Skip to content

Is Reflective Tape Flame Retardant?

Short answer: no, not unless it has been specifically made and tested as flame retardant (FR).

Standard reflective tapes, including our sew on reflective tape and prismatic reflective tape, are not FR and shouldn't be used on flame resistant clothing.

We get asked this a lot, usually by people making workwear or kit for welding, oil and gas, utilities or marine work. This page explains what FR means, which standards apply, and why most reflective tape doesn't meet them.

What FR means on a reflective tape

FR stands for flame retardant (you'll also see flame resistant). When a flame touches an FR tape and is then taken away, the tape should:

Not keep burning
Not melt
Not drip

It's a tested result, not a description of the material. An FR reflective tape is built differently from a standard one. The backing is an FR fabric, usually FR treated cotton or aramid, and the glass beads are held on with a flame resistant binder.

FR tape is used on flame resistant clothing. If a garment is FR, everything sewn onto it has to be too, or the trim becomes the weak point in a fire.

Which standards FR reflective tape is tested to

An FR tape should come with a test report or certificate naming at least one of these standards. If it doesn't, treat it as not FR.

EN ISO 14116

Materials and clothing with limited flame spread. Graded index 1 to 3, with index 3 the highest.

EN ISO 11612

Clothing to protect industrial workers against heat and flame.

EN ISO 11611

Clothing for welding and similar work.

EN 469

Protective clothing for firefighters.

ISO 15025

The flame test itself, used by the standards above. A small flame is put to the face or edge of the material and the burning, afterglow and holes are checked.

EN ISO 20471

NOT A FLAME STANDARD

High visibility clothing. This covers how well the tape reflects, not how it behaves in a flame.

The yellow card catches people out. A tape can meet EN ISO 20471 for high visibility and still not be FR.

Why standard sew on and prismatic tapes aren't FR

NOT FR

Standard sew on reflective tape

Made for high visibility, not flame. The backing is usually a polyester based fabric, and polyester melts and drips when it burns. Fine for hi vis vests, bags and general clothing, but not for FR garments.

View sew on reflective tape

NOT FR

Prismatic reflective tape

  • Made from plastic film, which softens and melts with heat.
  • Self-adhesive and fairly stiff, so it isn't designed to be sewn onto clothing.
  • Not tested to any of the FR standards above.

View prismatic reflective tape

Other flammability tests don't count

Some tapes are tested for flammability in other settings, such as vehicle interiors. That's a different test with a different pass mark. It doesn't make a tape FR for clothing.

What we sell, and what we don't

We don't currently sell FR reflective tape or photoluminescent (glow in the dark) tape. None of the tapes below are flame retardant.

Browse the full range in all reflective tape.

FAQ

Is prismatic reflective tape fire resistant?

No. Prismatic tape is a plastic film that softens and melts with heat, and it isn't tested to FR clothing standards.

Can I sew standard reflective tape onto FR clothing?

No. Anything sewn onto an FR garment needs to be FR as well, or it can melt or keep burning in a fire.

What's the difference between flame retardant and flame resistant?

In practice the two are used to mean the same thing on tapes. What matters is the test report, not the wording on the label.

How do I know if a tape is really FR?

Ask for the test report or certificate. It should name a standard such as EN ISO 14116, EN ISO 11612 or EN 469.

Is high visibility tape the same as FR tape?

No. High visibility (EN ISO 20471) is about how well the tape reflects. FR is about how it behaves in a flame. A tape can be one without the other.

Not sure which tape is right for your job?

Tell us what you're making and we'll point you in the right direction.

Email us