As defined by NFPA 2112, “Flame resistance is the property of material where combustion is prevented, terminated, or inhibited following the application of a flaming or non flaming source of ignition with or without the subsequent removal of the ignition source.” Flame Resistance can be an inherent property of the textile or it can be imparted by specific treatment.

In Inherently flame resistant fabric the actual structure of the fiber itself is non flammable, which means the protection is permanent. The protection is built into the fiber and can never be worn away or washed out. Chemically treated FR fabrics have a chemical additive in the fiber or treatment on the fabric that is used to provide some level of flame retardancy.

Actionwest flame-resistant clothing is designed for workers in areas of electrical maintenance, utilities, oil and gas, petrochemical, and steel, who work in an environment where they are at risk of being exposed to electric arc and/or flash fires. In the event of momentary electric arc, flash fire, or molten metal splash, non flame-resistant work clothes can ignite and will continue to burn even after the source of ignition has been removed. Untreated natural fabrics will continue to burn until the fabric is completely consumed and non flame-resistant synthetic fabrics will burn, melt, and drip causing severe contact burns to the skin.

The use of flame-resistant clothing will provide thermal protection at the exposure area. FR clothing will self-extinguish after the source of ignition is removed, limiting the severity of the burn, as well as the amount of burn injury.

Flame-resistant (FR) clothing significantly reduces burn injury, gives the wearer time to escape, and decreases the severity and amount of burn, which greatly increases the chances of survival for workers exposed to a flash fire or electric arc hazard.

Non-treated cotton and wool are flammable fibers. Untreated natural fibres will continue to burn until the fabric is completely consumed. Non FR synthetic fibres such as nylon and polyester will burn with melting and dripping which can cause severe contact burns to the skin.

The first step in developing a protective clothing program is to identify the potential hazard. Exposures such as a flash fire and electric arc flash are unique hazards with vastly different characteristics. Once the hazard has been identified there are standards that have been developed by various organizations to assist with measuring a garment’s level of protection.

According to NFPA 70E it is “A dangerous condition associated with the release of energy caused by an electric arc.”

According to NFPA 70E it is when, “An electric current passes through air between ungrounded conductors or between ungrounded conductors and ground conductors, the temperature can reach 35, 000 ºF. Exposure to these extreme temperatures both burns the skin directly and causes ignition of clothing, which adds to the burn injury. The majority of hospital admissions due to electrical accidents are from arc-flash burns not from shocks. Each year more than 2000 people are admitted to burn centers with severe arc flash burns. Arc flashes can and do kill at distances of 10 feet.”

According to NFPA 70E it is “the maximum incident energy resistance demonstrated by a material (or a layered system of materials) prior to breakopen or at the onset of second degree skin burn. Arc rating is normally expressed in cal/cm².”

Flash fire as defined by CGSB 155.20-2000 is “A rapidly moving flame front which can be a combustion explosion. Flash fire may occur in an environment where fuel and air become mixed in adequate concentrations to combust…..flash fire has a heat flux of approximately 84kW/m2 for relatively short periods of time, typically less than 3 seconds.”

Flash Fire as defined by NFPA 2112 is, “A fire that spreads rapidly through a diffuse fuel such as dust, gas, or the vapors of an ignitable liquid without the production of damaging pressure.”

There are four main standard organizations in North America. The abbreviations and descriptions are listed below.

Standards Organization Abbreviation	Description
ASTM	ASTM International, originally known as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
CGSB	Canadian General Standards Board
CSA	Canadian Standards Association
NFPA	National Fire Protection Association (based in USA or Canada)

Numerous performance standards and test methods exist that help define the performance of FR garments. The purpose of test methods and standards is to enable users to objectively evaluate materials, and define minimum performance criteria for fabrics or garments. Although conforming to standards is generally voluntary, using FR products that meet the performance requirements of standards is a good way to ensure employees are wearing acceptable FR garments.

