Could you tell us more about the new Nomex® MHP fabric?

Identifying a clear need for multi-hazard protection in the industrial sector, DuPont developed Nomex® MHP (Multi Hazard Protection). This new fabric offers customers a protective garment solution that is affordable, comfortable to wear for long periods and offers high levels of heat and flame and electric arc protection. The new MHP fabric incorporates Nomex®, an intelligent flame resistant fibre that stands for high quality, durability and excellent heat and flame protection. The Nomex® fibre is incorporated in fabric used to make fire fighting and industrial garments worn by workers around the world, providing a high level heat and flame protection.

The development of DuPont™ Nomex® MHP offers industrial workers an entry level Nomex® solution that is suitable for a range of multi-hazard applications. The Nomex® fibre is blended with Kevlar® and other materials using a special weave to offer very good thermal and flash fire protection. This also offers good mechanical strength and very good levels of comfort. These properties are provided to the wearer at a relatively low fabric cost, within the reach of users wanting an upgrade from flame retardant (FR) cotton and simple modacrylic blends available on the market.

What type of industrial jobs require the multi-hazard protection offered by Nomex® MHP?

There are a number of high risk industries where this fabric offers an ideal solution to workplace hazards. Where industrial workers are at risk of exposure to heat and flame, electric arc or molten metal splashes, such as foundry workers, the utilities sector and the oil and gas industry, Nomex® MHP provides the required protection standards.

So what does Nomex® MHP have to offer industrial workers in comparison to cheaper alternatives on the market?

DuPont, together with its partners in the DuPont™ Nomex^® Partner Program, continuously works to develop new and enhanced fibres and fabrics to better meet the needs of frontline workers. We recently ran several market research studies to determine what customers wanted from their protective garments and Nomex^® MHP was engineered in response to a requirement for mid-range, multi-hazard protection

In particular, Nomex® MHP offers the two key properties that every safety manager looks for in a protective garment, ‘permanent’ and ‘good’ protection for industrial workers. Garments made from Nomex® MHP met or exceeded the international standards for heat and flame protection (NFPA 2112, EN ISO 11612), arc flash (NFPA 70E, EN 61482-1-1, EN 61482-1-1) and small molten metal splash protection (EN ISO 11612 and EN ISO 11611). As a result, the development of Nomex® MHP has also allowed DuPont to extend its Nomex® fibre offering to a wider range of industrial sectors at an affordable price.

Nomex® MHP has also been independently tested by the French Institute of Textiles and Clothing (IFTH) which scored it higher than FR cotton and modacrylic blends for key comfort criteria including softness and suppleness. It also has the ability to absorb moisture, drying faster than alternative garment options available on the market made from cotton. In addition, Nomex^® MHP is notably lightweight, durable and has low shrinkage when washed, all properties that help workers to feel their best and move comfortably on the job.

How does Nomex® MHP stand up to electric arc and thermal performance tests?

DuPont™ Nomex^® MHP meets or exceeds international standards for heat and flame protection, arc flash and small molten metal splash protection. In terms of performance testing,the Nomex^® MHP fabric provides Class1 arc flash protection and also has an 8.4 cal/cm2 ATPV rating when used as a single layer lightweight fabric. It has also been rigorously tested for heat and flame protection using a TPP test which produces a combination of radiant and convective heat. Overall, Nomex® MHP compares favourably to modacrylic and FR cotton treated alternatives.

How can garments made from Nomex® MHP be identified?

DuPont has introduced a simple fabric labelling system for all garments containing the Nomex® fibre. This provides guidance in selecting the correct levels of protection for a particular job. Each garment is given either a red or an orange label, identifying the levels of heat and flame and electric arc protection, as well as properties including durability, wash-fastness, comfort and percentage of the Nomex® fibre present. Garments with a red label are either made with 100% Nomex® or a special blend of the Nomex® fibre that meets the criteria for excellent performance across key measurement areas. Nomex® MHP is in the orange label category as it provides very good performance in all of these key performance areas.

This two label approach also encourages innovation by members of the DuPont™ Nomex^® Partner Program. Partner weavers are invited to innovate and develop their own blends that fit within the red or orange category.

How can this garment labelling approach help to reduce the risk of counterfeit products entering the market?

The importation and production of counterfeit and illegal products is a serious concern. The safety of workers is being placed at serious risk by the presence of sub-standard protection on the market. Labelling each garment containing DuPont™ Nomex® introduces an added layer of traceability as they reach the market. This system certifies the compliance, performance and quality of each garment as tested by rigorous quality assurance methods.

DuPont issues all orange and red labels to its partners manufacturing garments containing the Nomex® fibre, including Nomex® MHP. As a result it is able to keep a record of which companies have been issued with labels. DuPont audits this every two years to ensure an accurate record is kept. As a result, each DuPont™ Nomex® label is a true mark of quality, indicating that the garment has been purchased from a reputable supplier that manufactures genuine high performance Nomex® products.

The DuPont™ Nomex^® Partner Program is another way that we can help to combat the trade in counterfeit products. This is a carefully-selected network of spinners, weavers, knitters and garment manufacturers whose fabrics and garments benefit from the technical expertise of DuPont. These partners also have access to state-of-the-art product testing facilities including DuPont™ Thermo-Man^® and DuPont™ Arc-Man^®. This ensures that the quality and performance of finished fabrics and garments is closely monitored. In order to qualify for certification by DuPont, all fabrics must undergo rigorous testing to prove that they exceed standard quality criteria.

Garment inspections are also undertaken at partner sites to ensure the highest standards are maintained or exceeded. Samples are visually inspected by DuPont, in addition to being tested in a laboratory environment.  Each sample is kept for up to five years, providing the opportunity to re-test fabrics where required.

Nomex® MHP fabric is available from a number of weavers and garment manufacturers in the Nomex Partner Program across Europe.Please contact your local DuPont contact for specifics on availability, timing, sampling and pricing. For more information visit www.nomex.co.uk/solutions.