Important Changes to NFPA 2112 – 2018 Edition
NFPA 2112, Standard on Flame Resistant Clothing for Protection of Industrial Personnel Against Short-Duration Thermal Exposures from Fire, was revised and an updated edition was issued earlier this year. Below, we provide an overview of the important changes:
- Updated Title and New Terminology
One of the biggest changes in the NFPA 2112 2018 edition is that “flash fire” is now “short-duration thermal exposure from fire.” This semantic change was made because flame resistant secondary PPE protects wearers and provides several seconds escape time from fuel-fed fires in addition to flash fires (which are fuel limited). According to the standard, short-duration thermal exposure from fire is defined as “A period of egress from or accidental exposure to thermal events, including but not limited to, vapor cloud fires, jet flames, liquid fires (pool fires or running liquid fires), solids fires (fires of solid materials or dust fires), or warehouse fires.”
Additionally, the term “inherent flame resistance” has been added to the standard from NFPA 1971, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting.
- Inherent flame resistance is defined as “Flame resistance that is derived from the essential characteristic of the fiber or polymer,” according to the standard.
- Head, Neck, and Hand Protection Included
NFPA 2112-18 now applies to the design, manufacturing, and certification of shrouds/hoods/balaclavas, defined as items intended to protect the head and/or neck, and gloves, defined as garments designed to protect the hands and wrist.
Shroud, hood, and balaclava fabric shall not melt and drip, separate, or ignite during the heat resistance test and should also comply with the following requirements:
- Spaced method Heat Transfer Performance (HTP) > 6.0 calories per centimeter, and Contact method HTP ≥ 3.0
- Char length ≤ 4.0 inches (as received and after 100 industrial laundries)
- After flame time ≤ 2.0 seconds (as received and after 100 industrial laundries)
- Thermal shrinkage ≤ 10.0%
FR gloves shall meet all of the criteria above and may not exceed 5.0% of their original weight in consumed material.
It’s important to note that the ASTM F1930 Thermal Manikin Test is not required for fabrics for use in shrouds, hoods, balaclavas, and gloves.
- Cold weather Insulation Guidance
The standard now provides guidance for FR cold weather insulation. The standard states that a flame resistance test is performed according to the ASTM D6413 Vertical Flame Test, and the NFPA 2112 performance criteria require the fabric to self-extinguish, not melt and drip, result in a char length of fewer than 4.0 inches, and have an after flame of fewer than 2.0 seconds once removed from the direct flame.
It’s important to fully familiarize yourself with these changes and assess how they will impact your safety efforts moving forward. If you have any questions or would like to discuss the implications for your company, Tyndale experts are happy to help. If you’re not already protecting your workers with head, neck, and hand protection, contact your Tyndale National Account Executive or visit TyndaleUSA.com.
