Welding is a valuable skill utilized in many industries and hobbies, but it isn’t without risks. Welders face several hazards on the job, including sparks, flames, extreme heat, fumes, and gasses. Any time you work with an open flame, you put yourself in danger of suffering burns. What stands between you and severe, debilitating injuries?
A welder wearing MCR Safety welding protection. Sparks can quickly ignite a non-FR welding shirt.
Unlike other work hazards like abrasions or frigid temperatures, wearing thicker materials or multiple layers is not enough when you work in close quarters with flames. To protect welders from burns, they need something that won’t burn itself. They need flame-resistant personal protective equipment (PPE) that will not ignite…
Welders who don’t properly prepare for welding with the right PPE can suffer unimaginable life-long injuries or worse, fatal injuries. We highlight in this blog what you need to know about MCR Safety’s welding gear.
Welders must wear proper PPE to prevent severe injuries, which means flame-resistant (FR) clothingis a must. FR clothing is made of a durable fabric designed to protect workers from flames and other thermal hazards. Standard materials will quickly ignite when hit with sparks or with hot spatter when welding at high current. FR fabrics, however, are treated so that they will not ignite or melt when exposed to high temperatures or flames and will self-extinguish once the flame hazard has been removed.
Ripstop material is double-stitched for premium material quality.
What about the hot temperatures welders encounter? In addition to protecting themselves from heat hazards, breathability and comfort are important factors to consider when shopping for FR clothing. For welders, the right FR shirt is essential for protecting your arms and body while you work.
When looking for a welding shirt, consider these elements:
It is important to note that there is no such thing as a fireproof welding shirt. FR clothing protects you from the initial contact with a fire hazard and gives you a chance to get away. You simply can’t expect just any long-sleeved shirt to protect you from the dangers of welding. You either must wear an FR welding shirt or potentially suffer injuries.
One common question we get at MCR Safety is, “Can you weld in just a cotton shirt?” Technically yes, but only if it’s treated to be flame-resistant. Cotton is an excellent workwear material because it is soft and breathable. If you want to wear a cotton shirt for welding, make sure it is FR, oil-free, and of a heavier weight for durability and protection from UV light exposure and hot spatter.
Your best option is a 100% cotton shirt, as cotton blends might contain synthetic materials that will melt in high temperatures and stick to your skin. The best cotton welding shirts include vents for additional breathability and sweat evaporation, so you stay relaxed and comfortable.
Comfort and safety are two of MCR Safety’s top priorities when we manufacture PPE products. You get both from our lineup of Summit Breeze® FR work shirts welders can wear. We make a 7 oz. 100% cotton shirt, which is heavier than the recommended 6 oz. recognized as the starting point by most welding professionals. But, it’s no ordinary FR welding shirt. Triple-vented mesh vent openings, both on the back and under the arms, minimize the heat stress of workers by maximizing the human body’s mechanism of regulating heat stress through evaporative cooling and convection.
Summit Breeze® technology provides better heat stress management for those working in a hot environment, those who are performing labor-intensive tasks, or a combination of the two. When working in an environment prone to heat stress, vented openings can be a lifesaver, literally. For welders, who are always under siege by hot temperatures, having some fresh air make its way into a shirt is a blessing.
Cotton material is the best shirt material to wear when welding or grinding.But you don’t have to take our word for it that MCR Safety’s FR welding shirts are top of the line. We recently invited a local university’s welding instructor to test our shirts to get an expert opinion. We had both our 7 oz. 100% FR cotton shirt tested, and our 5.5 oz. shirt tested. Here’s what the instructor said:
“The breathable feature is awesome and really makes the shirt stand out. I feel the level of protection is just as much as that of a cloth welding jacket.”
In addition to comfort, the instructor told us that after two weeks of wearing the cotton shirt, it showed normal wear and tear, even after fairly heavy usage. He put our shirts through the test, applying three types of welding: stick welding, cutting torch usage, and mig and flux core welding. All three types produce a fair amount of sparks. With heavy usage, the instructor told us that three weeks is a relatively long period of wear time. In total, our FR cotton shirt, equipped with triple vents, lasted five weeks!
At only 5.5 oz., our inherent blended option is one of the industry’s lightest-weight FR shirts. However, as we mentioned above, welders require a shirt that doesn’t fall apart, which is one reason a 6 oz. shirt is typically worn. So, can a welder wear this 5.5 oz. FR shirt?
MCR Safety’s lightest button-up welding shirt.
Our Summit Breeze® 5.5 oz. FR shirts feature ripstop FR material reinforced with double-needle stitching for durability. With this added reinforcement, this shirt holds up to strenuous work conditions, including welding. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, we had it wear-tested, too. Although it didn’t last for a total of five weeks, like our cotton FR welding shirt, it did last the standard wear time of three weeks. Being lighter and triple-vented, with the same wear time as other welding shirts found in the market, what is holding you back from trying out our ultra-lightweight FR shirt?
Below is a matrix we’ve assembled for all our FR welding shirts.
Our 5.5 oz. FR shirts are comfortable to wear in hot welding environments or during hot summer months. You’ll appreciate the fresh air coming in from three mesh vent openings! Most importantly, our welding shirts with Summit Breeze® technology are flame-resistant and can protect you from any flame, arc flash, or abrasive object found on an industrial worksite.
Of course, a professional welder needs more than just an excellent welding shirt. MCR Safety carries a wide range of welding PPE and accessories to keep you safe from head to toe. Every welding job requires quality PPE for your safety. Whether you’re at risk for sparks, burns, molten metal spatter, or radiation, reliable PPE is the only thing that stands between you and a dire injury.
Here are some of the welding-related PPE products offered by MCR Safety:
April is National Welding Month
Welder wearing MCR Safety welding gloves, welding garments, face shields, and cutting glasses.
MCR Safety understands the risks that welders take every day. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with a variety of trustworthy welding gear. Each piece has features that make them comfortable for hot work and help you look and feel good on the job. Most importantly, our products are highly rated and provide the protection you need from open flames and extreme temperatures.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect FR welding shirt or need welding gloves, cutting glasses, and more, MCR Safety has the gear you need to get your job done right—and done safely every time.
Additional welding resources:
Welding Clothing
CCOHS Welding PPE
Welding Safety
OSHA Welding Safety
Welding Safety Tips
No one turns up the heat like welders do. Keep yourself safe and in one piece with FR PPE from MCR Safety. Our outstanding triple-vented FR work shirts are the ideal garment for any welder, whether welding is your job or a hobby. They offer Summit Breeze® flame-resistant technology to protect you from all the thermal hazards of welding, combined with triple mesh vents and minimal weight to keep you cool and comfortable.
We know safety and comfort are your priorities, and your priorities are our priorities. On your first trial order, MCR Safety pays the shipping! Click here for additional details.
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For over 45 years, MCR Safety has proven to be a world leader in gloves, glasses, and garments. Whether it's on the shop floor, an oil rig, or a construction site, we are there to provide solutions to workplace hazards. It's all part of our commitment to protect people.
No matter your industry, we have the personal protective equipment you need.
Learn more about MCR Safety by checking out our most recent video. For more information, browse our website, request a catalog, find a distributor, or give us a call at (800) 955-6887.