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Fire information & safety
Key Information
01
Emollient
risk
Faster Ignition Time
100% Cotton
Viscose stockinette bandages
Polyester
200-300 seconds
60 seconds
25 seconds
10 seconds with an emollient present
10 seconds with an emollient present
10 seconds with an emollient present
Safety Note
Faster ignition significantly reduces the time available to react in a fire. Please refer to our safety guide for advice on reducing the risk.
02
Emollient
risk
Longer Glowing Time
Safety Note
Glowing time is longer with polyester/cotton blend fabrics with emollients residues, which could lead to severe skin damage if contaminated clothing has burned
03
Emollient
risk
Much Higher flame
Safety Note
Flame heights significantly increase of fabrics with emollients and are usually twice as high. This means there's a higher chance of nearby materials setting alight
04
Emollient
risk
Quicker Flame Speed
Safety Note
Flame speed (vertical and horizontal) is significantly quicker of fabrics with emollients present. This gives you even less time to react.
05
Emollient
risk
Higher burn Temperature
Cotton fabrics with an emollient is present burn at least 150°C higher.
Safety Note
This can cause nearby materials to set alight and cause severe skin burns
06
Lower Ignition Temperature
Ignition is at least 100°C lower on cotton fabrics with an emollient present
07
Flame Time
Flame time with most fabrics are the same with the additional emollient so the burns are becoming more intense.
08
Emollient
risk
Flame-retardant materials change properties with an emollient present
Safety Note
Our team of researcher's looked at the effects of emollients on the fire resistant material Proban and found that even then, flammability greatly increases when an emollient is dried onto the material. Our flame testing can be seen in our burns and media gallery- including our finding on fire-resistant materials.
Some fire-retardant materials may burn with a flame when an emollient is present.
01
It's every emollient
Safety Note
ALL Emollients or skin care products including plant based and paraffin-based oils increase the flammability of fabrics when dried
02
Sun protection
Safety Note
Sun protection products have also shown to change the flammability of fabrics as emollients do.
03
Safety information regarding how to use emollients safely, including washing and drying can be found in our safety guide
Washing
Safety Note
Washing does not remove all of the emollient even at 60°C. Washing at low temperatures can cause some emollients to transfer onto clean fabrics in the wash.
04
Drying
Safety Note
Some plant oil-based emollients remaining after washing, can still heat up via self-oxidation, on their own after laundering or tumble drying.
All linen after tumble drying should be removed as soon as the tumble drier has finished, separated and shaken, cooled and aired out before storage.
Additional
Info
Emollients and Skin care products are not flammable on their own as they contain a lot of water
So What Makes Them Flammable?
-
The fabric acts as wick to help the dried-on emollient produce volatile gases when heated.
-
The fabrics tested include those that are used for bedding, clothing and bandages.
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Emollients and skincare products can transfer from skin to clothing, bedding, and furniture.
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