Anyone wear fire resistant clothes?

[Skycastlefish]

What do you guys think of this?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_041CR026000P?vName=Clothing&cName=Men's&sName=Shirts&ci_src=64119933&ci_sku=041CR026000P&sid=IAx20090815x000001&aff=Y

It says its 100% Cotton, so what makes it fire resistant?

Edited July 22, 2010 by Skycastlefish

[Arthur]

Yes! I bought Nomex jeans and Protex shirt, both certified fire resistant. I also have a nomex race hood. In the winter (we in the UK fire mainly for Nov 5th) I put a fire retardant boler suit on also, which keeps the mud off the nomex, which cost a fortune.

[dagabu]

You would be surprised how flame retardant cotton clothing can be. This shirt is 7oz cotton so its pretty thick. It may or may not have a chemical treatment.

[handymanherb]

I still have my firesuit,shoes and longs johns from Racing, I guess I could use them when needed

[asilentbob]

Something everyone forgets to consider in regards to fire resistant clothing...

 

Is it static proof as well? I have never seen "static proof" on a piece of fire resistant clothing.

 

Someone should do some research.

 

I believe some 5.11 brand "tactical" clothing that is fire resistant is a cotton/FRX3 blend... whatever FRX3 is... probably another blend of kevlar and nomex or something.

[Skycastlefish]

this is supposedly anti-static

 

http://www.tuf.com/c/pl/106332/Protex-Flame-Retardant-Anti-Static-Zipsuit

[handymanherb]

By the time you need the Fire suit which would be while your firing, static shouldn't matter

[dagabu]

LOL! You guys kill me.

 

Cotton does not by itself create a charge that would transfer while Kevlar, Nomex and other man made materials will create a charge. I would be much more concerned with your shoes and the flooring type.

[Bonny]

LOL! You guys kill me.

 

Cotton does not by itself create a charge that would transfer while Kevlar, Nomex and other man made materials will create a charge. I would be much more concerned with your shoes and the flooring type.

 

 

As noted above, by shooting time, static (should) not be an issue. I think this thread is mixed up as to what the intended use/need for the clothing...while making pyro or while shooting?

 

Most sites I've shot at are usually fields, maybe concrete or wood "floor".

I simply wear cotton (denim).

[jwitt]

I used to have some kevlar sleeves, which I used while making shell cores (big, hot machine with a big, hot metal box). They were pretty nice for that application (reaching into the box to retrieve finished cores). The box was hot enough to slowly burn through thick cotton welding gloves, but never burned my arms once I got the sleeves.

 

From my limited experience with fire-resistance, cotton twill is pretty decent. The last time I put up some "flaming crap falling from the sky" type shells, I threw on an old camo jacket and a wide-brimmed hat. It was late spring, and pretty damp out, and we had a fire extinguisher, btw.

[dagabu]

I use turn out gear and helmet for shoots, denim and cotton work shirts for manufacturing.

[jwitt]

Wow, you're well protected! For shooting "a lot" of shells (relative to my experience) I broke out a steel pot in lieu of having a fire helmet. Ridiculous? Maybe. But nothing's gonna burn my pretty pretty head. To avoid the ridicule of my buddies, who are much braver than I am, and didn't happen to go to the trouble of safely making and shooting fireworks, steel pot was staged in the non-flammable shoot gear box. Bonus is that you really can crawl inside a helmet like a turtle...just like in the cartoons.

 

A few bits of fallout did hit my head last time- and I wasn't shooting any flaming crap shells, so I was surprised. I'll be taking the helmet out next weekend as well, and one for my assistant. Cat eyes are nice too, helps to see each other.

 

I should bug my firefighter buddy to grab me an old helmet or two. Much better neck protection and more, eh, stylish I guess you could say.

[dagabu]

You will see a lot of hard hats and fire helmets at PGI. I will be leaving the turnout gear at home since I wont be hand lighting shells but will wear my Carhartt canvas coat and helmet at the rocket line.

[Skycastlefish]

...while making pyro or while shooting?

 

I'm referring to making BP or other comps. For me, the most likely accident would be BP I'm working with going up in a flash fire. One person on this site had this happen and he was walking around with his shirt on fire w/o even knowing it. Luckly he was wearing cotton, if it was synthetic it would have burned him much worse. My point is that if BP went off right in front of you, would you rather be wearing a cotton shirt thats on fire? or have a cotton shirt that may be able to handle a flash fire without igniting itself? I'm not against cotton, but if there is fire resistant clothing that is just as safe as cotton, but is more immune to a flash fire, wouldn't that be worth looking into?

[dagabu]

As a welder myself, I still prefer leather for all heat shielding.

 

For building, an old Cambry button up shirt and denim pants does the trick for me. The only thing immune to a flash fire is an aluminized Nomex fire suit.

 

If you are around materials for a while you will find that no single ply material will handle a BP flash fire except aramids like Nomex and Kevlar. Even the shirt you show has one layer that will easily be penetrated by BP missiles and inject them under the skin (2FA).

 

Making sure to protect yourself is key to survival, even a bunny suit will do nothing for you if you breath in the super heated gasses when a pile of BP goes up.