There are numerous standards and standard organizations. Some are Canadian, American, or International Standards. Below is a brief guide to common standards that are applicable to the FR clothing industry.

Standards Organization	Description
ASTM 1506-08	Standard Performance Specifications for Flame Resistant Textile Materials for Wearing Apparel for Use by Electrical Workers Exposed to Momentary Electric Arc and Related Thermal Hazards
CAN/CGSB 155.20	Work wear for Protection Against Hydrocarbon Flash Fire
CAN/CGSB 155.21	Recommended Practices for the Provision and Use of Work wear for Protection Against Hydrocarbon Flash Fire
CAN/CGSB 155.22	Fireline Work wear for Forest Firefighters
CSA Z462	Workplace Electrical Safety
CSA Z96	High-Visibility Safety Apparel
NFPA 2112	NFPA 2112: Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire
NFPA 2113	NFPA 2113: Standard on Selection, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire
NFPA 70E	NFPA 70E®: Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces
NFPA 1971	Protective Ensemble for Structural Fire Fighting
NFPA 1975	Standard on Station/Work Uniforms for Fire and Emergency Services
NFPA 1977	Standard on Protective Clothing and Equipment for Wildland Fire Fighting

In Canada, Occupational Health and Safety may issue Notices of Contravention, where an employer is legally responsible to follow the corrective measures outlined in the notice.

Throughout the United States, OSHA has a history of citing employers for not providing appropriate protective equipment, including FR clothing. Not complying with the laws can leave a company open to fines from OSHA and litigation from other sources.

Bill C-45 of the criminal code states that corporations may be criminally liable for acts of wanton negligence. Because of the risk of injury to employees in many businesses, this change in the law is especially relevant to occupational health and safety, as businesses may be held criminally liable if any business neglects to provide appropriate levels of protection to its employees. As such, many businesses have been asking questions about the protective garments they provide to their employees to ensure that the garments meet the appropriate standards.

This is the Canadian equivalent to the American Standard NFPA 70E.

The National Fire Protection Agency's (NFPA) 70E is the Standard for Electrical Safety Requirements for Employee Workplaces. NFPA 70E requires employees to wear flame- resistant protective clothing wherever there is possible exposure to electrical arc flash. Although it is a voluntary standard, NFPA 70E is considered a generally accepted industry standard. Therefore OSHA may fine companies under the general duty clause, which requires employers to take the appropriate steps to protect workers. NFPA 70E is widely accepted throughout general manufacturing as well as the electrical industries. NFPA 70E requires employers to perform a flash hazard analysis to determine the flash protection boundary distance. The standard is designed to protect employees working inside these flash protection boundaries by requiring protective clothing for the corresponding Hazard/Risk Category (HRC) that has an arc thermal performance value (ATPV) of at least the value listed in the "Protective Clothing Characteristics" section of the standard.

Although NFPA is not required by law, the intent is clear: companies are expected to maintain a safe place of employment for their workers including appropriate protection from flash fires and / or electrical arc flash.

The National Electric Safety Code (NESC) is the voluntary standard used by electric utilities to implement safety procedures for utility workers. NESC is also the standard OSHA uses when enforcing electrical utility safety. The latest revision, NESC 2007, includes flame-resistant clothing as a requirement. Similar to NFPA 70E, the NESC standard requires utilities to perform a risk assessment and then to require workers to wear flame-resistant clothing with an effective rating equal to the risk. NESC is effective starting January, 2009.

Arc Thermal Performance Value (ATPV) is a rating assigned to FR fabrics indicating the level of protection provided. Higher fabric weights typically have higher ATPV's and provide increased protection as does the layering of flame-resistant clothing. ATPV is measured in calories per centimetre squared (cal/cm2).

Like ATPV, Energy Breakopen Threshold (E_bt) is a rating assigned to FRC indicating the level of protection provided. E_bt is used when ATPV cannot be measured due to flame-resistant fabric breakopen. E_bt is also measured in calories per centimetre squared (cal/cm²).

