With uncertainty around how products like bleach affect protection, we put one of the most common AR / FR fabrics, 7 oz. 88% cotton / 12% nylon blend, to the test.

The Test Setup

Here's what we tested at Kinectrics – a state-of-the-art testing facility in Toronto, Ontario:

• Control Garment: Laundered once with no bleach to provide a baseline.
• Color-Safe Bleach Garment: Laundered 50 times with oxidative (color-safe) bleach.
• Liquid Chlorine Bleach Garment: Laundered 50 times with regular liquid bleach.

Each garment was then subjected to an arc flash exposure at or below the garment’s arc rating to evaluate whether the garment still performed as expected – or if its protective properties had been compromised. Would they burn? Break down? Lose their magic? 

The Arc Flash Results

• Control Garment: Didn’t ignite. Showed expected carbonization (blackening) but no fire.
• Color-Safe Bleach Garment: Also, didn’t ignite. Looked nearly identical to the control.
• Liquid Bleach Garment: Same story. No fire. No flame. No compromise.

“Even 50 cycles of liquid chlorine bleach had no effect whatsoever on the flame resistant properties of the garment,” our host Scott Margolin, Vice President of Technical at Tyndale, explains.

So… Is Bleach Safe? Not Exactly.

Despite the results, Tyndale does NOT condone using bleach on AR/FR garments intentionally.

Why?

• It is prohibited by most manufacturers, and you should always follow the garment’s official care instructions.
• It can damage fabric over time (even if it doesn’t affect AR/FR properties) and negatively impact company image standards.

That said, if bleach sneaks into your laundry room by accident—don't panic. Your AR/FR gear will still have your back.

The Science Checks Out

Our lab test wasn’t just for show. It mirrors peer-reviewed research published by the IEEE and led by Hugh Hoagland, using ASTM D6413: Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (“the vertical flame test”) to confirm that neither color-safe nor liquid chlorine bleach compromised flame resistance.

In short, the science agrees with what we saw in the lab: bleach doesn’t eliminate AR / FR protection.

Bonus Myth: Home vs. Industrial Laundering

Another common belief often heard in the industry is that OSHA or ASTM prefer industrial laundering. As a former chair of ASTM’s Home and Industrial Laundering Standards, Scott can confirm that neither OSHA nor ASTM have a preference. In fact, most AR / FR garments are home laundered globally—and always have been. So, if you’re following the manufacturer’s instructions, you’re doing it right.     

Need the facts? Find them here.

The Final Verdict

Legit or bull$#!t? This claim is 100% BS.  While you shouldn’t make bleach part of your regular laundering routine, accidental exposure won’t compromise the protective properties of quality AR / FR gear.