What Fabrics Are Flame Retardant?

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If you take a look at your surroundings right now, you will likely see multiple items made of fabric. Regardless of the environment, we are constantly exposed to fire accidents due to electrical malfunctions, overheated objects, or kitchen distractions.

The first items fire could reach if it suddenly starts may be anything made from synthetic and natural fabrics used on furniture–at home or in professional environments.

The best thing anyone can include in a protection plan against fire hazards is prevention through fire retardants. Fire or flame retardants can be found naturally in some materials and in chemical technologies created to gain time against fire spreading.

This blog contains a list of common flame retardant fabrics used in manufacturing, so the next time you buy something for your home or business, you’ll know which is the securest option and which ones need an extra layer of protection.

What Are Flame Retardant Fabrics?

Using naturally flame-retardant fabrics is the best way to keep yourself and your property safe from fires. But what exactly are flame-retardant fabrics?

Imagine if a fabric could withstand fire and heat, not combust immediately, and instead act as an insulating layer to restrict the spread of flames. This is what flame-retardant fabrics do. They are engineered to resist fire, slow its propagation, and stop burning even if exposed to extreme temperatures and heat.

Flame retardants can be found in synthetic, natural, and blended fabrics, and we can classify them as inherently flame-retardant fabrics and treated flame-retardant fabrics.

Inherently Flame Retardant Fabrics

These fabrics have naturally occurring properties that make them resistant to fire. They are the safest choice when selecting fabrics for furniture and upholstery, as they provide a natural layer of protection.

The chemicals in these fabrics are what give them their flame-retardant properties. They can be chemically composed of boron, phosphorus, and nitrogen-based compounds. That is why it is common that they are used in industrial and commercial environments due to their durability against high temperatures.

Treated Flame Retardant Fabrics

These fabrics are usually made of synthetic materials (like polyester and nylon), which might not resist fire without an extra layer of protection.

Treated fabrics can be flame-retardant because of the finishing process they undergo, like the application of chemical compounds or the use of special fabrics combined with other materials.

What Fabrics Are Inherently Flame Retardant?

The list of inherently flame-retardant fabrics is quite long, but some of the most common ones are

• Wool
• Hemp
• Silk
• Natural Latex
• Cotton
• Linen
• Acrylic
• Polyester.

When selecting any of these fabrics, read their specifications, as some products may include additional chemical treatments that can change their properties.

What Fabrics Need to Be Treated With Flame Retardant?

When it comes to fabrics that need to be treated with flame retardants, synthetics like polyester and nylon are the most common. But the following is a list of fabrics that require flame retardant treatment:

If you want to learn more, please visit our website high visibility fabric supplier.

• Polyester
• Nylon
• Acrylic
• Modacrylic
• Vinyl
• Rayon
• Treated Cotton

Add Fire Protection to Your Fabrics With RDR

Regardless of what fabric you choose, you can always take extra measures to increase fire protection.

Our flame-retardant treatment solutions can provide an extra layer of security against fire. These treatments are designed to protect fabrics and upholstery against flames.

Fire and flame retardants can be used on synthetic and natural fabrics to ensure the highest levels of protection.

At RDR Technologies, we count on a wide range of fire and flame retardants specially formulated to meet the demands of the fire safety industry.

With RDR Technologies, you can select the safest fabrics for your home or business. Make sure to contact us for more information about our fire retardant treatments. We’re here to help you make the best decisions for your fire protection needs.

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All fabrics will burn,  but some are more combustible than others.  

Untreated natural fibers such as cotton, linen and silk burn more readily than wool, which is more difficult to ignite and burns with a low flame velocity.

The weight and weave of the fabric will affect how easily the material will ignite and burn. 

Fabrics with a tight weave - wool, modacrylic, 100 percent polyester and those that are flame-retardant treated are good choices. Heavy, tight weave fabrics will burn more slowly than loose weave, light fabrics of the same material. The surface texture of the fabric also affects flammability. Fabrics with long, loose, fluffy pile or "brushed" nap will ignite more readily than fabrics with a hard, tight surface, and in some cases will result in flames flashing across the fabric surface.

Most synthetic fabrics, such as nylon, acrylic or polyester resist ignition. However, once ignited, the fabrics melt. This hot, sticky, melted substance causes localized and extremely severe burns. When natural and synthetic fibers are blended, the hazard may increase because the combination of high rate of burning and fabric melting usually will result in serious burns. In some cases, the hazard may be greater than that of either fabric individually.

Curtains, draperies and other articles in the home can have their burning rates reduced with flame retardants applied through chemical treatment. Such flame-retardant treatment after manufacturing is not recommended for clothing.

The design of clothing also may influence the flammability of the garment. Full, long and loose garments tend to ignite easily and have a higher rate of burning since more material is exposed to the atmosphere than with close-fitting garments.

Flame-retardant materials used in garments require special laundering to maintain the flame-retardant effectiveness. Flame-retardant materials should be washed only with standard detergents. Clothing labels usually provide adequate information about the care of the garment.

Recommended clothing for minimum flammability would be sturdy jeans, tight-fitting jerseys, blouses without frills, jersey pajamas with no ruffled nightgowns, clothes with tight-fitting or short sleeves, clothes made from flame-retardant fabrics, sweaters, shirts and dresses that are not loose, flowing or too big. Clothing made from flame-retardant fabric is recommended especially for the elderly.

In terms of flammability, silk may be the worst with a high burning rate, which may be increased by the dyes and other additives to provide color.

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• Cotton and linen also have a high burning rate but this can be alleviated by the application of flame-retardant chemical additives.
• Acetate and triacetate are as flammable or slightly less flammable than cotton. However, they can be made flame-retardant with chemical treatment.
• Nylon, polyester and acrylic tend to be slow to ignite but once ignited, severe melting and dripping occurs.
• Wool is comparatively flame-retardant. If ignited, it usually has a low burning rate and may self-extinguish.
• Glass fibers and modacrylic are almost flame-resistant. These synthetic fibers are designed and manufactured to possess flame-retardant properties.