“FR clothing” covers three different hazards, and the right garment depends on which one you face. Welding throws spatter and sparks; mining, oil and gas and fuel handling carry a flash-fire risk; electrical work can expose you to an arc flash. A heavy leather welding jacket won’t give an electrician an arc rating, and an arc-rated shirt isn’t built to shed molten spatter all day. This guide explains the difference and lists what we stock from Bisley, DNC, KingGee, Portwest and ProChoice.
Welding vs flash fire vs electric arc
- Welding and hot work — protection from spatter, sparks and brief flame contact. Look for chrome leather, or heavy cotton drill with a flame-retardant treatment such as Pyrovatex. The international standard for welding clothing is ISO 11611.
- Flash fire and heat — short exposure to flame and radiant heat. Look for clothing tested to ISO 11612 (heat and flame), ideally in an inherently flame-resistant fabric.
- Electric arc — a burst of intense heat from an electrical fault. Arc-rated clothing carries an arc rating in cal/cm² (often shown as ATPV); many manufacturers also quote a hazard risk category, such as PPE 2 / HRC 2. Your site’s arc-flash assessment sets the minimum rating you need.
Inherent vs treated FR fabric
Inherent FR fabrics (modacrylic, aramid and Lenzing FR blends such as TenCate Tecasafe® Plus) are flame resistant because of the fibres themselves, so the protection can’t wash out. Treated fabrics are cotton finished with a flame-retardant chemistry: comfortable and usually cheaper, but they must be laundered as the manufacturer directs to keep their rating. Whichever you choose, wear natural-fibre or FR layers underneath — synthetic underwear and base layers can melt onto skin.
FR shirts
- Bisley Tencate Tecasafe® Plus 700 Taped Hi Vis FR Vented Shirt BS8082T — inherent TenCate Tecasafe® Plus 700 (modacrylic, lyocell, aramid), FR reflective tape, vented back, radio and gas-monitor loops.
- KingGee ShieldTEC Lenzing FR Hi-Vis Spliced Open Front Taped Shirt K84000 — 165 gsm Lenzing FR star-weave, PPE 2 (minimum 10 cal) per KingGee; women’s fit: K84003.
- KingGee Shieldtec FR Hi Vis Closed Front Taped Shirt Y04150 — HRC/PPE 2, minimum 8.4 cal per KingGee, anti-static fibre.
- DNC Inherent Flame Retardant Lightweight PPE1 2 Tone D/N 3445 — 180 gsm inherent FR, no metal components, Day/Night tape; the mid-weight PPE 2 version 3455 is 230 gsm ripstop.
- DNC Patron Saint® Flame Retardant Drill Long Sleeve Shirt 3402 — 190 gsm FR cotton drill; DNC lists ISO 11612 and an ATPV of 6.8 cal/cm² (HRC 1).
- Portwest Bizflame 88/12 Shirt FR89 — permanent flame resistance with ARC 2 protection per Portwest.
- Portwest Flame Resistant Shirt MF101 — FR-treated 100% cotton drill with FR reflective tape, tested to a minimum of 60 washes.
FR pants
- Bisley Tencate Tecasafe® Plus 700 Taped Engineered FR Vented Cargo Pants BPC8092T — inherent Tecasafe® Plus 700 with back-yoke ventilation; women’s: BPL8092T.
- KingGee Shieldtec FR Cargo Pant With FR Tape and Knee Pocket Y02670 — HRC/PPE 2, minimum 8.4 cal per KingGee, with knee-pad pockets; women’s: Y02320.
- DNC Inherent Flame Retardant PPE2 Taped Cargo Pants 3474 — 230 gsm inherent FR ripstop, no metal components.
- DNC Patron Saint Flame Retardant Cargo Pants with 3M F/R Tape 3419 — DNC lists ISO 11612 and an ATPV of 14 cal/cm² (HRC 2).
- Portwest Bizflame Work FR Pants FR431 — lightweight FR with an adjustable regular-to-long leg.
FR coveralls and outerwear
- Bisley Tencate Tecasafe® Plus 700 Taped Hi Vis FR Vented Coverall BC8086T — inherent Tecasafe® Plus 700, vented, ten pockets.
- KingGee Shieldtec FR Hi Vis Two Tone Coverall With FR Tape Y00055 — HRC/PPE 2, minimum 8.4 cal per KingGee.
- DNC Inherent Flame Retardant PPE2 2 Tone D/N Taped Coveralls 3481 — two-tone Day/Night with FR nylon zip and studs.
- Portwest Huski Flame Resistant Class D/N Fire Jacket K8000 — FR, anti-static, waterproof Day/Night jacket with concealed hood.
- Bisley Taped Hi Vis FR Wet Weather Shell Jacket BJ8110T and KingGee FR Wet Weather Jacket Y06730 for wet shifts.
Welding jackets, aprons and accessories
- Maxisafe - Arcguard Hi-vis Fire Retardant Welding Jacket — 350 gsm Pyrovatex-treated cotton with chrome leather sleeves, Kevlar stitching and a rear flap for a harness.
- ProChoice Pyromate Welders Jacket PVJ — Pyrovatex cotton body with leather sleeves; the Pyromate Red full leather jacket for heavier spatter.
- ProChoice Pyromate® Welders Apron (Each) and Pyromate leather spats to keep spatter off your legs and boots.
- Blue and Gold Welding Gauntlet ASSW-6 — lined cow-split leather, Kevlar stitched, 40 cm cuff, pack of 12.
- UniSafe Welding Helmet WL530 — Australian-made helmet with a shade 10 filter approved to AS/NZS 1338.1; for powered-air welding, the 3M Speedglas 9100XXi Air with Adflo PAPR.
- 3M™ Speedglas Welders Cap (Each) and the MSA V-Gard Supreme FR helmet liner (ATPV 8 cal/cm² per MSA).
Shop the full ranges: welding protection, FR pants, FR jackets and FR coveralls.
Wearing FR clothing correctly
- Match the rating to your site’s hazard assessment — for arc work, the garment’s cal/cm² rating must meet or exceed the assessed incident energy.
- Wear shirts tucked in and sleeves rolled down, with the collar done up for arc work.
- Choose FR reflective tape on hi-vis FR garments — standard tape is not flame resistant.
- Keep FR clothing clean of oil and grease, which can burn.
- Follow the manufacturer’s laundering instructions, especially for treated fabrics.
Frequently asked questions
Is welding clothing the same as arc-rated clothing?
No. Welding clothing is designed to resist spatter, sparks and brief flame contact (ISO 11611). Arc-rated clothing is tested against the heat of an electric arc and carries a cal/cm² rating. Electrical workers need arc-rated garments that meet their site’s arc-flash assessment.
What does PPE 2 or HRC 2 mean on FR clothing?
It is a hazard risk category that manufacturers quote alongside the arc rating. KingGee, for example, lists its ShieldTec FR shirts as HRC/PPE 2 with a minimum of 8.4 cal. The cal/cm² figure is the number to compare with your site’s arc-flash assessment.
What is the difference between inherent and treated FR fabric?
Inherent FR fabrics are flame resistant because of the fibres themselves, so the protection can’t wash out. Treated fabrics are cotton finished with a flame-retardant chemistry and must be laundered as directed to keep their rating.
Can I wear a polyester shirt under FR clothing?
It’s best not to. Synthetic layers can melt onto the skin in a flash fire or arc. Wear cotton, wool or FR base layers under FR garments.
Kitting out a crew? Trade pricing and account terms are available — contact us or call 0457 545 175. Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $200; collection from our Auburn NSW warehouse by arrangement (call first), 7:30am–3:30pm Mon–Fri.