Flame Retardant Fabric

Overview

Flame retardant (FR) fabrics are engineered textiles designed to resist ignition, self-extinguish after flame exposure, and limit the spread of fire, providing critical protection in high-heat and hazardous environments. These fabrics are produced either through inherent FR fiber construction (such as modacrylic, aramid, or FR viscose blends) where flame resistance is built into the polymer structure, or through chemical treatment of cotton and cotton-blend base cloths using durable finishes. FuncFabric manufactures both categories in woven twill, ripstop, and plain-weave constructions to meet international workwear and industrial safety standards including EN ISO 11612, EN 11611, NFPA 2112, and EN 1149.

Key Properties & Specifications

• Fabric weight: 150gsm to 350gsm, with 220gsm and 260gsm being the most common weights for standard FR coveralls and workwear.
• Tensile strength: warp 800N to 1,400N, weft 400N to 900N (tested per ISO 13934-1), suitable for heavy-duty industrial use.
• Tear strength: 25N to 60N in both warp and weft directions (ISO 13937), depending on weave and weight.
• Flame resistance: afterflame time under 2 seconds and char length under 100mm after 12 flame exposures and 50 industrial launderings (per EN ISO 15025 / vertical flame test).
• Thermal protective performance (TPP/ATPV for arc grades): 8 cal/cm² to 25 cal/cm² depending on construction and layering.
• Colorfastness: rating 4 to 5 on the grey scale for washing, rubbing, and light exposure (ISO 105 series), maintained across 50+ wash cycles.
• Shrinkage: controlled to within 3% in both directions after industrial laundering, meeting workwear dimensional stability requirements.
• Temperature range: continuous exposure tolerance from -20°C up to 260°C short-term contact heat for inherent aramid-based constructions.
• Optional water-repellent and anti-static finishes: water column up to 1,500mmH2O for treated variants, and surface resistivity below 10⁹ ohms for anti-static (EN 1149-5) grades.

Popular Products

Inherent Flame Retardant Fabric

Constructed from inherently flame-resistant fibers such as modacrylic, aramid, and FR viscose blends, this fabric retains its flame resistance for the entire service life of the garment because the protection is engineered into the fiber rather than applied as a finish. It is the preferred choice where guaranteed permanent FR performance is required regardless of wash count.

Cotton Flame Retardant Fabric

Made from 100% cotton or high-cotton blends treated with a durable FR finish, this option delivers strong flame resistance with the natural comfort, breathability, and moisture absorption of cotton. It offers a lower price point than inherent fabrics while meeting standard workwear FR certifications for up to 50+ industrial washes.

FR Workwear Fabric

A general-purpose FR twill engineered specifically for coveralls, jackets, and trousers, balancing durability, comfort, and compliance with EN ISO 11612. Available in a wide range of weights and colors, it is the versatile base cloth for high-volume uniform programs.

Arc Flash Protection Fabric

Designed to protect against electric arc hazards, this fabric carries defined ATPV/EBT ratings from 8 cal/cm² to 25 cal/cm² and complies with IEC 61482 and NFPA 70E requirements. It is used where electrical arc flash risk is the primary hazard, such as utilities and electrical maintenance.

Oil & Gas Protective Fabric

Formulated for the petroleum and petrochemical sector, this fabric combines flame resistance with anti-static (EN 1149) and optional oil/water-repellent finishes to address the combined hazards of flash fire, static discharge, and hydrocarbon splash. It is built for durability in demanding upstream and downstream field conditions.

Welding Protective Fabric

A heavier-weight FR fabric (typically 300gsm to 350gsm) engineered to resist molten metal splash, sparks, and radiant heat during welding and metal fabrication, in line with EN ISO 11611. Its dense construction and abrasion resistance make it suitable for prolonged contact with hot particles.

Applications

Industrial workwear and coveralls: FR coveralls, jackets, and trousers for workers in manufacturing, heavy industry, and maintenance environments where flash fire exposure is a recognized risk.

Oil, gas, and petrochemical operations: protective clothing for refinery, drilling, and pipeline personnel who face combined flash fire, static discharge, and hydrocarbon splash hazards in the field.

Electrical utilities and arc flash environments: arc-rated garments for electricians, linemen, and switchgear technicians who require certified ATPV protection against electric arc incidents.

Welding and metal fabrication: aprons, jackets, and coveralls for welders and foundry workers exposed to sparks, molten metal splash, and radiant heat over extended shifts.

Firefighting and emergency services support layers: base and mid-layer FR garments used within multi-layer protective systems for emergency responders and industrial fire teams.

Transportation and defense sector uniforms: FR clothing for aviation ground crews, military personnel, and rail workers where regulatory flame-resistance standards apply to operational uniforms.

Customization & Wholesale

FuncFabric supplies flame retardant fabrics on a wholesale and bulk basis with a standard minimum order quantity of 500m per color and specification. Custom development orders and non-standard constructions typically require an MOQ of 1,000m to 3,000m depending on fiber composition and finish complexity.

Custom widths are available from 145cm to 160cm as standard, with other widths produced to order. Color matching is offered against Pantone or physical swatch references, and we maintain a broad stock range of safety colors including navy, royal blue, orange, red, khaki, and hi-vis yellow. Custom dyeing is available for bulk orders, with lab dip approval provided before production.

Printing and finishing options include reflective tape integration, camouflage and custom pattern printing, water-repellent finishing, anti-static treatment, oil-repellent finishing, and soil-release treatment. OEM and ODM services cover fabric development to specification, private-label roll packaging, custom selvedge marking, and full technical documentation packages including test reports and certificates of conformity.

Standard lead time is 15 to 25 days for in-stock constructions and 30 to 45 days for custom-developed orders, calculated from deposit receipt and sample approval. Sampling lead time is typically 7 to 10 days.

Export capabilities cover worldwide shipping by sea and air, with experience serving buyers across Europe, North America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. We supply relevant test reports and certifications to support customs clearance and end-market compliance, including EN ISO 11612, EN ISO 11611, EN 1149, NFPA 2112, and IEC 61482 documentation where applicable. Payment terms include T/T and L/C, with standard packaging in rolls of 50m to 100m wrapped in waterproof film and loaded on pallets or in containers according to order volume.