Is the problem a lack of “naturally” flame-resistant fabrics, or is it cheaper to use a polyester then dose it with retardant?
I’m trying to see where the problem is.
I get involved in some “fire art” projects and polyester is definitely out, but wool is generally considered OK. Bare skin is preferred because skin is difficult to light. Polyester will turn you into a torch.
Even wool and other naturally flame retardant fabrics will not pass all the tests so sometimes other synthetics are woven in the fabrics in certain ways to a) Make the fabric cheaper b) the syntehtic may cause the wool to intrumesce at certain temp and put itself out should there not be consistent long term heat source. THe synthetic will give off a more toxic fume.
I hope I explain this right - the external heat source will cause the poly or synthetic to start to burn at a lower temp than the wool will ignite but being interwoven the heat will cause the wool to intrumesce - swelling it and putting out the fire on the closley woven poly or synthetic - this is great until the temp of the fire reaches a point where the igition point of the wool is over come - then the synthetic will become a better source of fuel and in turn keep the wool going.
In other words the fabrics are created to pass the tests not necessarily to be better flame retardant fabrics overall. Many of the test are obsolete and do not produce results that are good to know in the real world like how much they add to the fuel load of a building etc and how toxic the fumes are.
Mel