Need NFPA 2112 certified, arc-rated FR clothing for your crew? Whether you outfit oil and gas, electric utility, petrochemical, welding, or manufacturing teams, Bulwark FR matches protection to the hazard as part of a complete employer-documented PPE program. Flame resistance is engineered to remain effective through repeated industrial laundering per manufacturer care instructions. Browse Bulwark FR categories: shirts, pants, bibs & coveralls, hi-vis, iQ Series, jackets, lab coats, women’s, accessories, and chemical-splash protection.
What is the difference between NFPA 2112 and NFPA 70E?
NFPA 2112 is the certification standard for flame-resistant clothing that protects against short-duration flash fires; garments are third-party certified to meet it. NFPA 70E is the workplace electrical safety standard that governs arc-flash protection and defines the arc-flash PPE categories (CAT 1–4). In short: NFPA 2112 certifies the garment for flash fire, while NFPA 70E guides arc-flash PPE selection. Bulwark FR garments are built to NFPA 2112 and arc-rated to support NFPA 70E programs.
What is the difference between flash-fire and arc-flash protection?
A flash fire is a short burst of flame, typically under five seconds, that occurs when flammable vapors, gases, or combustible dust ignite — addressed by NFPA 2112 and its companion NFPA 2113. An arc flash is an electrical event that releases intense thermal energy, addressed by NFPA 70E. Flash-fire protection is measured by NFPA 2112 certification; arc-flash protection is measured by a garment's arc rating (ATPV) in cal/cm². Many Bulwark FR garments protect against both.
What arc rating (cal/cm²) do I need for each NFPA 70E category?
NFPA 70E defines four arc-flash PPE categories by minimum arc rating: CAT 1 = 4.0–7.9 cal/cm², CAT 2 = 8.0–24.9 cal/cm², CAT 3 = 25–39.9 cal/cm², and CAT 4 = 40 cal/cm² or higher. The required category for a task comes from your arc-flash risk assessment. Bulwark FR offers arc ratings from 4.4 to 59 cal/cm², covering CAT 1 through CAT 4.
Is Bulwark FR clothing inherently flame-resistant or chemically treated?
Bulwark FR garments in this collection use inherent flame-resistant fibers — including Nomex®, Westex G2™, and Ten Cate Evolv™ — where flame resistance is an intrinsic property of the fiber rather than a topical chemical treatment. No additional treatment is needed for the fabric to be flame-resistant.
Does Bulwark FR clothing stay flame-resistant after washing?
Yes. Because the flame resistance is inherent to the fiber, it does not wash out. Bulwark guarantees the flame-resistant properties for the life of the garment when the care, laundering, and maintenance instructions on the garment label are followed. NFPA 2112 fabrics are tested for flame resistance after 100 wash-and-dry cycles.
Which industries use Bulwark FR clothing?
Bulwark FR is worn by crews in oil and gas, electric utility, petrochemical, welding, and manufacturing and maintenance — anywhere a hazard assessment identifies a risk of flash fire or electric arc flash. Garment selection should always match the specific hazard as part of a complete, employer-documented PPE program.
Garment selection should always be based on a qualified arc flash risk assessment or flash fire hazard analysis conducted by a qualified person per NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112 requirements. ATPV and cal/cm² ratings describe the garment’s tested performance — proper garment selection, fit, care, and use within an employer’s complete PPE program determine real-world protection. Copperstone Workwear supplies these garments as an authorized Bulwark distributor; all certifications and performance ratings are those of the manufacturer.
