ANSI, the American National Standards Institute, has recently made significant changes to the labeling of high visibility clothing. The biggest perhaps being the change to the flame resistant clothing.
Previously the FR ANSI rating, ANSI107-2015, was used on two types of Fire Retardant (FR) clothing: one whose material is woven by FR fabric, and the other comprising of regular material treated with chemicals to become FR.
However, ANSI has now revised how each type of FR clothing is rated.
Flame Resistant vs Self Extinguishing
In the new standard, fire resistant clothing has been separated from self extinguishing clothing.
They have defined Flame Retardant (FR) clothing as material that is intrinsically resistant to catching fire and cannot melt or drip if exposed to fire directly.
On the other hand, Self-extinguishing (SE) clothing is material that has been treated with chemicals to self-extinguish or become flame resistant.
Before the change of standards, both fire retardant and the now self-extinguishing clothing used to qualify as FR. But after the change of laws the only clothing that qualifies under the new ANSI FR standards is material woven with FR fabric.
Clothing that is treated via a chemical process to become fire retardant is no longer being accepted as FR. Instead, it has been labeled as Self Extinguishing (SE).
Any ANSI107-2015 rated garment made from a material not inherently FR will be required to have the following statement on the care label: “This garment is not flame resistant as defined by ANSI/ISEA 107-2015”
The Pyramex Switch
The change in ANSI standards is what has prompted us to change the name of our vests from Pyramex Flame Retardant vests to Pyramex Self Extinguishing Vests. In reality, the vest haven’t changed at all…only the name has!
But because safety comes first, Pyramex has changed the name of the vest in accordance with the new requirements ANSI has laid down.
So rest assured, your favorite Pyramex Flame Retardant Vest is still available, now known as the Pyramex Self Extinguishing Vest.