NFPA 2112: Who Knows It Best, Inside And Out

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard for Flame-Resistant (FR) clothing—better known as NFPA 2112—specifies performance requirements and test methods for flame resistant clothing and fabrics.  If you’re looking for information and resources on NFPA 2112, a few excellent resources are highlighted below.

Not to toot our own horn or anything, but the Model Apparel blog has a collection of informational articles on NFPA 2112, as well as a downloadable guide to FR uniforms. Here are a few links to get you started:

• The Flame Resistant Uniform Guide: This downloadable guide will show you the top performing options for your uniform program, help you source the right products, and explain how these items serve your industry’s unique needs and can provide a consistent image for your company.
• What NFPA 2112 Is and What It Means To You: This article defines the NFPA 2112 standard, shares examples of NFPA 2112 certified garments available from Model Apparel and discusses workplaces where NFPA 2112 would apply.
•  Used FR Clothing vs. New: Is It A Life or Death Decision?: This article outlines the questions to ask yourself when deciding whether to purchase new or used FR clothing. (Hint: It comes down to how the garments were cared for and cleaned.)
•  How Do I Wash My Flame-Resistant Clothing? Treatments and Best Practices: Wondering how to wash and remove stains from FR clothing? This article covers the four different types of FR fabrics and best practices for keeping them clean.
• Another great starter guide for selecting, using, caring and maintaining FR clothing is available from Occupational Health & Safety magazine (OHS). The guide was written by Bulwark, one of Model Apparel’s biggest clothing partners. The Bulwark FR website includes a two-page NFPA 2112 fact sheet, as well as offers for a free magnet with FR home wash guidelines and Wear It Right posters (which illustrate the do’s and don’ts of FR compliance). By the way, a search of the OHS website turned up 175 results for articles related to NFPA 2112 … worth checking out!

Another source of information on NFPA 2112 is ArcWear, an arc flash testing firm for Personal Protective Equipment, fall protection and arc flash clothing. After all, who would know the standard better than the people who have to test FR fabrics, material and clothing against it? Besides performing studies and writing technical papers related to FR fabrics, the ArcWear blog includes several articles related to NFPA 2112. Here are links to just a few:

•      NFPA 2112 Q&A: Component Recognition Explained
•      What Does Flame-Resistant Really Mean, and How Do We Test It In Protective Clothing?
•      Want to Label Gloves “FR”? Here’s What You Should Know

Finally, the best source of information on NFPA 2112 is to read the standard itself. A free access version of the standard can be accessed here after providing some basic information. (A printed copy of the standard will cost you $49.00).