How to Ensure Maximum Safety with Fire-Resistant Clothing in the Oil and Gas Industry

FR clothing for oil and gas workers shouldn’t just meet industry compliance requirements. For maximum safety, you need quality FR clothing that exceeds standard compliance and places a priority on your comfort with lightweight, moisture-wicking fabrics that reliably stand up to the hazards you face at work. Serious risks like flash fires, intense radiant heat, arc flashes, and tough working conditions mean you can’t afford to rely on protective clothing that does the bare minimum.

3 Hallmarks of Quality FR Clothing for Oil and Gas Workers

FR clothing and flame-resistant accessories you wear at work are put to the test every single day. That’s why it’s essential to find quality FR clothing that’s durable, high-performance, always in compliance, and ensures your safety day in and day out.

1. Meets Flash Fire Standards

Hydrocarbon flash fires are one of the biggest hazards in your field, so look for FR clothing that meets or exceeds relevant testing requirements for maximum safety in the oil and gas industry. These garments protect your skin in a flash fire event and help prevent serious burns and fatalities. In Canada, protective apparel worn in environments with a risk of flash fires must meet requirements set by the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) 155.20.

CGSB 155.20-compliant clothing has to pass certain performance tests through a third-party testing lab, like:

  • Manikin tests with less than 40% predicted body burn
  • Average Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) of 6 cal/cm² or greater
  • Thermal shrinkage of no more than 10% in testing
  • Heat resistance with no melting, dripping, separating, or ignition
  • Vertical flammability tests with no melting, dripping, or after-flame beyond 2 seconds
  • Durability that demonstrates continued protection through at least 50 laundering cycles

Everything from the fabric to the trim and labels are addressed in these strict requirements to ensure compliant clothing offers the highest level of protection for oil and gas workers.

With this in mind, what is proper PPE in the oil and gas industry? PPE should meet or exceed CGSB 155.20 testing standards (similar to NFPA 2112 in the U.S.) to keep you safe in the face of fire hazards. Proper PPE is recommended to be inherent FR and labeled to show third-party certification according to NFPA 2112. CGSB 155.20 makes third-party certification optional, but trusted manufacturers like MWG Apparel still third-party test every fabric, finished garment, and layered combination through Aitex to exceed CGSB requirements for flash fires.

2. Comfort on the Job

Hot environments with long hours make comfortable FR clothing essential for oil and gas workers. FR clothing of the past had a reputation for being heavy, bulky, and leading to heat stress in hot working environments. Our continual development of proprietary fabric blends at MWG Apparel means your FR workwear never has to be uncomfortable again.

We develop light, breathable fabrics that offer the highest level of FR protection for oil and gas workers. Our comfortable workwear options include flex, stretch, and breathability, like:

  • MWG BLOCKER™ Men's FR Pullover Hoodie
  • MWG RIPGUARD™ Men's FR Utility Pant
  • MWG PROFLEX™ Women's FR Utility Pant
  • MWG COMFORT WEAVE™ Men's FR Button Shirt
  • MWG STORMSHIELD™ Men's FR Rain Jacket

Wondering what to wear under fire-resistant clothing? FR base layers ensure the fabrics closest to your skin won’t ignite, melt, or drip in the event of flash fires. Choose light, breathable base layer fabrics, like MWG FLEXSAFE™, that offer 4-way stretch-like athletic clothing. Choose long-sleeve, short-sleeve, boxers, long johns, and more to layer your protection without overheating.

3. Long-Lasting Durability

Current CGSB 155.20 requires all tested garments to be able to withstand at least 50 washes without losing performance. Long-lasting durability is a critical safety factor. You don’t want FR clothing that stops working before you do!

Choosing third-party tested, CGSB 155.20 and NFPA 2112-compliant FR clothing from MWG Apparel is the only way to ensure durability in your FR workwear. Aitex tests every MWG Apparel garment for durability and ensures our workwear stands up to rips, tears, shrinkage, and heat over time. We are proud to make quality FR clothing for oil and gas workers that lasts.

Choose Maximum Safety. Choose MWG Apparel
When you purchase FR clothing from MWG Apparel, you can rest assured of exceptional quality. We take pride in providing top-notch FR clothing, specifically crafted to ensure the safety of oil and gas workers. Explore our range of FR outerwear, base layers, and more.
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