PROBAN ® Flame Retardant Fabrics

Quick overview

PROBAN ® Flame Retardant Fabrics

We supply PROBAN ® washable Flame Retardant Fabrics. Our treated cotton calico will meet the following required quality standards:

BS7175 : 1989 Section 3 9ignition sources 0, 1 and 5 (After 50 washes at 74 degrees Celcius).

CS-25-853 Part 1 Appendix F.

BR253 Class 1 (After 3 washes at 93 degrees Celcius).

PROBAN® processing
First developed in the 1950s, the PROBAN® chemical is used to inpart a durable flame
retardant treatment to cotton and other cellulosic fibres and blends. Durability is
achieved by the formation of a cross-linked inert polymer within the fibre. Because
there is no chemical reaction with the fibre the physical properties of the base fabrics
are largely unaffected.

Application
The earliest application of PROBAN® treated cotton fabrics was in childrens nightwear. The use of PROBAN® fabrics has broadened considerably, and PROBAN® treated fabrics satisfy a number of new requirements and continue to be used extensively in children’s sleepwear markets. Today, PROBAN® treated fabrics can be found in a wide range of personal protective clothing applications across a number of end user sectors including industrial, military and civil applications. The adoption of PROBAN® fabrics in wildland fire fighting, has been a major new growth area. PROBAN® fabrics continue to be used as bedding and furnishings, including curtaining, in hotels, public buildings and institutions such as hospitals and old people’s homes. Many of these applications continue to maintain growth. Nowadays PROBAN® treated fabrics are used throughout the world wherever there is a risk of fire.

How are PROBAN® treated fabrics affected by flame?
PROBAN® treated fabrics decompose under the influence of a flame to form a localised insulating char which stays in place and helps to protect the wearer or acts as a barrier in other applications. PROBAN® treated fabrics do not smolder, have no afterglow and flame does not spread outside the charred area. Unlike some other flame retardant systems. PROBAN® treated fabrics do not melt away to form a hole through which the flame can penetrate nor do they form hot sticky residues which can adhere to the skin of the wearer.