International Certification of Flame Retardant Reflective Tape

Functional positioning of flame retardant reflective tape

Flame retardant reflective tape combines flame retardant and high visibility functions, and is an important component of protective clothing in high-risk environments such as industry, firefighting, and mining. In order to ensure safety performance, such products need to meet multiple international certifications and standards, involving flame retardancy, reflectivity, and durability.

Core international certification and standard analysis

EN 20471 (high-visibility clothing standard)

EN 20471 is the European standard for high-visibility protective clothing. For reflective tape, the core requirements are high reflective performance and durability.

• Reflectivity requirement: The tape must achieve a minimum reflective performance of 500cd/(lx·m²) to ensure sufficient visibility at night or in low light environments.
• Water and wear resistance: After multiple washing or dry cleaning, the tape must still maintain good reflective performance.

NFPA 2112 (Standard for Fire-Resistant Clothing)

NFPA 2112 is the U.S. standard for fire-resistant and flame-retardant clothing, which is widely used in the oil, gas and chemical industries. Flame-retardant reflective tape must meet the following requirements:

• Flame retardancy: After contact with flames, the material should quickly self-extinguish and cannot drip or melt.
• Heat protection performance: The tape must provide sufficient thermal insulation to prevent heat conduction to the skin.

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 (Standard for High-Visibility Clothing)

ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 is the U.S. standard for high-visibility safety clothing, with special emphasis on reflective performance and color contrast.

• High brightness requirements: The tape must maintain high brightness reflection effect under various lighting conditions.
• Fluorescent base fabric requirements: Combined with fluorescent yellow or orange base fabrics, a strong visual contrast is formed.
• From materials to processes: the core technology of flame-retardant reflective tape manufacturing

Material selection and technical principles

Substrate

• Aramid substrate: It has natural flame retardancy, high temperature resistance and tear resistance.
• Cotton substrate (flame retardant treatment): better comfort, suitable for clothing with high comfort requirements.
• Polyester substrate: treated with special flame retardant coating, with both flame retardant and reflective properties.

Reflective layer material

• Glass beads: high brightness reflection is achieved through the retro-reflective principle of high refractive index glass beads.
• Metal coating: aluminum is plated on the surface of the beads to increase the reflective coefficient and ensure the light retroreflection effect.

Manufacturing process and technical advantages

Multi-layer composite process
The production of flame retardant reflective tape usually adopts multi-layer composite technology to closely combine the substrate, adhesive layer and reflective layer to improve the durability and stability of the product.

High temperature pressing technology
The reflective layer is firmly adhered to the substrate using high temperature pressing technology to ensure that it does not fall off or delaminate in a high temperature environment.

Flame retardant coating technology
Applying a flame retardant coating on the surface of the substrate gives the material excellent flame retardant properties without affecting its flexibility and breathability.

Principles of flame retardant and reflective technology

Principle of flame retardant
Flame retardant materials delay the spread of flames by forming a carbonized protective layer or absorbing heat in high temperature environments. High-performance materials such as aramid further improve high temperature resistance through the stability of the internal structure.

Principle of reflective
The reflective principle of reflective tape is based on retro-reflective technology. Light is refracted and reflected by glass beads and finally returns to the direction of the light source, ensuring visibility at night or in low light environments.