Protecting Yourself When Purchasing Flame Resistant Products

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When you’re shopping for a product that may just save a life, you want to be absolutely certain that it works as advertised, and you want to be absolutely certain that what you’re buying fits the exact specifications your job requires. You want to know that it will perform under the circumstances you need it to, without encumbering or inhibiting you. There are five basic things you can do to ensure that you get the quality you need.

First, you need to select a distributor. Many manufacturers do not sell directly, but sell their products through a distributor who handles the order-taking process and can usually offer a diverse assortment of brands to meet varying needs, whether you need a set of coveralls built to handle arc flash protective requirements or one more suited to fighting wildland fires. As an example, Anchortex Corporation offers many brands of popular and reliable flame resistant products, including OEL Protective Gear, Lakeland Protective Apparel, Topps Safety Apparel, Workrite FR Work Clothing, Refrigiwear FR, and Bulwark Protective Apparel. Each brand specializes in meeting a particular set of needs, and choosing an appropriate brand will ensure that you are meeting OSHA regulations and getting the best product for your purposes.

Second, you need to evaluate the manufacturer. FR fabric manufacture is a large and important business, but making quality FR gear that can stand up under actual use conditions requires diligent effort and knowledge. Ensure that you know the manufacturer of your potential lifesaving materials is a legitimate company with experience in the field, and that you know about them and what they do.

Third, you need to get a better grasp on the fabrics themselves - figuratively, and literally. Most companies are willing to provide sample swatches of materials upon request, as well as information about their internal and external testing processes, documentation on their manufacturer, and quality control standards. When your life might be on the line, you want to know as much as you can about the product before you have to use it.

Fourth, you need to learn who else is using a product you are considering purchasing. Most distributors and manufacturers succeed because they can back up their product claims with satisfied customers who have been using their products for years. Don’t be shy about asking - remember, when it comes to something that can prevent employee injuries or other significant costs, you can never be too prepared.

Fifth, you need to ensure that vital information about the product is presented clearly and visibly at all times. When ordering, you need to ensure that you are requesting (and being provided with) the specific FR fabric you need to perform the job. Quality manufacturers sew labels directly into their garments for identification purposes, to ensure that customers have accurate information about the exact garment available without having to wonder whether an off-brand generic fabric happens to be rated for their specific needs. Products that maintain a specific certification (such as NFPA 1977) will clearly display this on the label, for example. Furthermore, important care information on the label must be followed exactly to ensure that your FR protective clothing maintains the level of protection you expect over the lifespan of the garment.

By following these five steps, you can ensure that the flame resistant clothing you purchase will meet your needs and expectations, and avoid getting burned by generic products and manufacturers who don’t stand behind their products. Anchortex Corporation will always be happy to provide customers with information direct from the manufacturer regarding our name-brand products. Contact us today and ask us for information on our OEL arc flash protective gear, our Bulwark flame resistant work clothing, our Topps and Lakeland emergency personnel apparel, and our many other FR options to meet your safety needs - or shop direct from our website and receive $10 off of a purchase of $100 or more in FR apparel by entering pricing code FRSafe.

This entry was posted on July 12, 2010 at 09:30 and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.