Flame Resistant Clothing FAQs

Yes. You have 30 days to return or exchange non-customized items, and return shipping is free for U.S. customers. Items must be unwashed, in original condition, with tags attached.

Start a return online and we’ll review it within 2 business days, then email you a prepaid USPS label. Exchanges ship back to you with free ground shipping. Refunds don’t include any shipping you paid for, and international customers pay their own return shipping. Customized products, including prints, embroidery, striping and alterations, can’t be returned or exchanged unless there’s a manufacturing defect. Before ordering a customized garment, order a non-customized one first to confirm your size.

In-stock, non-custom items ship in 1 business day, graphic prints and hemmed pants in 2 days, and custom artwork and reflective striping in 3 days. Ground shipping is free on orders over $50 within the lower 48 states.

We make, print and embroider everything in-house at our Santa Ana, California factory, which keeps turnaround short. Expedited 2-Day and Overnight shipping are available at checkout. Hawaii, Alaska and international orders ship at discounted rates. Orders over $400 require a signature on delivery. For large quantities, lead time depends on how many of each size we have in stock, so ask for a quote first.

Email online@benchmarkfr.com or call (888) 360-0663 with your order number as soon as possible. If it hasn’t shipped yet, we’ll do our best to update the size, color or shipping address.

Most in-stock orders ship within 1 business day, so contact us right away. Customized orders go into production quickly, so changes to logos, prints or striping may not be possible once work has started. [CONFIRM: cancellation policy and cutoff.] If your order has already shipped, you can use our free 30-day returns on non-customized items.

We repair Benchmark FR shirts, coveralls, pants and outerwear for free for one year from the ship date, using the same materials, components and thread. Flame resistance is guaranteed for the life of the garment.

Benchmark FR accessories have an unconditional lifetime repair warranty: we’ll repair or replace any damaged accessory, even if the damage was an accident. To use your warranty, email online@benchmarkfr.com or call (888) 360-0663. Because we make every garment in Santa Ana, California, we repair with the original FR fabric and FR-compatible components, so the garment stays compliant.

Yes. We embroider and print logos in-house in Santa Ana, California. We can digitize your logo for embroidery or create new vector artwork from your idea.

Choose embroidery or printing on the product page, or email your logo to sales@benchmarkfr.com. Samples for approval are available on request. We print with water-based inks rather than plastisol, which isn’t recommended on FR clothing because it can burn. Embroidery uses synthetic thread as standard, and FR thread is available on request in limited colors. Custom items usually ship in 2 to 3 business days. [CONFIRM: minimums and any setup fees.] Custom items can’t be returned, so check your size with a non-customized item first.

Not when it’s done within the standards. ASTM F1506 allows non-FR thread on arc-rated clothing but recommends keeping non-FR logo area small, and NFPA 2112 limits the number and size of emblems on a garment.

Under NFPA 2112, a garment can carry up to five emblems, each under 16 square inches and no more than 40 square inches combined. Iron-on patches and plastisol heat transfers from a regular print shop can ignite or melt, so have FR clothing decorated by a shop that knows FR rules. Our in-house team follows these limits and uses water-based inks, with FR thread available on request.

Yes. We add FR reflective striping to most coveralls, shirts, outerwear and pants in Standard EV (enhanced visibility), Class II and Class III configurations.

Striping is FR-compliant reflective tape in silver or yellow/silver/yellow. On woven garments we sew on 2-inch-wide tape. Sew-on striping isn’t available on knit T-shirts. Striped orders ship in about 3 business days, and striping counts as a customization, so striped items can’t be returned. For a custom configuration, email online@benchmarkfr.com.

Yes. We offer volume discounts, wholesale and distributor accounts, and Managed FR uniform programs for companies. Email sales@benchmarkfr.com or use our contact form to request a quote or set up an account.

Our Managed FR program gives companies an online uniform portal for their crews, and you can schedule a call with our team to set it up. Wholesale and distributor accounts start with a quick inquiry through our contact form. Lead time on large orders depends on the quantity per size, because very large runs of some sizes may need to be produced rather than pulled from stock. [CONFIRM: net terms and how to submit a tax-exemption certificate.]

Yes. New customers who sign up for our emails get 10% off their first order, and military members can verify through ID.me for a discount.

Volume discounts are available on bulk and company orders, and current deals are listed on our Specials page. If a code or sale price doesn’t apply at checkout, email online@benchmarkfr.com and we’ll fix it.

For shirts and jackets, start with your chest measurement; for pants, start with your waist. Choose a tall size if regular sleeves or body length are short on you. Many shirts, hoodies and jackets come in tall sizes such as LT, XLT and 2XLT.

Measure your chest around the fullest part, 1 inch below the armpit. For sleeve length, measure from the center back of your neck, over the shoulder, to your wrist bone, then add ½ inch. Compare those numbers with the size chart on each product page. FR clothing should cover you fully, with sleeves reaching your wrists when you reach overhead. If we don’t have your size, we also make custom sizes, one advantage of manufacturing in the USA.