Hazard Risk Category (HRC) is a rating range directly related to ATPV. There are 5 HRCs ranging from 0 to 4, with a hazard risk of 0 representing the least risk and a hazard risk of 4 being the greatest risk.

HRC 1	Hazard Risk Category 1	5.0 cal/cm² to 7.9 cal/cm²
HRC 2	Hazard Risk Category 2	8.0 cal/cm² to 24.9 cal/cm²
HRC 3	Hazard Risk Category 3	25.0 cal/cm² to 39.9 cal/cm²
HRC 4	Hazard Risk Category 4	greater than 40.0 cal/cm²

The HRC protection level worn by an FR user should be determined by the company’s Safety Officer. It is the employer’s responsibility to have a hazard risk assessment completed for each task and determine the level of protection required. This should never be determined by the apparel manufacturer or the retailer.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) 29 CFR1910.269 covers the operation and maintenance of electric power generation, control, transformation, transmission and distribution lines, and equipment. Part (l) (6) (iii) states: "The employer shall ensure that each employee who is exposed to the hazards of flames or electrical arc does not wear clothing that, when exposed to flames or electric arcs, could increase the extent of the injury that would be sustained by the employee." This is the only federal law relating to FR clothing for electrical purposes. It is currently being rewritten and is expected to closely mirror NFPA 70E. Once approved, flame-resistant clothing requirements would become law.

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed F1506, the Standard Performance Specification for Flame-Resistant Textile Material for Wearing Apparel for Use by Electrical Workers Exposed to Momentary Electric Arc and Related Thermal Hazards. This is a pass/fail standard that requires a sample of flame-resistant fabric to self-extinguish with a <2 second after flame and a <6" char length. The FR fabric must also stand up to these requirements after 25 launderings.

The National Fire Protection Agency's (NFPA) 2112 is the Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire. The standard provides requirements for design, performance, certification requirements, and test methods for FR garments for use in areas at risk from flash fires.

The first step in evaluating a protective fabric is to identify the potential hazard and ensure the fabrics considered provide protection for the environment that it will be worn in. Selecting an FR fabric is an individual choice, and must be made by the end-user company. Actionwest garments are made using only trusted FR fabric brands that have significant field experience and a reputation for the highest quality. All of the products offered by Actionwear offer proven protection in a variety of applications. Actionwear specializes in manufacturing FR clothing and has the technical expertise to help educate purchasers on the relative merits of each product. There are often trade-offs between criteria such as level of protection, price, comfort, and appearance. It is up to the end user to make the final choice.

There are a wide variety of flame-resistant fabrics available. Factors to consider in fabric selection include protection, cost, wear life, comfort, color selection, care requirements and availability. Actionwear offers a wide selection of trusted FR fabrics, garment styles, and colors to best meet the wearers' needs.

