How Are Safety Norms Increasing Adoption of Fire-Resistant Fabrics in Factories?

Fire-resistant fabrics, namely fire-retardant treated (FRT) and inherent, are used as flame-retardant substances due to the chemical treatment of these fabrics. FRT fabrics are converted into fire-resistant materials by using fire-resistant chemicals. These fabrics are widely used in the electrical, oil and gas, and electrical industries, which are excessively prone to heat and risk of fire. These fabrics are primarily used in law enforcement service uniforms and fire-fighting uniforms. Moreover, these fabrics are also required in the transportation sector and commercial and residential furnishings to reduce the occurrence of fire hazards.

The adoption of these fabrics has surged in developed and developing nations, due to the strengthening of safety norms in these countries. Safety of industrial workers has become the top-most priority in various countries, due to the implementation of stringent regulatory guidelines of the governments. Owing to this reason, manufacturing plants are adopting fire-resistant cloths. This will, therefore, escalate the fire-resistant fabrics market at a CAGR of 5.2% during forecast period. According to P&S Intelligence, the market was valued at $3,950.6 million in 2015.

Geographically, the European region adopted the highest volume of fire-resistant fabrics in 2015, due to the surging concerns regarding safety in industrial settings. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) fire-resistant fabrics market is expected to register the fastest growth in the coming years. This can be ascribed to the growth of the chemical, oil and gas, and petrochemical sectors in the region. Moreover, the growing need for fire-resistant commercial and residential furnishings will boost the adoption of these fire-retardant materials in the foreseeable future in APAC.

This is also because of the 100,000 deaths caused by fires around the world, most occur in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is because of the alarming lack of fire safety standards in such countries, a large number of which are located in the APAC region. With the increasing awareness on the issue, reginal countries are formulating stringent regulations regarding the type of fire-resistant materials to be used in industrial, commercial, and residential spaces.

Thus, the strengthening of industrial safety norms in several countries has led to the widescale adoption of fire-resistant fabrics, globally.