Traditional workwear fabrics are polyester/cotton blends or cotton blends. Whilst 100% cotton workwear does not melt like polyester or other similar man-made fibres often do, it can certainly burn particularly when impregnated with dirt, grease or other grime.

Many companies in the Utility sector have long since recognized the need to provide their staff with Flame Resistant Clothing, which has often been in the form of chemically treated fabrics – often 100% cotton fabrics treated with a chemical to ensure that they do not burn when a flame source is applied to them.

But the question for many companies now has been – is that really enough? How do we know whether the chemical treatment is still in this garment after it has been washed? How can we be sure that the protection offered is still the same as when the garment was new?

With this in mind, many of these organisations are now insisting that their workers wear inherent Flame Resistant Clothing. These garments are made using fabrics that contain fibres that are inherently Flame Resistant and do not lose their FR properties by the washing process. These fabrics are a blend of fibres – one such blend known as ‘VXS^+’ in the Flame Resistant, Arc Flash garment market place is a blend of Cotton, and a Modified Acrylic. Other fibres are often also included in these fabrics to give the finished fabric other properties such as antistatic for antistatic garments, viscose for additional softness and nylon for strength.

The result of these fabrics is a garment that can be washed repeatedly for the duration of its life without compromising on the protective properties it was designed to offer. In addition to this, fabrics such as VXS⁺ offer improved comfort by their soft finish, reduced shrinkage (by the inclusive of other fibres other than cotton) and they are lighter in weight than their chemical treated counterparts.

In addition to a standard Flame Resistant garment, the majority of contractors in the Utility sector have now recognised the need for their garments to also be certified for protection against the hazards of an Electric Arc Flash incident. Reputable garment manufacturers have now upgraded many of their garments to also be certified to this higher level of protection.

ProGARM has developed a reputation for High Quality Flame Resistant &Arc Flash Clothing available from Stock for Next Day Delivery and worn by many of the largest Blue Chip organisations.

Plus, discover the lifetime seam guarantee from ProGARM which applied to the main structural seams on the garment. Giving you total assurance of quality and commitment to you.

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