1. What is engineered Modacrylic fiber?
The fiber is a patented modified acrylic that contains acrylonitrile, vinylidene chloride, and additional flame retardant chemicals. The fiber will not melt or drip when exposed to flame. It’s not the same as Modacrylic fiber which has been used for fabrics in the past. Its shrinkage and FR performance are dramatically different.

2. How does the EMC Technology work?
Before exposure to flame or an energy source Reliant™ fabrics look, feel, and perform just like everyday fabrics. Only after being exposed to a flame or significant heat source, the FR action begins: Reliant fabrics release a small amount of non-combustible gases through microscopic pores in the fiber that smother the fire, much like the Halogen-type action of a fire extinguisher. Any flame is perpetuated by available oxygen. The gas that Reliant fabrics emit displaces this available oxygen and extinguishes the flame.

3. What are Reliant woven and knitted fabrics?
Reliant woven and knitted fabrics with EMC Technology are a blend of engineered modacrylic fiber and ring spun combed cotton. They are inherently FR cotton-blend fabrics manufactured in the USA, and are quality controlled from fiber to fabric by ITI. Reliant fabrics were developed to allow our manufacturing partners the opportunity to concentrate on providing the proper garment for FR applications rather than continue to compromise on fit, form and function that other FR fabrics force you to make. Reliant offers true FR Occupational work wear and answers the need for fabrics that offer “real clothes” alternatives as compared to most FR fabric alternatives available today. Reliant fabrics are:

o Underwriters Lab certified
o Meet or exceed NFPA 1975,
o ASTM 1506,
o ASTM 1959 Arc Rated
o NFPA 70E

4. What does “Reliant with EMC technology is inherently FR” mean?
Reliant fabrics, because of the uniquely inherent FR properties of the EMC Technology fiber itself, require no addition of FR chemicals or topical coatings at any time during the manufacturing process. The FR chemistry is added to the fiber during the fiber extrusion process. As a result, when spun together with combed cotton, Reliant woven and knitted fabrics offers excellent FR performance along with all of its natural comfort, breathability, and softness.

5. How are Reliant fabrics different from topically treated FR cotton fabrics?
As we said earlier Reliant woven and knitted fabrics are considered inherently FR fabrics. The Cotton in Reliant requires no topical additives when combined with the modacrylic fiber in the blend. The addition of Cotton actually increases the blends performance, pushing the LOI (limited oxygen index) from 33 up to 35. Treated FR cotton fabrics undergo a rigorous and sometimes damaging chemical process to impart its flame resistance characteristics. This process can diminish fabric strength, add artificial chemical weight to the fabric, and actually diminish the natural moisture absorption of Cotton. The chemical processing of FR cotton fabrics, to make them flame resistant, causes damage (sometimes severe) to the cotton fiber itself. This robs the fabric of its original strength, natural comfort, and textile performance, and most definitely diminishes wear life as compared to its original state. In comparison Reliant’s softness, breathability, natural comfort, and original performance of the textile remain (no FR topical chemical additives to degrade the cotton).

6. Is Reliant static resistant?
Most fibers tend to have some degree of static resistance when exposed to a high-humidity environment; conversely they have a lesser degree of resistance at low relative humidity. Reliant was not designed to be static-resistant in all environments. Many factors must be considered in determining the suitability of a fabric in a particular application. Again, the end-user should observe the safety practice of testing Reliant garments in accordance with the requirements of the specific application.

7. Is Reliant resistant to stains?
Reliant fabrics show excellent soil release properties when exposed to stains from soot, oil, grease, gasoline, blood etc. Home laundering is the recommended cleaning method. In high soil conditions meriting industrial laundering, methods using high wash and drying temperatures can cause shrinkage in the fabric/garment that may not be acceptable. Please refer to our Reliant Washing Advisory for more details on the successful cleaning of the fabric.

8. What is the shrinkage performance of Reliant?
The laundered shrinkage performance of knitted FireWear fabrics given a home laundering condition (120°max.) typically range from 3-9 % while woven Reliant fabrics are from 2-3%.
The Thermal shrinkage performance of both knits and wovens can perform within specification allowances.

10. Can you bleach Reliant Fabrics and will the bleach affect FR Performance?
If bleach is needed, a non-chlorine bleach is recommended to prevent color loss (Clorox®, for example); laboratory testing shows no detrimental effect of either chlorine or non-chlorine bleach on the flame resistant property of Reliant. The introduction of bleach to topically treated FR cotton fabrics can have an adverse negative effect on the fabrics flame resistance.

11. Are Reliant fabrics available in knits and wovens; and in what weights?

• Woven Reliant fabrics are available in a 5.5 osy Poplin construction, a 9.5 osy 2×1 Twill weave, and a 14.25 osy Indigo Dyed Denim.
• Knitted Reliant fabrics is available in a wide range of performance styles including 6.3 osy Jersey, 6.5 osy LaCoste, 10.1 osy Double French Terry, and 14.25 osy Fleece. Also, rib and collars are available as accessory items for shirt making.

12. Does Reliant come in many colors?
Reliant can be dyed in a variety of colors and is widely known as very “color friendly”.

13. What garment applications are Reliant fabrics designed for?
Reliant fabrics represent a major innovation for Fire Service High Risk Apparel applications.

• In Knits: Tee shirts, Golf shirts, Henley’s, Turtlenecks, and Sweatshirts.
• In Wovens: Workshirts, Uniform shirts, Trousers, Coveralls, and Jackets.

14. Are garments made with Reliant fabrics easy to care for; how do you clean them?
Launderable product. Garments made from Reliant can also be dry cleaned. For easy care instructions refer to the washing advisory for details.

15. How durable are garments made with Reliant fabrics?
Reliant fabrics have comparable strength to non-FR 100% Cotton Fabrics, in most applications.

16. What are the most important benefits of wearing garments made with Reliant Fabrics?
Garments made with Reliant fabrics are:

• Compliant – Inherent Flame Resistance!
• Comfortable – Inherent natural cotton Comfort!
• Cost Effective – Garments look and feel like “Real Clothes”!

18. Is there any risk of Reliant fabrics being Toxic?
Reliant is not toxic under normal use conditions and has had its vapor phase gases tested by a nationally acclaimed laboratory. Furthermore the FR chemistry is totally fiber encapsulated and is bio-inaccessible.