Edited July 23, 2010 by dagabu

[Skycastlefish]

Bummer, I was hoping I was going to be able to protect myself a little bit more, chipping away at that stone. The reason I posted this question was due to a "How Do They Do It" show on Sci channel featuring fire protective clothing. They had a dummy wearing cotton in a flash fire and the shirt just exploded. It disappeared like it had been soaked in nitrates. It was slightly unnerving. Their fire resistant clothing faired much better, though it may have been Nomex. If Nomex is prone to static then I guess it wouldn't be worth it. As far as work floors, I work over concrete. My house has wood floors and Linoleum (supports my head) Come to think of it, I don't think I've had a static shock since I've lived here. Well, I've got that going for me

[dagabu]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that Nomex is "prone" to static, it is capable of building a charge is all. You would be surprised at the percentage of people that are killed in fires.... by the hot gasses, not the fire. A face shield that does not contact the neck will allow hot gasses underneath to be breathed in. If you really want to protect yourself, get an old an torn driving suit and a medical face shield with return. Remember though, being alive with no hands can be just as bad as death (at least to me).

[Arthur]

A good nomex mix for clothing has 90% nomex 5% kevlar and 5% carbon fibre. That's bulk fire resistance, and enough strength, and carbon fibre to dissipate static.

 

We play in an area where burns risk is greater then normal, so better than normal protection is called for. Heavy cotton is resistant brushed cotton is extremely flammable. Heavy leather is good for heat or fire resistance.

 

Whatever means you can adopt, to reduce the chance of a heat injury, and to reduce the size of a burned bit of you, and to reduce the heat passed through to your flesh on a hot contact, all have to be good precautions to take.

[dagabu]

Cool, I had no idea that they were making composite clothing. Is that racing gear?

[Arthur]

No it's not racing gear! I'm not that shape!! http://www.pionerfristads.co.uk/products-in-cat.aspx?show=trousers go for a search find the trousers and coats, find the shirts. Find the USA stockists.

 

I work on the principle that a burn HURTS lots, and a big burn taken to hospital (OK it's free in the UK) attracts all the wrong attention. If I can reduce the risk of injury I WILL.

 

Also the Nomex trousers/shirt/jacket combo is fine for arriving at a golf club looking half smart, a tatty boiler suit is usually not. Wearing nomex clothes I can chat comfortably to the bride (etc) then walk straight in and fire the show. Also If I'm invited for a drink after, I'm tidy enough to stand at the bar.

 

If I'm testing anything I put the nomex on, if I'm firing a show I wear nomex, if I'm watching a firework display I may well wear nomex. We had an incident in the UK where a shell launched directly into the crowd due to rack failure. The kid that stopped all the stars was polka dotted with burns all over his front. It was a major problem for the show company. The kid may well never recover from all the skin damage. I don't want to be in that situation as a punter, and I try not to be in that situation as a promoter.

[dagabu]

Very nice Arthur, thanks a bunch for posting that. I really appreciate it when a pro steps up and shares.

[Arthur]

but you might not like the prices! Though how do they compare with three months off work and one of those in a specialist hospital.

 

I now work at a hospital, and we account internally that a bed costs £300 a night, with hotelling (bed linen, food etc) but not including specialist nursing or doctors. Intensive care with all the machines bleeping costs about double. So if you had to pay money for a week in hospital with doctor, medicine, and specialist machines expect to pay £1000 a night -Soon makes fire retardant clothes seem reasonable. In the UK there is free health care to all those who are legally in the country (oops that's another issue) BUT in countries where healthcare is insurance based expect your insurer to ask what you were doing to get nn% burns, you may even find that "making DIY fireworks" is a policy exclusion, or classed as failing to take due care.

 

For doing wedding and social shows in the UK market, I'm looking for a nomex under layer, a nomex trousers and white shirt and a nomex jump suit with zips from collar to ankles, so that I can be in black tie one minute to be in the reception, and then in full nomex with overalls to fire a show without taking my boots off.

 

As far as I am concerned shorts and short sleeves are just another 20% burns waiting to happen.

 

In places where the weather is usually warm maybe to accept the hour of sweating is better than to risk the months of burn recovery pain. That's your choice! In the UK our main firework day is 5th November when it's usually cold and wet.

[WSM]

Anyone wear FR clothes? Why, yes; every day at work. We wear nomex and FR cotton. The FR cotton is treated. Laundering any of it requires laundry soap only! No bleach or fabric softeners, but "spray n wash" is allowed.

 

One needs to wear 100% cotton under the FR, to protect the skin. FR is designed to take the hit (radiant energy) and melt/scorch to the cotton underneath, which protects the skin from damage, as I said. Leather gloves do well to protect the hands. A 10 calorie rated face shield will protect the face and eyes, but wear goggles, too. The 10 calorie face shield has a green tint to it and the clear ones give ZERO radiant energy protection. Be sure to cover all exposed skin.

 

I work in the power section of a public utility, so arc flash is the concern. Survivability is the goal. Prevention and going home intact is job one.

 

WSM

[dagabu]

I have a gallon of Un-Flame that I use for flameproofing costumes used in close proximity to proximate pyrotechnics. It uses Ammonium salts that work by the nature of colloidal chemistry.

 

It expires this month so I cant use it this fall. If anyone is interested, I will post it in the Agora or you can PM me for pricing. It is unopened and fresh, will withstand multiple dry-cleanings and is easy to apply.

[dagabu]

$27.00, LINK