FABRIC	DESCRIPTION AND CONTENT	TYPICAL APPLICATIONS	TYPICAL WEIGHTS*(oz/yd²)	COMMON COLORS
NDURA® ULTRA SOFT®	Flame Retardant Treated 88% cotton, 12% nylon The FR performance is guaranteed for the life of the garment. Indura® Ultra Soft® is made by Westex Inc.	Flash Fire Electric Arc, particularly NFPA 70E Welding , steel and ferrous metals	Shirts: 7 Pants: 9 Coveralls: 7 and 9	Red, Royal, Grey, Light Blue, Navy, Orange
Nomex® IIIA	Inherently flame-resistant fiber, Blend of93% Nomex®, 5% Kevlar, and 2% antistatic fiber. Nomex® III A is made by DuPont	Flash Fire Electric Arc	Shirts: 5.5 or 6 Pants: 6 Coveralls: 6 Jackets :6 shell	Royal, Red, Light blue, Khaki, Orange, Yellow, Spruce
Nomex® AP	Inherently flame-resistant fiber Blend of 65% Nomex® IIIA and 35% Lenzing FR Nomex AP is made by PGI Difco	Electric Arc particularly NFPA 70E Flash Fire	Shirts: 8 Pants: 9.5 Coveralls: 8-orange 9.5 denim	Denim, Medium blue, Navy, Orange
Stedair Coated Nomex® IIIA	Inherently flame-resistant 84% Nomex® IIIA. 16% polyurethane Stedair® coating by Stedfast®	Electrical Arc Flash fire NFPA 70E category 2 NFPA 2112	Coveralls, parka, bib pants, insulated coveralls: 6.5	Orange, Red, Royal, Navy
Fleece made of Nomex® fibre	Inherently flame-resistant 93% Nomex® IIIA, 5% Kevlar, 2% P140 Fleece is made by Les Tricots Interlock Knit Inc.	Electric Arc and Flash fire NFPA 70E Category 2 NFPA 2112	7.5 oz/yd² (13 oz linear yd)	Navy, Orange
PROTERA™	Inherently flame-resistant 33% Nomex® and Kevlar, 65% Modacrylic, 2% Antistatic Protera™ is made by DuPont®	Meets NFPA 70E Category 2	Shirts:6.5 Pants: 8 Coveralls: 6.5 and 8	Light Blue, Navy, Khaki
TECASAFE™ plus	Inherently flame-resistant 48% modacrylic, 37% cellulosic, 15% para-aramid Tecasafe™ plus is made by TenCate™ SMI	Electric arc Flash Fire NFPA 70E category 2 NFPA 2112	Shirts: 7 Pants: 8.5 Coveralls: 7	Khaki, Light Blue, Orange, Red, Royal, Navy

*Typical fabric weights and colors used, others available by request
** All comments are subjective. Please request material specs for objective information.

The FR performance of the products offered by Actionwear is guaranteed for the life of the garment. For some products, such as Nomex IIIA and TECASAFE™ plus, the FR performance is inherent in the chemical composition of the fiber, therefore the FR performance cannot be removed. For other products, such as INDURA® ULTRA SOFT®, the flame-retardant treatment is guaranteed for the life of the garment, provided that proper laundering procedures are followed.

If the garment is made with inherently flame retardant fabric, the FR performance cannot be removed.

If the fabric used is not inherent, there is no way of testing the FR performance of a garment in the field without destroying the garment in the process. Further, test results from one garment are not necessarily indicative of the performance of other garments in the program. Therefore, we recommend only using FR fabrics for which the manufacturer guarantees the protection lasts for the life of the garment and to follow all laundering instructions.

Actionwear Saskatoon Inc. offers a broad range of garments to meet all of your FR requirements. Please view our products for full descriptions and photos of all our products.

The level of comfort is a subjective measurement. FR clothing is a safety item for personnel working in environments with a hazard of clothing igniting. A variety of FR fabrics are available today, some of which are perceived as being more comfortable than others.

The looser the FR garments fit, the more thermal protection the clothing system will provide. Air is a very effective insulator; therefore, maintaining an air gap between the clothing and skin will improve thermal protection. However, a loose fit must be balanced against the hazard of clothing being caught in moving equipment.

Actionwear staff can assist with providing a suitable garment size if given the measurements of a person’s height, weight, chest, inseam, and waist.

Ultra Soft® is preshrunk cotton and the garments made with synthetic FR fabrics naturally have minimal shrinkage.

Most FR products will shrink either the same or less than standard work clothing, and should be sized accordingly.

Actionwear recognizes that not every worker can find a proper fit in the standard-size range. To ensure our customers a satisfactory fit and safety, Actionwear will produce custom-sized garments to fit the customers who are unable to wear garments from our standard-size range. We maintain records in our custom-size database to ensure that our customers receive garments that fit properly each time they order. Some manufacturers will supply oversized garments to fit extra tall workers. The size substitution results in a person wearing garments that are not properly sized and unsafe. Custom sizes are manufactured and shipped within three to four weeks of the order date.