Size up if you’ll wear clothes underneath your coveralls. For example, our size Medium fits up to a 40-inch chest, but a Large gives you more room to move over a shirt and jeans.

FR coveralls should be loose enough to bend, climb and reach without pulling tight. Snug FR clothing passes heat to the skin faster in a flash fire or arc flash. Check the fit guide on the product page, and use our free 30-day returns on non-customized coveralls to find the right size.

Yes. Inseam hemming is free on our FR jeans and pants. Choose your inseam length when you order, and hemmed pants ship in about 2 business days.

To find your inseam, measure a pair of pants that fits well from the crotch seam to the hem, or measure from your crotch to your ankle bone and add 1 inch. A skinny-leg alteration is also available for $12. Alterations count as customizations, so hemmed or altered pants can’t be returned or exchanged unless there’s a manufacturing defect.

NFPA 2112 certifies flame-resistant garments for flash fire protection; NFPA 70E is a workplace electrical safety standard that tells employers when arc-rated clothing is required.

NFPA 2112 applies to industrial workers exposed to short-duration flash fires, such as oil, gas, refining and chemical processing. Certified garments must pass third-party testing, including a burn-manikin test (ASTM F1930) with 50% or less predicted body burn. NFPA 70E covers electrical work and arc flash. It points to ASTM F1506 for arc-rated clothing and uses arc ratings in cal/cm². Many garments carry both ratings, so check the label for the hazard you actually face.

The arc rating (ATPV or EBT, in cal/cm²) is how much arc-flash heat energy a fabric can block. The PPE Category (1 to 4) is the NFPA 70E protection level that rating satisfies.

The NFPA 70E minimum arc ratings are: PPE Category 1 = 4 cal/cm², Category 2 = 8 cal/cm², Category 3 = 25 cal/cm² and Category 4 = 40 cal/cm². The older term “HRC” (Hazard Risk Category) was replaced by PPE Category in the 2015 edition of NFPA 70E, but many buyers still search for it. Choose a garment whose arc rating is equal to or greater than the incident energy in your site’s arc flash assessment.

Yes. Our Heavyweight Insulated Bomber Jacket with Removable Hood is rated at 43 cal/cm² (PPE Category 4), the only single Benchmark FR item above 25 cal. For higher protection with other pieces, use a tested layering system.

The Bomber Jacket is UL Classified to NFPA 2112, meets ASTM F1506, and has a water-repellent nylon shell, modacrylic insulation and non-metallic closures. You can’t add the arc ratings of separate garments together. NFPA 70E requires a multi-layer system’s rating to come from testing the layers together, and the result only applies to the tested combination and order. We’ve tested combinations such as our FR T-shirts, Silver Bullet shirt and Family Joules jeans under our Benchmark 2.0 coveralls. See the results on our layering data page at benchmarkfr.com/pages/layering-data.

Yes, when a hazard assessment identifies flash fire or arc flash exposure. OSHA requires employers to assess hazards and provide suitable PPE, and it spells out FR and arc-rated clothing for electric power work.

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 requires employers to assess workplace hazards and provide PPE that fits them. OSHA 1910.269 (electric power generation, transmission and distribution) requires clothing that will not ignite or melt, and arc-rated clothing where estimated incident energy calls for it. In oil and gas, OSHA enforces FR clothing for flash fire hazards and uses NFPA 2112 and 2113 as the reference standards.

Yes. Benchmark FR materials are PFAS-free and made without intentionally added PFAS, and our fabrics are safe to wear directly against your skin. They are non-allergenic, sweat safe and saliva safe, and contain no halogens, heavy metals or toxins.

PFAS (“forever chemicals”) are sometimes used on FR clothing to repel water and oil, and they have been linked to cancer, liver damage, immune problems and hormone disruption. Benchmark FR does not use C8 fluorochemicals on our fabrics. PFOA and PFOS are no longer made in the U.S. but can still be found on imported FR clothing. We also keep free formaldehyde below 75 ppm using an oxidizing process during fabric finishing, which exceeds the OEKO-TEX standard for apparel. Some ammonia-cured FR fabrics measure 300 to over 700 ppm.

Yes. We make 100% of our products in-house in Santa Ana, California, from design and cutting to sewing, embellishing, quality control and shipping. We’re one of the last U.S. manufacturers of FR workwear.

We’re a real manufacturer, not a sourcing office, and we source components from other U.S. suppliers whenever possible. Our FR denim is U.S.-made from fiber to finished jean, including zippers, buttons, thread and pocketing. Making everything here lets us control quality, keep lead times short, offer custom sizes and repairs, and stay tariff-free. [CONFIRM: whether Berry Amendment or made-in-USA documentation is available for government buyers.]

Neither is automatically “safer.” Both can meet the same NFPA 2112 and NFPA 70E ratings. The difference is how the flame resistance is built in, which affects weight, comfort, durability and price.

