FR Workwear FAQ

What is NFPA 2112 certification?

NFPA 2112 is the National Fire Protection Association's standard for flame-resistant clothing that protects industrial workers from flash fire, the brief but intense fire that happens when a cloud of flammable gas, vapor or combustible dust ignites. Its full title is Standard on Flame-Resistant Clothing for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Short-Duration Thermal Exposures from Fire.

To be certified, a garment has to pass a set of lab tests. The fabric can char no more than 4 inches and burn no more than 2 seconds after the flame is removed, before and after 100 launderings, with no melting or dripping. It must also pass heat-transfer, heat-resistance and shrinkage tests. A full garment goes on an instrumented manikin exposed to a 3-second flash fire and must show 50% or less predicted body burn.

NFPA 2112 is pass/fail. There are no levels. Certification must come from an independent certification organization such as UL. Most of Rasco's shirts, jeans and coveralls, including the FR Snap Shirt and FR Coverall, are certified to NFPA 2112 by UL.

What is NFPA 70E and who does it apply to?

NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, is the consensus standard for protecting workers from electrical hazards: shock, electrocution and arc flash. OSHA does not adopt it word for word, but OSHA uses it as the recognized industry practice when enforcing its own electrical rules, so employers treat it as the rulebook.

It applies to anyone who works on or near exposed energized electrical equipment: electricians, maintenance technicians, utility and data center workers, and the employers responsible for them. It requires employers to run an electrical safety program, assess shock and arc flash risk, train qualified workers, and provide arc-rated clothing and PPE when a hazard remains after other controls.

The current edition is the 2027 edition, issued in 2026. It now requires arc-rated PPE to be third-party certified or self-declared only under a registered quality system with accredited-lab testing, and labels must show which method was used. NFPA 70E does not test clothing itself; garments are rated under ASTM F1506. Rasco's everyday garments, like the FR Henley at 8.7 cal/cm² (CAT 2), are built to meet it.

What is an arc flash?

An arc flash is an explosive release of energy when electric current jumps through the air between conductors, or from a conductor to ground. It can be triggered by a dropped tool, a loose connection, dust or corrosion, or equipment failure while someone is working on energized gear.

In a fraction of a second, an arc can reach temperatures around 35,000°F, several times hotter than the surface of the sun. It produces intense heat and light, a pressure wave, flying molten metal and loud noise. Burns are the most common serious injury, and ordinary clothing that ignites and keeps burning is often what makes them worse.

Arc flash energy is measured in calories per square centimeter (cal/cm²). Bare skin can get a second-degree burn at about 1.2 cal/cm². That's why NFPA 70E requires arc-rated (AR) clothing with an arc rating at least equal to the expected incident energy. A CAT 2 daily-wear set, such as Rasco's FR Snap Shirt (10 cal/cm²) with FR Classic Fit Jeans (20 cal/cm²), is designed to self-extinguish instead of feeding the burn.

What does CAT 2 FR mean?

CAT 2 refers to PPE Category 2 in NFPA 70E. For clothing, it means the garment has an arc rating of at least 8 cal/cm²: it can take that much arc energy before there's a 50% chance of a second-degree burn through the fabric.

CAT 2 is the most common daily-wear level in industry. Typical CAT 2 garments are a 7 oz FR cotton or 88/12 work shirt, FR jeans or work pants, or a single-layer FR coverall. Under the NFPA 70E table method, CAT 2 covers tasks like work on panelboards above 240 V up to 600 V and many 600 V-class motor control centers, within the table's limits.

Keep in mind that a PPE Category also calls for the rest of the ensemble: an arc-rated face shield or hood, hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, leather gloves and leather footwear. Examples of CAT 2 garments in Rasco's line include the FR Henley (8.7 cal/cm²), FR 88/12 Uniform Shirt (8.7 cal/cm²), FR Relaxed Fit Jeans (13 cal/cm²) and FR Pullover Hoodie (22 cal/cm²).

What's the difference between CAT 2 and CAT 3 FR clothing?

The difference is the minimum arc rating. CAT 2 requires at least 8 cal/cm²; CAT 3 requires at least 25 cal/cm², roughly three times the protection. Anything rated from 8 up to 24.9 cal/cm² is CAT 2, which is why a heavy FR jean at 20 cal/cm² is still CAT 2.

CAT 2 is usually a single layer of everyday workwear. CAT 3 generally requires heavier fabric, insulation or a tested multilayer system, and in practice it is paired with an arc flash hood rather than just a face shield. CAT 3 gear is hotter and heavier, so most programs use CAT 2 as the daily uniform and add CAT 3 layers only for tasks where an arc flash study or the NFPA 70E table calls for 25 cal/cm² or more.

In Rasco's line, the FR Canvas Field Jacket and FR Insulated Bib Overall are CAT 3 at 38 cal/cm². Worn over a CAT 2 shirt and jeans, they're a practical way to step up protection in cold weather. Remember that layered ratings must be tested as a system; you can't just add the numbers.

