Handbooks and Publications - Fire Prevention

Fire Prevention Tips FLAMMABLE FABRICS The many natural and synthetic textiles we wear and use to decorate our homes vary widely in flammability. The thin, lightweight fabrics often used in blouses, dresses, and shirts seem to ignite more easily than heavy found in coveralls and pants. Adult sleep wear including pajamas, nightgowns, and robes, is involved in a large proportion of the fire injuries and deaths reported annually. The flammable Fabrics Act Standards, administered by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, require that all children's sleepwear be flame resistant, but it is a good habit to keep all fabrics away from ignition sources. Many natural and garment-related fires cause injuries when a loose-fitting portion of a garment, such as sleeve or skirt hem, comes in contact with a stove burner, lighted candle, space heater, or fireplace fire. Flaming liquids also cause serious injuries when they splash onto a garment and ignite its fabric, or when the textile is already wet with a flammable liquid (such as spilled lighter fluid) which is then ignited by a nearby spark or flame. When selecting fabrics, take note of these precautions: 1. Look for "Flame Retardant" or "Flame Resistant" on labels when shopping for clothing, especially for children. By law, children's sleepwear up to size 14 must be flame resistant. 2. If you sew, shop for flame resistant fabric to use in the clothing you make. 3. Among fabrics which are not labeled "Flame Retardant" or "Flame Resistant," dense, tightly woven fabrics (such as denim) are harder to ignite than lighter, more loosely-woven materials, including many blouse and shirt fabrics. Some fabrics with a fuzzy or fluffy surface (such as cotton flannels) may also be easier to ignite, and may burn faster than smooth, tightly-woven or knit fabric. 4. Even the style of a garment affects its potential for ignition. Loose, flowing clothing, like many nightgowns, shifts, and robes, require extra vigilance to keep it away from ignition sources. If part of a loose-fitting garment catches fire, you may not be aware of it until the fire is burning strongly. Page | 23

Handbooks and Publications - Fire Prevention | Page 26