About PR97™ Fabric

PR97™ fabric is the result of five years intensive research and development aimed at developing the next generation fabric for protective clothing for use in the world's harshest working environments. PR97™ has set new standards in terms of protection and comfort.

Fabric Features

PR97™ is comfortable from new and laundering and wear enhance its comfort. This fabric is far more user friendly than treated cotton, which has a distinctly unappealing feel when new. The protective properties of the fabric are built in to its construction and are therefore permanent and cannot be laundered out.

The slightly higher initial costs of garments constructed from PR97™ are more than offset by extended lifespans attributable to the fact that the material retains its safety features over its entire life. Garments constructed from PR97™ are truly multi-functional and can be used from smelter pot-rooms to maintenance areas to boardrooms.

Flame Retardant

PR97™ is inherently flame retardant. Unlike FRT cotton, where fire retardancy can be removed with laundering, PR97™ is inherently flame retardant and will retain its FRT properties for wash after wash.

PR97™ will not melt or stick to the skin. It will not ignite when exposed to electrical arc or molten metals. PR97™ provides significantly higher protection from first and second-degree burns (from molten metal and cryolite splash) than any other product currently in service of equal weight. The fabric will maintain this performance over its entire life span.

Breathability

Heat stress is a problem often suffered by wearers of fire resistant products. This problem is minimised with PR97™, which provides a unique wicking effect that absorbs moisture immediately in order to aid the evaporative cooling process. An additional benefit of PR97™'s inherent flame retardancy is that the lack of any chemical treatment in its construction maximises air circulation without affecting safety performance.

Test Information

PR97™ has been subjected to extensive laboratory testing at Wronz Developments in New Zealand. The testing addressed the assessment of the fabric's resistance to molten metal splash.

To view the test criteria and results for PR97™, click here.

PR97™ has also been subjected to extensive ASTM testing for determination of Arc Thermal Performance (measurement of ATPV and HAF), with high current laboratory testing conducted by Kinectrics Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

To view the results for the ATSM F 1959-99 (ATPV and HAF) tests, click here.

Usage Guide

The table below is intended as a guide only for PR97™ Industrial Protective Wear fabric and its suitability for nominated industry sectors.

Garment	PR97 Products
Industry
Smelting
Fire Fighting
Emergency Services
Airport Refuelling
Petrochemical
Electric Utilities

Care Instructions

Unlike treated cotton, PR97™ can be dry cleaned, thus providing significant advantages in areas where heavy soiling are likely to occur.

Cleaning Instructions

PR97 fabrics and garments can be dry-cleaned and washed. The washing, however, must be carried out at gentler conditions than used for cotton goods.

Suggested washing instructions are given below:

1. Reduce the duration of the washing and rinsing cycles to the minimum for adequate soil removal. Do not rotate the load between draining and filling for the next laundering stage. A suggestion is a flush followed by one wash and two rinses.
2. Use high dip levels during washing and rinsing.
3. Use neutral pH (pH 6-8) non ionic detergent, do not use soap or bleaches.
4. Use low temperatures during washing preferably 40ºC with cold water rinses. Tumble drying temperatures should be 60ºC-80ºC. It is essential that the garments are not tumbled for long periods.
5. A satisfactory washing technique which has been used is: -
   • 2 minute cold flush
   • 8 minute wash at 40ºC and low speed spin
   • 2 minute cold rinse
   • 2 minute 40ºC rinse
   • 6 minute fast extract
   • Tumble dry at 70ºC

If the garments are washed with care in a manner to that described above they will have a long life.

Laundering Instructions

WASHING

• Washer-extractor only.
• Do not wash with other garments!