget to use a flame retardant thread with your fabrics! I get mine from The Thread Exchange, and every one of my interactions with them has been fantastic (great people, fast shipping, high quality Nomex & Kevlar threads).

Are you in the middle of a project using this type of fabric? Comment below! Flamex and other flame-proofing agents leave a residue on your tools, fingers, and workspace. I'd love to help you hack some common problems if you're dealing with what I dealt with!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Fireproof Cotton.

Workwear that is rated as fire- and flame-resistant is designed to protect the wearer from fire, heat, and sparks. But what’s in that gear? Here’s a quick look at the fabrics that go into these safety-minded clothes and how they are designed to keep you safe on the job.

Stay Safe with the Right Base Layers

Before you wear just anything under your FR workwear, including jackets, pants, and hats, check out the Coastal article on proper FR base layers in arc-flash environments.

Acrylic, Polyester and/or Nylon: While not ideal for base layer fire protection, these three fabrics can offer fire resistance when blended with wool, silk, or other manmade fabrics.

Kevlar: Similar to Nomex, Kevlar is manmade and uses a chain or polyamide chemicals to create a fire-resistant and strong fabric.

Modacrylic: This synthetic fiber is soft, light, resilient, and fire resistant. Additionally, this fabric is easy to weave into almost any clothing.

Nomex: This manmade fiber uses a chain or polyamide chemicals to create a fabric that is both fire resistant and strong enough for most work environments.

Silk: Some FR clothing use silk in a blend of fabrics. Silk burns slowly and is difficult to ignite. However, silk is not used as extensively for base-layer FR workwear as it can melt under high temperatures.
 

Viscose Fiber: Also known as viscose-T100, this manmade fiber uses phosphorous and a blend of other fabrics. Similar to wool, viscose keeps the wearer comfortable in both cold and warm weather.

Wool: The most common and natural of all fibers used for fire-resistant clothing is generally made from wool or a blend of wool and other fabrics. Why? Because wool is difficult to ignite, extinguishes itself quickly, and it keeps the wearer warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Discover FR Clothing at Coastal   

The right fire-resistant clothing for your job is at Coastal. That includes base layers, jackets, pants, hats, shirts, and a lot more. Stop by today and go home with everything your country needs to stay safe on the job.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of high visibility material fabric. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.