Arco protects against a burning issue with the launch of its ArcoPro FR clothing range

Heat and flame exposure poses a real risk to worker safety and can have a devastating effect if not assessed and managed with the appropriate level of protective clothing. In 2010-11 alone there were over 3,000 burn related injuries in the workplace, three of which were fatal[1]. This demonstrates the life-changing consequences of inadequate thermal protection when working in a high risk environment.

As the UK’s leading safety company, Arco has developed a new range of FR (flame retardant) garments for those at risk of exposure to heat and flame in the workplace.  Under the new brand, ArcoPro, all products offer multi-norm protection and have been designed and developed to excel in the most strenuous of safety tests including unique garment combination tests that incorporate Thermo Mannequin and Thermal Protection Performance (TTP) testing. All ArcoPro garments comply with the Category III requirements of the European Personal-Protection Equipment (PPE) directive. ArcoPro sits alongside a carefully selected range of proprietary brands, including Dapro, Microgard and Roots and garments made from GORE-TEX® and Nomex® fabrics.

With a deep understanding of customer protection needs, Arco’s product experts have developed a layering system that provides increased levels of protection from heat and flame hazards. The range includes base layer, mid-layer, coveralls and outerwear garments that offer a choice of protection levels  designed to suit a range of budgets.

Arco is the first distributor in the industry to test its garment combinations using both Thermo Mannequin and TTP  testing. TPP testing measures the time between the wearer feeling pain and receiving a second degree burn – or the ‘response time’ in the event of an incident. These rigorous tests were applied to 45 combinations of fabric used in the manufacture of ArcoPro garments, ensuring that Arco can provide information on the level of wearer protection whatever garment combination is selected. Arco’s investment in this extensive testing programme will help wearers to identify which combination of garments offers the best protection for their working environment and how protection can be maximised. The test results highlighted the optimum level of performance excellence achieved by layering ArcoPro garments with the best combination of ArcoPro garments providing 21.28 seconds of safety before the wearer would sustain a second degree burn[2] and up to 5.93 seconds of ‘response time’[3].

As part of it’s commitment to safety, Arco has also produced a dedicated Expert Guide to Flame Retardant clothing which provides customers with an overview of the importance of FR clothing and relevant EN standards in addition to introducing the reader to the choice of FR garments available. This can be used to assist employers in the selection of the right protection. Arco also has a number of dedicated FR clothing Technical Sales Specialists on hand to provide independent advice and support in identifying the right protection for individual circumstances. This offers customers the ability to purchase a variety of quality assured FR clothing with one supplier.

Arco’s Expert Guide to Flame Retardant Clothing will be available to download free on a dedicated microsite that will also offer a comprehensive range of information including videos showing the testing processes, guidance on the latest standards and advice on product selection. www.arco.co.uk/FR.