Do I need FR clothing for welding?

Often, yes, and it's always a good idea. Welding throws sparks and molten spatter that can ignite ordinary clothing, especially synthetics like polyester and nylon, which also melt onto skin. Many welding burns start when a sleeve, pocket or pant cuff catches fire and keeps burning.

No single federal rule requires FR clothing for all welding, but ANSI Z49.1 (Safety in Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes) calls for protective clothing that minimizes the risk of ignition, and many employers and plants require FR in their written programs. If you weld in a refinery, plant or near energized equipment, FR is usually mandatory because of the site's flash fire or arc flash hazards.

A practical welding setup is an FR shirt and FR jeans, like Rasco's FR Snap Shirt and FR Carpenter Jeans, with leather sleeves, apron or jacket for heavy spatter and overhead work. Rasco's classic welding caps started in Louisiana shops in 1988. They're cotton, not FR-rated, so where FR head protection is required, use an FR hood or balaclava.

Can I wash FR clothing in a regular washing machine?

Yes. Most FR garments can be washed at home in a standard machine, as long as you follow the care label. Quality treated fabrics like Westex UltraSoft are guaranteed flame resistant for the life of the garment under both home and industrial laundering when cared for correctly.

The rules that matter:

• Wash FR separately from regular clothes so lint from flammable fibers doesn't collect on it.
• No chlorine bleach. It can damage treated FR and weaken fibers.
• No fabric softener or dryer sheets. They leave a flammable film.
• No starch; soft water is better than hard water, which can leave mineral deposits that mask FR properties.
• Turn garments inside out, tumble dry at the label temperature, and remove promptly.
• Remove oil, grease and fuel completely. A contaminated garment can burn even if the fabric won't.

Heavily soiled or oil-soaked FR is better handled by an industrial launderer experienced with FR (ASTM F1449). More detail is in the laundry section of our FR Workwear Guide.

How long does FR protection last?

For properly made FR clothing, flame resistance lasts as long as the garment itself. Inherent FR fabrics (modacrylic, aramid, and blends like Westex DH or GlenGuard) are flame resistant because of the fiber's chemistry, so there is nothing to wash out. Quality treated fabrics like FR cotton and 88/12 are engineered to hold their FR through the life of the garment when laundered correctly; Westex, for example, guarantees UltraSoft for the life of the garment.

What ends an FR garment's service life is wear and damage, not a calendar date. Retire a garment when it has holes, tears or thin spots that can't be repaired with FR materials; when oil, grease or flammable contamination won't wash out; when the label is no longer legible; or after it has been through an actual arc flash or fire.

What shortens FR life: chlorine bleach, fabric softener, repairs with non-FR thread or patches, and heavy abrasion. With normal care, a daily-wear shirt like Rasco's FR 88/12 Uniform Shirt is built for years of industrial laundering.

What is GlenGuard fabric?

GlenGuard is a line of inherently flame-resistant, arc-rated fabrics made by Glen Raven, a North Carolina textile company. "Inherent" means the protection comes from the fibers themselves, not from a chemical treatment, so it cannot wash out or wear off.

GlenGuard fabrics are solution-dyed, meaning color is added while the fiber is being made, which keeps colors from fading through years of sun and industrial washing. They also use Glen Raven's Wickzz moisture-management system to pull sweat away from the skin. The result is a lightweight, breathable fabric that's popular in utilities, oil and gas, food processing and uniform programs where appearance matters.

The GlenGuard garments Rasco has carried use lightweight aramid-based blends. The 5.3 oz twill in the Retro FR GlenGuard Uniform Shirt and Retro FR GlenGuard Navy Coverall carries a 9.5 cal/cm² arc rating (CAT 2) and NFPA 2112 certification. These are closeout styles and available while sizes last. For current inherent options, see Rasco's Westex DH Air garments.

What is Westex UltraSoft?

Westex UltraSoft is a treated flame-resistant fabric made by Westex, a Milliken brand, and one of the most widely used FR fabrics in North America. Introduced in 1996, it's an 88/12 blend: 88% cotton and 12% high-tenacity nylon. The fabric is engineered so the nylon sits toward the outer face for abrasion resistance, while the cotton sits against the skin for comfort.

UltraSoft is guaranteed flame resistant for the life of the garment under both home and industrial laundering. It comes in weights from about 5.5 to 13 oz; most styles are arc-rated CAT 2, and many are certified to NFPA 2112. Because it holds its shape and color through high-temperature industrial washing, it's a standard choice for rental and uniform programs.

Rasco builds several garments from US-made UltraSoft 88/12, including the FR 88/12 Uniform Shirt and the FR 88/12 Lab Coat, both rated 8.7 cal/cm² (CAT 2) and certified to NFPA 2112 by UL.

What is a dual-hazard FR garment?

