FR clothing is designed with one simple goal: help protect workers from serious burns in the event of a flash fire or arc flash incident. Think of it like a seatbelt. Nobody gets excited about wearing one, but when you need it, you’ll be glad it’s there.
Flame resistant garments are made to self-extinguish once the ignition source is removed, giving workers valuable seconds to react. In other words, FR clothing doesn’t make you fireproof, but it can help keep a bad day from becoming a much worse one.
FR garments are grouped into categories based on the amount of protection they provide.
CAT 1 requires a minimum ATPV of 4 cal/cm².
CAT 2 requires a minimum ATPV of 8 cal/cm².
CAT 3 requires a minimum of 25 cal/cm².
CAT 4 requires a minimum of 40 cal/cm².
CAT 1 garments provide the basic level of arc flash protection and are commonly used in lower-risk work environments. Think of CAT 1 as the “daily driver” of FR clothing.Examples include FR base layers and FR socks.
CAT 2 is the most common level of protection for many industrial workers and utility crews. If CAT 1 is the daily driver, CAT 2 is the pickup truck. Examples include FR Henleys, FR Snap Shirts, and FR Jeans.
CAT 3 garments provide higher levels of protection for more hazardous environments and are often achieved through layering systems or heavier-duty outerwear. Examples include FR Insulated Jackets and FR Bib Overalls.
We’ve seen styles come and go, but one thing has never changed: our commitment to the people who wear our products every day. That’s why every garment we make is backed by our Tough As You™ Guarantee.
We stand behind our garments because we stand behind our customers. If you’re counting on your FR gear to perform, you should be able to count on the company that made it too.
And because tough jobs require tough gear, Rasco has been protecting American and Canadian workers since 1988. That’s nearly 40 years of experience outfitting hardworking men and women with dependable FR apparel built to stand up to real-world conditions.
