Standard Performance Specification for Labeling Protective Clothing Which Provides Resistance to Incidental Exposures to Heat or Open Flame

The following Standards are required to be used for testing to this specification.

  • Must test for flame resistance by either:
    • D6413 Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test)
    • F1358 Test Method for Effects of Flame Impingement on Materials Used in Protective Clothing Not Designated Primarily for Flame Resistance
  • Thread in garments must be tested by D7138 Test Method to Determine Melting Temperature of Synthetic Fibers
  • Samples must be conditioned to room temperature by using E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging and are required to be laundered by either of the following:
    •  AATCC 132 Colorfastness to Drycleaning
    • AATCC 135 Dimensional Changes in Automatic Home Laundering of Woven and Knit Fabrics
  •  F2894 Test Method for Evaluation of Materials, Protective Clothing and Equipment for Heat Resistance Using a Hot Air Circulating Oven with specific criteria to this standard.

In order to label as FR without a warning label the F2302 specification requires meeting one of the following standards as described below:

  • ASTM Standards:
  • F1002 Performance Specification for Protective Clothing and Materials for Use by Workers Exposed to Specific Molten Substances and Related Thermal Hazards
  • F1506 Performance Specification for Flame Resistant and Electric Arc Rated Protective Clothing Worn by Workers Exposed to Flames and Electric Arcs
  • F1891 Specification for Arc and Flame Resistant Rainwear
  • F2733 Specification for Flame-Resistant Rainwear for Protection Against Flame Hazards
  • CGSB Standards:
  • CGSB 155.1 Firefighters’ Protective Clothing for Protection Against Heat and Flame
  • CGSB 155.20 Workwear for Protection Against Hydrocarbon Flash Fire and Optionally Steam and Hot Fluids
  • CGSB 155.22 Fireline Workwear for Forest Firefighters
  • NFPA Standards:
  • NFPA 1951 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents
  • NFPA 1971 Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting
  • NFPA 1975 Standard on Station/Work Uniforms
  • NFPA 1977 Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting
  • NFPA 1991 Standard on Vapor-Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials Emergencies (when the optional flash fire criteria are met)
  • NFPA1992 Standard on Liquid Splash Protective Ensembles and Clothing for Hazardous Materials Emergencies (when the optional flash fire criteria are met)
  • NFPA 1994 Standard on Protective Ensembles for First Responders to Hazardous Materials Emergencies and CBRN Terrorism Incidents (when the optional flash fire criteria are met)
  • NFPA 2112 Standard on Flame Resistant Garments for Protection against Accidental Flash Fire for Industrial Workers
If the garment does not meet one of the above standards, it shall be labeled with the following warning language is a specific size for end users.
“WARNING: THIS CLOTHING HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED FOR INSULATION FROM HIGH HEAT OR EXTENDED FLAME EXPOSURES. THIS PRODUCT MAY IGNITE AND/OR MELT ONTO YOUR SKIN IN A HIGH
HEAT OR LARGE OR EXTENDED FLAME EXPOSURE.
USE OF THIS CLOTHING FOR SITUATIONS INVOLVING POTENTIAL FLASH FIRES, ELECTRICAL ARC DISCHARGES, OR PROLONGED FIRE OR HEAT EXPOSURE MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.”

Otherwise the garment can be labeled as meeting ASTM F2302 and any other standard with which it complies.