Flame retardant or fire resistant fabric is a common feature in clothing designed for the industrial sector. Firefighters may be the most frequent wearers of flame retardant clothing; however, other professions including electricians and oil/gas drillers make use of it too. The idea of protecting textiles against fire has been around since roughly 400 B.C. even though the notion of creating fireproof textiles didn’t gain prominence until the 17th century.

The earliest attempts at making fabric fire resistant were in 1632 when it was suggested that fireproofing the textiles would reduce fire risks in theaters. The first materials used in this process were clay and plaster of Paris. The 18th century saw the inclusion of alum and ammonium phosphate in the attempts at making fabrics fire retardant.

In 1820, chemist Gay-Lussac conducted the first serious experimentation into making fabrics flame retardant. Gay-Lussac determined that there were two types of salts capable of making fabrics somewhat flame resistant. The first salt was low melting and able to form a glassy layer over fabrics, and the second broke down into a non-flammable vapor when it was heated. By the early 20th century other chemists further perfected Gay-Lussac’s method by incorporating stannic oxide into fabrics to make them flame retardant.

As the use of synthetic fibers in textiles became dominant, cotton producers were forced to find a new method of promoting their product. The Army’s Quartermaster Corps' search for flame retardant uniforms brought about further research into flame resistant clothing. The advancing technologies of the 20th century allowed scientists to begin the process of chemically modifying the cellulose molecules with flame retardants both on the surface and within the cotton fiber. In order to make this process commercially viable, the scientists had to find a chemical combination that maintained the cotton’s strength and durability without being too expensive.

The Flammable Fabrics Act of 1953 brought about a change in how clothing was manufactured and sold commercially. As a result of this legislation, clothing could no longer be made out of dangerously flammable textiles. In order for a textile to be made into clothing it needed to pass Consumer Product Safety Commission tests before it could be sold. Special regulations have been created to ensure that children’s sleepwear is made of flame retardant fabrics.

The National Fire Prevention Association created NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace to address the use of flame retardant clothing in industrial settings. First composed in 2000, this standard has been recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a necessary safety precaution for industries that deal with the repair, installation and maintenance of electrical systems. The enactment of this standard has increased the need for flame retardant clothing in industries not involved in the safety sector.