FAQs

How do Keltek Safety Apparel garments fit?
See our Men’s and Women’s size guides with details about our sizes, fabric, and fits.

Yes! Keltek offers women’s sizes XS to 3XL and custom inseams on pants to 35” Keltek men’s sizes in stock size 38 to 58, Small to 3XL and inseams to 35”. Other sizes such as shorts, X-Tall and larger sizes available upon custom order.

Keltek Safety Apparel values strong, sustainable relationships with our suppliers. We source UL certified fabric from Oeko-Tex certified facilities. Most of our garments are sewn in-house at our factory in Morden Manitoba. All of our supply and manufacturing partners have been selected for high quality and ethical practice standards.

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, orders received between Monday and Friday are typically processed within 1 – 3 business days. Some exceptions may apply. No orders are processed on statutory holidays or weekends.

It is important to keep your Keltek flame resistant garments clean to ensure that the protective quality of the garment is maximized. Soil residues, particularly those that are petroleum based can reduce the flame resistance of the fabric and serve as fuel for an ignition source. The garment needs to be cleaned after every use as per the instructions on the label. Do not use bleach, starch, fabric softeners, or detergents that contain hydrogen peroxide on the flame resistant garments, as they could harm the flame-resistant properties. Some fabric softeners may contain chemicals that are ignitable.

‘FR’ stands for ‘flame-resistant,’ meaning a retarding force – and FR is used to describe personal protective equipment that guards workers against fire and flames. 

  • For maximum protection, the protective workwear should be worn properly. The fronts of garments should be fully fastened, shirts should be worn tucked in, collars should be worn closed and sleeves and cuffs should be worn down and secured.
  • Protective garments are more effective when worn over an additional non-melting layer.
  • Protective neck, head, hand and foot coverings should be worn if the occupational hazard warrants their use.
  • Certain synthetics or synthetic blend garments worn as undergarments may not be appropriate for use under flame resistant workwear, as the transferred heat from a flash fire may cause them to melt. Undergarments which do not melt are recommended (e.g. cotton, aramids, wool).

Garments should be routinely inspected for physical damage, closure function, seam condition, contamination, and other factors which may affect the function or performance of the garment.

  • Protective workwear should be kept clean. Adequate decontamination of protective workwear, according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, by laundering or dry cleaning is imperative in order to maintain flame resistance and thermal protection. Soiling may reduce the protective qualities and increase the risk of second and third-degree burns. Garments that are contaminated with a significant amount of flammable substances (e.g. oily soil, solvent, fuel, insect repellant) should be decontaminated (or cleaned) to remove the substance.

  • When maintaining protective garments, launder or dry clean sufficiently to prevent buildup of hard to remove stains which could reduce flame resistance. Pre-treat oily stains by either rubbing liquid detergent or powdered detergent mixed with water into the stain or use a pre-wash product recommended for oily stains. Use a liquid or powdered detergent designed especially for removing oily soils. Follow the detergent suppliers’ recommendations for wash formulas including product concentration, wash temperatures, machine load sizes, and number of cycles required to sufficiently remove all soils.
  • Adhere to the instruction provided on the garment care label; these instructions are important for maintaining the flame resistance of the protective garments.
  • Some soap and detergent for dry cleaning can rapidly affect the flame resistance of protective garments. Caution should be exercised when using petroleum solvents as some may leave flammable deposits which may reduce protective properties.
  • Repairs should only be made with components that comply with the original Keltek garment’s specifications and construction.

Let’s break down the key information about Arc Ratings and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Categories:

Arc Rating:

  • Represents the amount of incident energy (measured in calories per square centimeter – cal/cm²) that a material or system of materials can withstand before there’s a 50% chance of causing a second-degree burn.
  • The higher the Arc Rating, the greater the protection against arc flash hazards.

PPE Categories and Requirements:

  1. PPE Category 1 (CAT 1):
    • Minimum Arc Rating: 4 cal/cm²
    • Basic surface layer FR protection
    • Typical examples: FR shirt, FR pants, or HRC 1 coveralls
  2. PPE Category 2 (CAT 2):
    • Minimum Arc Rating: 8 cal/cm²
    • Single layer of PPE may suffice
    • Required items: Arc-rated long sleeve shirt and pants OR arc-rated coverall, arc-rated flash suit hood, face shield, sock hood or balaclava.
    • Additional PPE as needed: Arc-rated jackets, rainwear, parka, hard hat liners, heavy-duty leather gloves, hard hat, eye protection, and hearing protection
  3. PPE Category 3 (CAT 3):
    • Minimum Arc Rating: 25 cal/cm²
    • Requires multiple layers of PPE
    • Required items: Arc-rated flash suit jacket and pants OR arc-rated coverall (min. 25 cal/cm²), arc flash suit hood, rubber insulating gloves and leather protectors OR arc-rated gloves
    • Additional PPE as needed: Arc-rated jacket, rainwear, parka, hard hat liner, hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection, and leather footwear
  4. PPE Category 4 (CAT 4):
    • Minimum Arc Rating: 40 cal/cm²
    • Highest level of protection
    • Required items: Arc-rated flash suit jacket and pants OR arc-rated coverall (min. 40 cal/cm²), arc-rated flash suit hood (min. 40 cal/cm²), rubber insulating gloves and leather protectors OR arc-rated gloves
    • Additional PPE as needed: Arc-rated jacket, rainwear, parka, hard hat liner, hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection, and leather footwear

Remember:

  • The appropriate PPE Category depends on the specific arc flash hazard assessment and the potential incident energy level at the worksite.
  • Always consult with a qualified safety professional to ensure proper PPE selection and usage.

What is the difference between inherently flame resistant fabrics and flame resistant treated fabrics?

Flame Resistance in Fabrics: Treated vs. Inherent

Both treated and inherently flame-resistant fabrics offer protection against fire for the garment’s entire lifespan. The distinction lies in how they achieve this flame resistance.

Treated Fabrics:

  • Start with a non-flame-resistant fabric, usually cotton.
  • After the fabric is woven, it’s immersed in a chemical solution to impart flame resistance.
  • This chemical treatment creates a barrier that hinders the fabric’s ability to ignite and sustain a flame.

Inherent Fabrics:

  • The fibers themselves are made from a flame-resistant polymer base.
  • No additional topical treatment is needed.
  • The flame resistance is built into the fabric’s structure at the molecular level.

Let’s define what a flash fire is and its characteristics:

Flash Fire Definition:

A flash fire is a rapid and intense fire that spreads quickly through a dispersed fuel source, such as dust, gas, or vaporized flammable liquids. It is characterized by its short duration (typically three seconds or less) and the absence of significant overpressure or explosive force.

Key Characteristics:

  • Rapid Spread: Flash fires move quickly through the available fuel source due to the diffuse nature of the fuel.
  • Short Duration: Typically lasting only a few seconds, flash fires are intense but brief.
  • No Damaging Pressure: Unlike explosions, flash fires do not generate significant overpressure.
  • Intensity: The severity of a flash fire depends on the type and amount of fuel present, as well as the efficiency of the combustion process.

Important Note: Even though flash fires are short-lived, they can still cause serious burns and ignite secondary fires.

Contact

+(204) 786-1503
info@keltek.ca

Factory Address

195 Mountain St, S
Morden, MB
Canada, R6M 1R8

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