A dual-hazard garment protects against both electric arc flash and flash fire, the two main thermal hazards in industrial work. To earn that label, a garment is certified to NFPA 2112 for flash fire and also carries an arc rating under ASTM F1506 / NFPA 70E, shown as a cal/cm² value and PPE Category.

The two hazards are tested differently. Flash fire testing looks at how the fabric performs in a few seconds of engulfing hydrocarbon fire. Arc testing measures how much electrical arc energy the fabric can block. A garment can pass one and not the other, so "FR" alone doesn't tell you it's dual-hazard. Check the label for both an NFPA 2112 certification mark and an arc rating.

Dual-hazard garments are standard in refineries, petrochemical plants, and oil and gas facilities with electrical work, and in utilities where crews face both hazards. Many of Rasco's everyday garments are dual-hazard, including the FR Snap Shirt (10 cal/cm², CAT 2), the FR Coverall (10 cal/cm², CAT 2) and the FR Canvas Field Jacket (38 cal/cm², CAT 3), all certified to NFPA 2112 by UL.

Can I wear regular cotton under FR clothing?

Generally, yes. A plain 100% cotton T-shirt or underwear is an acceptable underlayer beneath FR clothing, because cotton doesn't melt. Wool and silk are also acceptable. NFPA 70E prohibits meltable fibers in layers worn under arc-rated clothing, except for incidental amounts of elastic.

What you should not wear underneath: polyester, nylon, polypropylene, spandex, and most athletic "performance" or moisture-wicking shirts. In an arc flash or flash fire, heat that passes through the outer layer can melt synthetics onto the skin and make burns far worse.

Two caveats. Regular cotton adds no arc rating of its own, and it can ignite if the outer layer breaks open. An FR base layer is the better choice because it adds protection to the system and handles sweat better. Rasco's FR Long Sleeve Base Layer T-Shirt is a 5 oz FR modacrylic blend rated 6 cal/cm² (CAT 1), built to be worn next to the skin under a CAT 2 shirt all day. Also check your employer's program: some sites require FR underlayers.

What does NFPA 2112 certified by UL mean?

It means an independent certification organization, UL Solutions, has verified that the garment meets every requirement of NFPA 2112, rather than the manufacturer simply claiming it does. NFPA 2112 itself requires this kind of third-party certification; "compliant" without a certifier's mark is not the same thing.

Certification covers the whole garment, not just the fabric. UL reviews test data for every component: fabric, sewing thread, labels, buttons, snaps and zippers. The garment is then listed, and the manufacturer can put the UL mark on the label. UL also conducts ongoing follow-up inspections at the manufacturer's facilities to make sure production keeps matching what was certified. You can look up certified products in UL's online Product iQ database.

Under the 2027 NFPA 70E, third-party certification also matters for arc-rated PPE: a manufacturer's own declaration is no longer enough on its own. Rasco has been UL-certified to NFPA 2112 across much of its line, including the FR Snap Shirt, FR Coverall and FR Classic Fit Jeans.

What's the difference between inherent FR and treated FR?

The difference is where the flame resistance comes from. Inherent FR fabrics are made from fibers that are flame resistant by their chemical structure: modacrylic, aramid (such as meta-aramid), and blends like Westex DH, DH Air and GlenGuard. There's no finish to wash out. Treated FR fabrics start as natural or blended fibers, usually cotton or 88/12 cotton/nylon, and receive an FR chemistry that bonds into the fiber. Westex UltraSoft and FR-treated cotton denim are examples.

Both are safe when the finished garment is tested and certified. The practical differences:

• Weight: inherent fabrics usually reach a given arc rating at lighter weights.
• Comfort: inherent blends often breathe and wick better; treated cotton feels familiar and soft.
• Price: treated fabrics cost less.
• Care: treated FR needs correct laundering (no bleach or softener) to perform for life.

Rasco offers both, for example the treated 100% FR cotton Henley and the inherent Westex DH Air Coverall, both CAT 2.

Does FR clothing shrink?

Some, yes, especially FR cotton. Like regular cotton, treated FR cotton can shrink a few percent over the first several washes, with most of it happening early. High dryer heat makes it worse. 88/12 cotton/nylon (such as Westex UltraSoft) holds its shape better thanks to the nylon, and most inherent blends such as modacrylic and aramid fabrics are more dimensionally stable still.

To keep shrinkage to a minimum:

• Wash warm, not hot, unless the label calls for industrial settings.
• Tumble dry at the label temperature, or low, and remove promptly.
• Don't over-dry. Pulling garments while slightly damp helps.

When choosing a size in 100% cotton items like FR jeans and henleys, allow for a little shrinkage, particularly in length. Shrinkage from washing doesn't affect FR performance, but a garment that no longer covers your wrists, waist or ankles leaves skin exposed, which does. If a garment has shrunk enough to ride up, replace it. Rasco's size charts are on each product page, like the FR Classic Fit Jeans, and our team can help at 225-273-3163.