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Reduce the severity of flash fire burn injury — and increase survival odds for industrial personnel -- by following the latest rules for flame-resistant clothing in the 2018 edition of NFPA 2112.

NFPA 2112: Standard on Flame-Resistant Garments for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Flash Fire specifies the minimum design, performance, certification, and testing requirements for flame-resistant fabric and garments for use in areas at risk from flash fires.

Tentative Interim Amendment 12-2 was issued to address cold weather insulation and interlining, and the 2018 edition of the Standard incorporates these allowances for the performance and testing requirements. Typically, these materials serve as internal insulation when used in garments in the field, and therefore not directly exposed to fire. However, during testing, the materials had been directly exposed to fire, which resulted in restricted use of cold weather gear without adding additional safety to the garments.

Other changes in the 2018 edition of NFPA 2112 include:

• Updated terminology that refines the term flash fire to short duration thermal exposure from fire, and adds the term inherent flame resistance for alignment with NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
• Added coverage for garments including shrouds/hoods/ balaclavas as one item, and gloves.
• New two requirements to the testing apparatus that address variability. First, the lab must verify sensor response to a heat flux before the sensors are mounted on the manikin. Second, the lab must test standard reference garments and attain results within a predisposed range before the lab can certify results for the manikin test.

It is essential for manufacturers and certifying agencies of fire-resistant garments for industrial personnel to understand the requirements in NFPA 2112.