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The Battle of Flame Retardant Bedding: Inherent vs Treated
When purchasing and manufacturing flame retardant bedding products, consumers can often be torn between two types of industry giants when it comes to the best materials and processes to use in flame retardant products.
Inherent FR Fabrics
It is important to note that the primary advantage of using Inherent FR fabrics is that they have a high level of protection against thermal hazards. Inherent fabrics will not ignite in normal oxygen levels. Their properties allow the fibres inside to expand when exposed to heat or a flame, eliminating any space for oxygen to be contained within the fabric, thus extinguishing the opportunity for combustion. This means that inherent flame retardant products provide superior insulation, ensuring the oxidized fibres are thermally stable. Inherent FR Fabrics provide a high level of protection against thermal hazards.
Treated FR Fabrics
Treated flame retardant fabrics begin with cotton fiber, which is inherently flammable. It is a cheaper alternative to Inherent Fabrics as it is made up of a blend of either nylon or polyester and cotton. The newly created fabric is then ‘Treated’ with a chemical flame retardant to prevent the fabric/product from going up in flames.
One advantage an Inherent FR Fabric has over a treated one, is that they consistently have a higher thermal protective performance (TPP) score. This is a measurement used to show the protective garments thermal insulation performance against convective and radiant heat exposure. The higher the TPP rating of the garment, the higher the provided protection.
But where Treated FR fabrics fall short in comparison to Inherent fabrics, Treated fabrics are lightweight and flexible. Additionally, they have a shorter life span but are less expensive. From an economical point of view, treated FR fabrics are better for the pocket than Inherent FR Fabrics.
Despite Treated FR Fabrics being lightweight, they are still heavier than Inherent FR Fabrics. The have a bigger mass than Inherent FR Fabrics, which can benefit them as the more mass placed between the wearer and the hazard the better.
For both inherent FR fabrics and treated FR fabrics, protection is easy. Balancing it with comfort, durability and economic factors is where it becomes difficult.
References
Kyle+Watson (2014) How to compare inherent vs. Treated FR fabrics. Available at: http://www.ishn.com/articles/99445-how-to-compare-inherent-vs-treated-fr-fabrics (Accessed: 23 February 2017).
Inc, 1105 M. (2010) Inherent vs treated: The building blocks of flame-resistant fabrics matter -- occupational health & safety. Available at: https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2016/03/01/Inherent-vs-Treated.aspx?Page=2 (Accessed: 23 February 2017).