In industrial environments where fire, arc flash, chemicals, and particulates pose serious risks, choosing the right protective clothing isn’t optional; it’s essential. Flame‑resistant protection relies on a layered system, and at the core of that system are two distinct categories of garments: primary flame‑resistant (FR) clothing and secondary flame‑resistant (SFR) clothing. Each plays a unique role in keeping workers safe.
Primary FR Clothing
Primary FR garments are engineered to provide stand‑alone protection against flame and arc hazards. These garments help reduce burn injury in the event of a flash fire or electric arc exposure—even when worn alone.
They serve as the worker’s main barrier in environments where flame protection is required. Whether it’s a refinery, utility site, chemical plant, or manufacturing facility, primary FR clothing forms the foundational layer of safety.
Secondary FR Clothing
Secondary FR garments serve a different, but equally important, purpose. These garments are designed to shield against particulate and liquid chemical hazards while ensuring they do not compromise the burn performance of the primary FR clothing underneath.
Because secondary FR garments are not intended to provide flame protection on their own, they must always be worn over appropriate primary FR clothing in any environment where flame hazards are present.
Secondary FR garments function as part of a complete protective system, working alongside additional PPE for the head, face, hands, and feet to ensure full‑body safety.
Why Secondary FR (SFR) Matters
In many industrial settings, workers face multiple hazards at once. A flash‑fire risk may coexist with chemical splash exposure. Arc‑flash hazards may be present alongside airborne particulates.
Secondary FR garments allow workers to maintain the flame‑resistant integrity of their primary FR clothing while adding targeted protection against these additional hazards. Without a proper secondary layer, workers may unintentionally compromise the performance of their FR gear.
When to Use Secondary FR Garments
Secondary FR garments are essential in environments where workers may encounter:
- Chemical splashes or sprays
- Liquid hazards
- Airborne particulates
- Contaminants that could saturate or damage primary FR clothing
- Tasks requiring disposable or limited‑use protective layers
They are especially valuable in industries such as chemical processing, utilities, oil & gas, manufacturing, and hazardous materials handling.
Featured DuPont™ PPE
DuPont™ Tyvek® 400 SFR
Garment Details
- Patent-pending design.
- Red detailing includes red external stitched seams, red zipper, and red chest patch border.
- Relaxed-fit coverall design features a diamond gusset crotch for unrestricted movement and an optimal fit when worn beneath primary flame-resistant protective clothing.
- Available in hooded coverall, hooded coverall with attached socks, and non-hooded coverall styles
DuPont™ Tychem® 2000 SFR
Garment Details
- Respirator-fit hood with covered elastic face opening.
- Chin flap with double-sided adhesive tape.
- The double storm flap covers the zipper and can be sealed by the wearer with a double-sided adhesive strip to prevent intrusion at the zipper.
- Covered elastic openings at wrists and ankles for tighter fit.
- Elastic at the sides of the waist for a better fit.
- Taped seams provide strong chemical resistance against heavy liquid splashes. A sewn seam is covered with a strip of compatible chemical-resistant material through heat sealing.
- Pin-lock zipper prevents movement of the slider when the puller is in the down position, helping prevent the garment from unzipping while performing work.
- Meets the U.S. industry requirements for blood (ASTM F1670) and viral penetration (ASTM F1671), protecting against several bloodborne pathogen exposure risks.
- Available in other garment styles including a sleeved apron and bib overall & jacket combo.
DuPont™ Tychem® 6000 SFR
Garment Details
- Respirator-fit hood with covered elastic face opening.
- Chin flap with double-sided adhesive tape.
- Double storm flap covers zipper which can be sealed by the wearer with double-sided adhesive strip to prevent intrusion at zipper.
- Covered elastic openings at wrists and ankles for tighter fit.
- Elastic at sides of waist for better fit.
- Taped seams provide strong chemical resistance against heavy liquid splashes. A sewn seam is covered with a strip of compatible chemical-resistant material through heat sealing.
- Pin lock zipper prevents movement of the slider when puller is in the down position, helping to prevent garment from unzipping while performing work.
- Meets the U.S. industry requirements for blood (ASTM F1670) and viral penetration (ASTM F1671) protecting against several bloodborne pathogen exposure risks.
- Available in other garment styles including a sleeved apron and bib overall & jacket combo.
Explore More with Liberty Safety
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