The style of a garment is an important consideration for the end users’ comfort and appearance. Actionwear offers a wide range of styles and colors to choose from. Our comfortable fit and appealing styles have come from over 30 years of experience in work wear.

Actionwear Saskatoon Inc. manufactures a complete line of FR clothing. Click on the links on the left hand side bar to view the styles available

Some of Actionwest FR design features that enhance functionality and comfort include:

• Extra-long tails on shirts to avoid skin from being exposed when reaching overhead
• Pocket flaps on chest pockets to prevent items from falling out
• Extra-large pockets, and lots of them
• Extra-long zippers (two way)
• Roomy fit and cut
• Banded collars and true front pockets on shirts
• Action styled backs for ease of movement
• Details like pencil pockets, adjustable cuffs
• All metal parts or zippers are protected on the inside by another layer of FR fabric so that no metal components come in contact with the skin
• padded knees (optional)
• mesh gas pockets (optional)
• radio pockets (optional)

Actionwest FR Arctic Survival System features

• leather cuffs
• fur hood trim
• passage ways for wiring of radio

Yes, Actionwear can provide complete custom on-site embroidery services for all of our products. Please contact one of our Customer Service Specialists if you would like to add embroidery to your next order.

Yes, Actionwear has several 3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Materials that can be added to your next garment purchase. The reflective material can be positioned to meet your visibility requirements.

On Actionwest FR coveralls there are four common designs where 3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Materials are applied. They are illustrated below. If you require alternate placement of 3M Scotchlite™ Reflective Materials please contact a Customer Service Specialist.

RA	RAP
WCB of BC Standard 1997-2	CSA Z96-02

Actionwear recognizes that not every worker can find a proper fit in the standard-size range. To ensure our customers a satisfactory fit and safety, Actionwear will produce custom-sized garments to fit the customers who are unable to wear garments from our standard-size range. We maintain records in our custom-size data base to ensure that our custom-sized customers receive garments that fit properly each time they order. Some manufacturers will supply oversized garments to fit extra tall workers. The size substitution results in a person wearing garments that are not properly sized and unsafe. Custom sizes are manufactured and shipped within three to four weeks of the order date.

FR garments should be worn over natural non-melting fabrics or other FR materials or on their own. For example, one recommended combination is wearing a Nomex IIIA coverall over a 100% cotton tee shirt and underwear. Layering garments in this manner dramatically increases the thermal protection of the clothing system by adding "air gaps" that provide excellent thermal insulation.

The outermost layer of clothing should be flame-resistant. Wearing flammable garments, such as nylon parkas over FR clothing will compromise the protection of the FR clothing system. Even though the FR garment will not ignite, the flammable jacket can become a burning fuel source close to the skin that can burn the wearer by heat transfer through the FR fabric.

Each Actionwest garment contains a label with laundering instructions. Actionwear can provide more detailed laundering instructions upon request. Laundering instructions vary by FR fabric, check labels carefully before laundering. Garments should be laundered before they are worn and after each use. This will remove any flammable matter that may have adhered to the fabric while being used which may alter the performance of the FR garment if exposed to electrical arc or a flash fire.

It is advisable to launder FR garments independently of non-FR garments as the fibers from the non-FR garment may transfer.

Guide to Textile Care Symbols

FR garments should be repaired with FR materials and components consistent with the original materials in the garment. Repairing FR garments with non-FR thread or fabric can compromise the protective features of the garment.

