Flame-Resistant (FR) Clothing

Regular clothing can catch fire and keep burning, or melt into your skin. Flame-resistant (FR) and arc-rated (AR) clothing resists ignition and stops burning when the heat source is removed.

• Construction
• General Industry
• Oil & Gas
• Electrical

Who needs FR clothing

• Electrical workers exposed to arc flash. Clothing must be arc-rated (marked with an arc rating in cal/cm²). See Arc Flash & NFPA 70E.
• Oil, gas, refinery and chemical plant workers exposed to flash fires (NFPA 2112 garments).
• Welders and cutters: FR or heavy wool and leather protect from sparks and spatter.
• Combustible dust environments.

FR vs. arc-rated

• Flame-resistant (FR): the fabric resists catching fire and self-extinguishes. All arc-rated clothing is FR.
• Arc-rated (AR): FR clothing that has also been tested against an electric arc and given a number in cal/cm² (the ATPV or EBT). Not all FR clothing is arc-rated.
• For electrical work, you need arc-rated clothing with a rating at least as high as the hazard. For flash fire, look for garments certified to NFPA 2112.

Reading the label

• The arc rating in cal/cm² (for example, “ATPV 8.7 cal/cm²”)
• The PPE category it meets, if listed (for example, “CAT 2”)
• Standards it’s tested to (ASTM F1506 for arc, NFPA 2112 for flash fire)
• Care instructions

Layering arc-rated garments can raise total protection, but the combined rating must be tested; you can’t just add the numbers.

Wearing it right

• Wear it as your outer layer, fully fastened, sleeves down, shirt tucked in.
• Underneath, wear only natural fibers (cotton, wool) or FR base layers.
• Match the arc rating to the hazard level on the equipment label.
• Use FR rain gear, jackets and hi-vis when they’re worn over FR clothing.

• Don’t wear polyester, nylon, spandex or other synthetics underneath. They melt.
• Don’t wear FR clothing that is contaminated with oil, grease or flammable liquids; it can burn.
• Don’t repair FR clothing with non-FR patches or thread.

Care

• Follow the manufacturer’s washing instructions. Avoid bleach and fabric softener unless the label allows them.
• Replace garments that are torn, have holes, or are badly worn.
• Wash FR clothing separately from regular clothes, and remove oil and grease. Contaminants can burn even on FR fabric.
• Treated FR fabrics and inherently FR fabrics both last for the life of the garment when cared for properly. Check the label.

Daily check

• Outer layer is FR or arc-rated, with the right rating for today’s task
• No holes, tears, frayed areas or worn-thin spots
• No oil, fuel, grease or solvent soaked in
• Base layers are cotton, wool or FR
• Jacket, rain gear and hi-vis worn over it are also FR
• Sleeves down and fastened, collar closed

When FR clothing is required by your employer’s hazard assessment, the employer generally must provide it at no cost to you.

Last updated: October 1, 2026