Flame Resistant (FR) fabrics are incredibly important these days, especially in environments that contain highly-hazardous materials. Plenty of workers often wear FR clothing to protect themselves, and there are also plenty of homeowners and business owners who use FR curtains and other textiles to ensure the safety of their workers, loved ones, and property.

However, despite the many benefits that they offer, not everyone understands the concept of FR fabrics. In fact, many believe that FR means that the fabric will not burn and will prevent the wearer from burn injuries. Yet, it is important to understand they don’t work like that.

In this article, we will share three points about FR fabrics that you should know:

1. They Resist the Spread of Flames

Flame retardant fabrics resist igniting in extreme conditions. Should the material ignite, it can resist burning away and prevent spreading fire. That means that the FR fabric can actually still burn but at a more manageable level. Because of this, when you’re in the marketing for these materials, you need to make sure that you look into the company’s history and gather necessary documents that will support their performance.

2. They Can’t Prevent Burn Injuries

Keep in mind that you can’t use FR fabrics to prevent burn injuries, which is why you may still experience burning in the area where the fire ignited. The good thing about this type of fabric, as mentioned, is that it’s slow to spread the fire from the point of ignition and the material can extinguish itself as soon you move away from the trigger. Keep in mind that FR fabrics will not prevent injuries but merely limit the extent of the burn injury.

3. They Don’t Provide 100% Safety

Just because you have FR fabrics installed in your home or you’re wearing one doesn’t mean you’re completely safe from fire and injury. These materials do not offer 100% safety, which means that they can still ignite and burn at the point where the fire ignited.

There are many standards for fabrics to be flame-retardant, and it also depends on where it is used, such as curtains, bedsheets, or clothing, to meet the standards. First, you can use other fireproof material, such as fibreglass, asbestos, or basalt. Second, a flame-retardant product can be used to the mass of the fibre, yet this will only work with artificial or synthetic fibres.

Conclusion

Understanding how FR fabrics work is essential, especially if you plan to get one for yourself. Keep in mind that such materials don’t mean that it will not burn away. It will still burn, but on a more manageable level, and it can prevent the spread of fire, which makes it an essential tool for safety, especially in the workplace.

Today, there are a growing number of homeowners who invest in FR curtains and fabrics for their homes to boost the level of safety and security. Of course, the materials used for curtains, sheets, and other home textiles are more expensive compared to standard ones.

If you’re interested in getting flame retardant curtains in the UK, make sure that you get them from a reputable supplier. Direct Fabrics offer high-quality flame-resistant curtains that will help enhance the safety of your property and its inhabitants. Browse through our items today and purchase the best product for your needs!