In some workplaces, particularly the fire department, it’s essential that the gear and clothing being used when fighting fires is flame retardant. If you’re a fireman, you better hope and pray that your uniform doesn’t catch up in flames when you run through a burning building. According to OSHA, you need fire retardant uniforms if you work in a place that contains electrically charged equipment and flammable liquids. For assessing fire resistant clothing, follow this guide. HRC and APTV For evaluating how fire resistant your clothing should be, consider your workplace’s HRC. This stands for hazard risk category. Each work site presents different levels of danger, so it’s wise to know what your workplace’s rating is. An HRC rating can range from one to four depending on how dangerous a situation or work task may be. After you’ve discovered your work’s HRC rating, evaluate what your APTV should be. APTV is an acronym for arch thermal protection value. Clothing manufacturers give each article a rating based on how much energy it can withstand without the wearer receiving a second degree burn. A higher number indicates a lower probability of being burnt. Figures range from N/A to 40. Be sure you wear clothing with an APTV rating that corresponds with your HRC value. Keep in mind that you can wear layers to add to your APTV rating. Testing In order for an article of clothing to be considered fire resistant, it must meet certain standards set by the NFPA. Every inch of clothing goes through a series of tests to see how they will react to flames. The testing is done in an accredited lab, and certification is designed to meet the standards of the International Organization for Standardization. These tests are run periodically to ensure good quality. If the clothing you choose to wear meets NFPA standards, you can rest assured you have Fire Resistant Clothing/. The TECGEN SELECT® team is comprised of individuals with decades of Fire Resistant Clothing experience. (http://www.tecgenselect.com/)
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