Fire Retardant Clothing & FR Workwear Australia

Fire retardant clothing for electrical, mining and industrial crews

Flash Uniforms supplies FR clothing and arc rated, flame resistant work clothes from Syzmik, KingGee, Hard Yakka, Bisley, DNC and JB's Wear. The range runs from lightweight PPE 1 shirts to a PPE 3 rated wet weather jacket, with hi vis day/night options and women's fits across shirts and pants. Most garments use inherently flame resistant fabrics such as modacrylic, aramid and LENZING FR, so the protection is built into the fibre. Every garment can be embroidered with your logo using FR-rated aramid thread and Kevlar backing, so branding doesn't compromise protection.

Shop FR shirts, FR pants, FR jackets and FR overalls.

How to choose: arc rating and PPE category

An arc rating tells you how much heat energy a fabric blocks before the wearer is likely to get a second-degree burn. It's measured in calories per square centimetre (cal/cm²) and shown on the garment as an ATPV or EBT value. Your site's arc flash risk assessment gives the minimum rating needed for the task; choose a garment rated at or above it.

You'll still see "HRC" (hazard risk category) on many labels. NFPA 70E replaced the term with "PPE category" in 2015, but the numbers line up: HRC 2 and PPE 2 mean the same thing.

Standards explained

Each product page lists the standards and rating that garment carries. If your site needs a test certificate or supplier data sheet, ask us before you order.

Inherent FR vs treated FR

Inherent FR fabrics are made from fibres that resist flame by their chemistry, such as modacrylic, meta-aramid, para-aramid and LENZING FR. The protection can't wash out, so it lasts the life of the garment. Most of our range is inherent FR, including Syzmik's meta-aramid and Modatech fabrics, KingGee and Hard Yakka ShieldTec, Bisley TenCate Tecasafe Plus and DNC Flamearc.

Treated FR fabrics are usually cotton finished with a flame-retardant chemical. They're heavier and cost less, and good treatments last a long time if the garment is washed correctly. DNC's Patron Saint cotton drill range, for example, is rated for 50+ domestic washes at 60°C.

Care and when to replace

• Follow the care label. Most FR workwear washes like normal workwear.
• Don't use bleach, fabric softener or starch. They can damage FR fibres or treatments and leave flammable residue.
• Wash oil, fuel or grease out promptly. A contaminated FR garment can burn.
• Repair only with FR thread and FR patches, and keep logos FR-rated.
• Don't wear synthetic (polyester or nylon) layers underneath; they can melt onto skin. Choose cotton or FR base layers.
• Replace garments that are torn, worn thin, or contaminated in a way washing won't remove, and replace hi vis garments when the reflective tape stops shining at night.

Fire retardant clothing FAQ

What does FR stand for?

FR stands for flame resistant, and you'll also see it written as fire resistant or fire retardant. FR clothing, FR wear and FR work clothes all mean garments that resist catching fire and stop burning when the flame source is removed. Fire resistant apparel for electrical work is also arc rated, so check the cal/cm² rating on the label against your site's risk assessment.

Which Australian standards apply to FR clothing?

For electrical work, AS/NZS 4836:2023 requires PPE to be selected from a risk assessment, and the arc rating of the clothing is tested to IEC 61482-1-1 or ASTM F1959. Heat and flame protection is tested to ISO 11612. Hi vis FR garments also follow AS/NZS 4602.1 and AS/NZS 1906.4, and bushfire clothing follows AS/NZS 4824. Each product page lists exactly what that garment carries.

What's the difference between fire retardant and fire resistant clothing?

In everyday use they mean the same thing: clothing that resists igniting and self-extinguishes. The technical difference is in the fabric. Inherent FR fibres are flame resistant by nature, while treated FR fabrics have a flame-retardant finish. Both can meet the same standards. Our guide to fire resistant fabrics goes into more detail.

Is FR clothing fireproof?

No. FR clothing isn't fireproof. It resists catching fire and stops burning once the flame source is removed, but fabric can still char or break down under enough heat, and it only protects up to its rating. Choose a garment rated for your site's risk assessment and avoid synthetic layers underneath.

What arc rating do I need?

Your site's arc flash risk assessment sets the minimum. PPE 2 (at least 8 cal/cm²) is the most common requirement for electrical and mining work, and most of our range is PPE 2. If you're unsure, send us your site's PPE requirement and we'll match garments to it.

What does HRC 2 or PPE 2 mean?

Both mean the garment has an arc rating of at least 8 cal/cm². HRC was the older name for what NFPA 70E now calls a PPE category.

Do you have FR workwear for women?

Yes. Women's fits include the Bisley Apex and TenCate Tecasafe Plus shirts, KingGee ShieldTec Lenzing shirts, the DNC Flamearc day/night shirt and cargo pants, Syzmik ZW131 and ZW170 shirts and the ZP522 cargo pant, Bisley Apex 240 cargo pant, and Hard Yakka FR taped pants.

Can I add my company logo to FR clothing?

Yes. We embroider FR garments with Madeira Fire Fighter aramid thread and Kevlar backing so the logo doesn't add a flammable patch to the garment. See our embroidery service.

How should FR clothing be washed?

Like normal workwear, following the care label, but without bleach, fabric softener or starch. Wash out oil and grease promptly, and don't wear synthetic layers underneath.

Can I buy FR clothing in store in Perth?

We don't hold FR garments in store because of the size of the range. Most styles are ordered in on confirmation and arrive within about 5 working days, plus about 5 working days if you're adding printing or embroidery.

Which FR garments do you recommend for mine sites?

Popular choices are the Syzmik ZW143 spliced shirt, the KingGee ShieldTec Lenzing K84002 women's shirt, the JB's FR PPE2 Biomotion shirt 6DFRL and cargo pant 6MFRP, the DNC Patron Saint 3412 arc rated cargo pant, and the KingGee ShieldTec FR Wet Weather Jacket Y06730 for the wet season.