News

The use and availability of flame-resistant (FR) clothing has become much more common due to the continued development and updating of industry saf...

ANSI/ISEA 107 American National Standard for High Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear establishes design, material, photometric and physical performance requirements for high visibility apparel.

An Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) is a rating assigned to flame resistant clothing indicating the level of protection provided. Heavier weight fabrics typically have higher ATPVs and provide increased protection. Every Rasco FR garment has the ATPV marked on the level.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is the division of the U.S. Department of Labor that sets and enforces occupational health and...

FR Clothing and the "269" Standard. OSHA issued an interpretation memorandum that provides guidance for complying with the apparel requirements. This memorandum provides information on acceptable types of clothing and on the employer's assessment of the hazards

An arc flash happens when electric current flows through an air gap between conductors. Accidents caused by touching a test probe to the wrong surf...

The employer shall ensure that each employee who is exposed to the hazards of flames or electric arcs does not wear clothing that, when exposed to flames or electric arcs, could increase the extent of injury that would be sustained by the employee. This apparel standard applies to all apparel worn by an employee exposed to the hazards of flames or electric arcs.”

Mark D. Faram The Navy has approved a new underway uniform that may be issued by afloat commands later this year and would end a four-year effort...

A hazard risk category (HRC) is a rating for FR clothing that indicates the level of protection the garment provides. There are five HRC’s ranging from 0 to 4, with HRC 0 being the least protection and HRC 4 being the most protection.

If your work exposes you to a risk of flash fires, electric arcs, or combustible dust explosions, you need fire resistant clothing to protect you. According to OSHA, flame resistant clothing “is a type of apparel that is made out of material that is meant to self-extinguish once the ignition source has been removed.”

When worn correctly, flame-resistant clothing can provide lifesaving protection against a variety of workplace hazards, including arc flash, flash fires and molten metal splatter. However, if worn improperly, the clothing is not only out of compliance with industry standards, but it also becomes far less effective.

There are many common misconceptions when it comes to FR clothing. Many believe that all FR garments are, essentially, interchangeable. This is certainly not the case. When it comes to FR clothing, there are many aspects that must be examined closely before an appropriate purchase decision can be made.