Cellulosic fibre specialist Lenzing has launched a new range of Flame resistant fibre protective wear.
The company says its three-tier protective wear offering is a range of hybrid and flame resistant-finished garments, with independent testing indicating lower heat stress than several conventional FR fabric options.
Lenzing’s portfolio is built around LENZING FR and TENCEL Lyocell fibres, positioning the range as a single-source system for manufacturers developing garments for structural firefighting, utilities, oil and gas, welding and heavy industry. The company says the line-up combines inherent flame-resistant, hybrid and FR-finished options so specifiers can match protection levels more closely to operational risk, comfort demands and cost targets.
For the fire and safety market, the most significant part of the launch is the way Lenzing has split its offer into three application tiers. The inherent protection tier, based on LENZING FR blended with aramid, is aimed at the highest-risk environments including structural firefighting and electrical utilities.
A hybrid tier using TENCEL Lyocell A100 with modacrylic is positioned for oil and gas, industrial workwear and high-visibility applications, while the flame resistant-finished tier is targeted at steel, welding and metalworking where lower-cost protection remains a priority.
A central claim in the launch is wearer performance under thermal strain. Lenzing cited independent physiological testing at 35°C showing that garments containing LENZING FR/aramid blends produced a 29% lower rise in core body temperature than flame resistant-treated cotton (0.75°C vs 1.05°C), and lower readings than both 100% aramid (1.05°C) and modacrylic/cotton blends (1.1°C).
“For too long, the protective wear industry has relied on a one-size-fits-all fibre approach, yet a structural firefighter and a welding technician face fundamentally different risks,” says Alexander Gstettner, Global Commercial Director, FR fibres at Lenzing. “With PFAS regulations accelerating and workers operating in increasingly demanding thermal environments, we see a clear need for a more structured approach.”
Alongside performance, Lenzing is pushing the sustainability case for its cellulosic. |The company claims that dope-dyed LENZING flame resistant fibres eliminates additional dyeing processes, enabling up to 50% reductions in energy and water use and up to 60% lower carbon footprint compared to conventional dyeing.