Fire-resistant fabrics are basically substances that are highly flame retardant, on account of their chemical composition. There are mainly two types of fire-resistant fabrics used across the world namely inherent and fire-retardant treated (FRT). The utilization of various fire-resistant chemicals makes the FRT fabrics fire-resistant. They are extensively used in several industries such as chemical, oil and gas, and electrical, where there is a high risk of fire breaking out.
Law enforcement service uniforms and fire-fighting uniforms are the major application areas of fire-resistant fabrics. Besides these, these fabrics are also used in the transportation industry for reducing the incidence of fire hazards and in various commercial and residential furnishings. The inherent fire-resistant fabrics have fire-resistance characteristics because of their chemical structure. The rising industrialization and the increasing implementation of strict fire safety regulations in several countries are pushing up the sales of fire-resistant fabrics.
With increasing concerns being raised over fire safety in industries, the adoption of fire-resistant fabrics and cloths is rising rapidly in industries around the world. There have been various codes such as the NFPA 2112 and the NFPA 70E set under industrial regulations and standards such as the occupational safety and health standards (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regulations. These codes have caused a sharp surge in the demand for fire-resistant clothes among industrial workers.
Due to the aforementioned factors, the global fire resistant fabrics market is predicted to grow substantially in the coming years. There are primarily two types of fire-resistant fabrics used around the world- apparel fire resistant fabrics and non-apparel fire resistant fabrics. Between the two, the demand for the apparel fire resistant fabrics is predicted to skyrocket all over the world in the forthcoming years. This will be due to the implementation of strict government regulations regarding fire safety.
The major application areas of fire resistant fabrics are defense and fire fighting services, industrial protective clothing, and transportation (aerospace, marine, railways, and automotive). Out of these, the usage of the fire resistant fabrics was found to be the highest in industrial protective clothing in the past years. Because of the existence of strict government regulations regarding safety, oil and gas and petrochemicals industries are making it mandatory for the workers to wear fire-resistant clothes.
Geographically, the fire resistant fabrics market will register the fastest growth in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region in the upcoming years, as per the forecast of P&S Intelligence, a market research company based in India. This will be because of the rapid developments in the chemical, oil & gas, and petrochemicals sectors. Additionally, the burgeoning utilization of fire resistant fabrics in commercial and residential furnishings is predicted to further bolster the sales of these fabrics in the coming years.
Hence, it can be said with certainty that the demand for fire resistant fabrics will skyrocket all over the world in the upcoming years, mainly because of the rising enactment of strict fire safety regulations in various countries.