Inherent FR fibers (such as aramid and modacrylic blends) are flame resistant by chemistry, so the protection can’t wash out. They are often lighter and hold their color and shape longer, but cost more. Treated FR fabrics are cotton or cotton blends with a flame-resistant treatment bonded into the fiber. They are soft, breathable and more affordable. Benchmark FR uses both treated FR chemistry and inherently FR fibers, and our flame resistance is guaranteed for the life of the garment.

No. Untreated cotton is not flame resistant. It won’t melt like polyester or nylon, but it can ignite and keep burning, and it doesn’t meet NFPA 2112 or NFPA 70E.

Only garments made from certified FR or arc-rated fabric and labeled to the standard count as FR clothing. Heavy untreated cotton is sometimes mistaken for protection, but once it ignites it can burn longer than the flash itself. Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon and spandex are worse, because they melt and stick to skin. Look for a label that lists the standard (NFPA 2112, ASTM F1506) and the arc rating.

Machine wash in warm water up to 140°F with a regular home detergent such as Tide or All, and tumble dry on low heat up to 160°F. Never use bleach, hydrogen peroxide, fabric softener, dryer sheets or starch.

Bleach includes detergents and laundry pods that contain bleach, and hydrogen peroxide includes products like OxiClean. These can weaken FR fabric, while softeners, dryer sheets and starch leave flammable coatings. Use a Permanent Press or Cotton cycle, don’t over-dry, avoid drying in direct sunlight, and don’t press with open steam. Wash often, because built-up dirt and grease can reduce flame resistance. If you use an industrial laundry, tell them the garments are FR, wash them separately at no more than 160°F, and avoid caustic alkaline products.

Wear FR base layers or natural fibers such as cotton, wool or silk. Never wear polyester, nylon, spandex or other meltable fabrics next to your skin under FR clothing.

NFPA 70E does not allow meltable undergarments beneath arc-rated clothing, apart from a small amount of elastic. Synthetic fabrics can melt and stick to the skin even under an FR outer layer. In heat, a lightweight FR T-shirt adds protection and wicks sweat. In cold, layer FR base layers and FR outerwear, keeping the most protective layer on the outside.

Replace FR clothing when it has holes, tears, worn-thin areas, or flammable contamination that won’t wash out, or when it no longer fits well enough to cover you fully.

Inspect FR garments before each shift. Retire them for rips, open seams, broken closures, fabric worn thin at the elbows, knees or cuffs, and grease or fuel stains that remain after washing. Repairs must use FR thread and FR patch material, since non-FR thread, iron-on patches and standard heat-transfer logos can compromise the garment. Benchmark FR repairs our shirts, coveralls, pants and outerwear free for one year from the ship date.

Potentially, yes. Data centers contain substantial electrical infrastructure, and workers performing tasks around energized electrical equipment may face arc-flash hazards.

The requirement depends on the specific task, equipment condition and arc-flash risk assessment rather than simply being inside a data center. OSHA notes that even 120/208V systems can produce dangerous arc flashes.

Solar PV systems can create shock and arc-flash hazards, particularly when technicians work on energized arrays, disconnects, combiner boxes and inverters.

Current NFPA 70E development specifically addresses electrical hazards associated with PV installations and calls for risk assessment and appropriate PPE when thresholds are exceeded.

Yes, in many situations linemen are required to wear flame resistant and arc rated clothing when working around electrical hazards.

OSHA 1910.269 requires employers to protect workers who may be exposed to flames or electric arcs. When estimated incident energy exceeds 2 cal/cm², workers must wear arc rated protective clothing with a rating appropriate for the hazard.

FR and arc rated clothing helps reduce burn injuries by resisting ignition and limiting the spread of flame. The exact level of protection depends on the electrical equipment, voltage, task and calculated incident energy.

Linemen should always follow their employer’s electrical safety program, hazard assessment and required PPE rating.

Many utility workers need flame resistant or arc rated clothing because their jobs can expose them to energized electrical equipment, electric arcs and other thermal hazards.

Under OSHA 1910.269, employers must ensure that workers exposed to certain electric arc hazards wear appropriate protective clothing. OSHA specifically requires flame resistant outer clothing in several situations, including exposure to energized parts above 600 volts or when estimated incident heat energy exceeds 2 cal/cm².

This can apply to workers involved in electrical generation, transmission, distribution, substations and field maintenance.

Not every utility task requires the same level of protection. The required arc rating should be based on the hazard assessment and expected incident energy for the work being performed.

In many oil and gas operations, yes. Flame resistant clothing is commonly required when workers may be exposed to flash fire hazards involving oil, natural gas or other flammable hydrocarbons.

OSHA states that FR clothing is necessary in certain oil and gas drilling, well servicing and production operations where flash fire hazards are present. Examples include drilling into active hydrocarbon zones, flowback operations, well servicing, transferring hydrocarbons, opening equipment, maintenance on production equipment and certain hot work activities.

FR clothing is designed to resist ignition and reduce the severity of burn injuries if a flash fire occurs.

Requirements depend on the specific job, location and hazard assessment, so workers should follow their employer’s PPE requirements and site safety procedures.