Wear Tips:

• For maximum protection, FR garments should have a loose fit.
• Layering FR garments significantly increases FR protection.
• Wearing 100% cotton or wool undergarments can improve comfort and increase protection, provided that no portion of the non-FR garment is exposed.
• The FR garment should be the outermost layer. Wearing flammable garments such as jackets or sweatshirts over your FR clothing can seriously add to burn injury.
• Within each fabric type (for example, Nomex ®III A or Indura® UltraSoft®), the heavier the fabric, the more protection the garment will provide.
• Ensure your FR garment is appropriate for the potential hazard. While many FR fabrics/garments provide protection from several hazards, some hazards such as molten aluminum splash require special FR materials for maximum protection.

FR clothing is safety equipment that may save a life. It is imperative to ensure your FR garments are properly cleaned and maintained.

• Carefully follow the care label when laundering FR garments.
• Wash new flame-resistant garments prior to wearing.
• Wash flame-resistant garments separately from standard clothing.
• Do not use chlorine bleach.
• Ensure FR garments are clean and in proper repair before each wearing.
• Remove oils and flammable contaminants from FR garments.
• Flammable contaminants can be a fuel source that adds to burn injury.
• Use FR fabric, thread and components to repair FR garments.

Instructions for laundering Actionwear’s FR garments can be found on the label sewn inside each Actionwest garment. To understand what the symbols mean please view our

Guide to Textile Care Symbols.

The wear life of FR clothing is very dependent on the type of fabric used, the quality of the garment construction, how it is used and how the garment is laundered. Some garments can last more than 5 years, while others last 12 to 18 months. Garments should be replaced when they cannot be repaired, when the fabric has become thinned, contaminated, or aesthetically unacceptable.

It is important to select an established manufacturer with a trusted supply chain and dependable reputation in the FR clothing industry. Items to also consider include the manufacturer’s fabric selection and styles, garment quality, price, delivery capabilities, customer service, quality control process, and focus on FR. The manufacturer’s ability to provide technical expertise to help a company to develop the optimal FR program to meet their unique needs and application should also be taken into consideration.

New Customers

Please contact a Customer Service Specialist to set up an account. You can reach a representative by calling 306-933-3088 or toll free within Canada at 1-866-933-3088. You can also fill in a contact form and one of our representatives can call you to set up an account.

Existing Customers

You may choose any of the following ways to place an order with Actionwear.

• ONLINE (Coming Soon)
• Online customers can order via this website by contacting customer service at 1-866-933-3088 to set up an online account.
• BY FAX
• Existing customers can place an order via fax at 1-306-934-2922.
• BY E-MAIL
• Existing customers can place their order via e-mail at actionwest@actionwearinc.com. Please include your purchase order number and account number with your order.

Payment Options
Actionwear has a variety of payment options to choose from.

Payment options include:

• Invoice upon credit approval (net 30 days)

If you are a new customer interested in a terms account, a credit application should be submitted for pre-approval before placing an order. Contact our customer service department at 1-866-933-3088 to request a credit application. Please fax or e-mail a completed credit application with your purchase order to our customer service department at 1-306-934-2922. Once your credit application is approved, a customer service representative will notify you of acceptance and credit limit.

• Visa, MasterCard, American Express

If you have unique needs for order processing, billing, or multi-location shipments, Actionwear will work with you to accommodate them. Just call our Customer Service Specialists at 1-866-933-3088 within Canada or 306-933-3088 for out of country inquires.

An order can be shipped using your choice of a transport company. Please provide account information and level of service required when ordering.

Please e-mail, fax, or contact one of our Customer Service Specialists in the event an item needs to be returned. You will be issued a Return Authorization Number which must accompany the garment when it is returned along with a reason for the return. Returns must be sent via prepaid freight. We suggest Canada post or other cost effective means. If an item is sent freight collect, we reserve the right to deduct the collect freight amount from the credit or to charge this amount the account. If a product is returned for inspection and is found to have a manufacturer’s defect, Actionwear will credit the return postage (or the postage amount if the return was sent courier prepaid).

Items shipped as ordered, if accepted as a return, will be subject to a 5% restocking charge. Items that are custom made are not eligible for return.