The global market for flame retardant textiles is growing at two per cent a year.

Flame retardants are a diverse group of chemicals that are added mainly to textile products to prevent or delay the spread of fire. The main families of flame retardants which are commonly being used in the textile industry are halogens (bromine and chlorine) phosphorus.

Nylon, polyester and acrylic tend to be slow to ignite but once ignited, severe melting and dripping occurs. Wool is comparatively flame-retardant. If ignited, it usually has a low burning rate and may self-extinguish. Glass fibers and modacrylic are almost flame-resistant. Aramid fibers from companies like DuPont create inherently flame resistant fibers, with brands such as DuPont Kevlar and DuPont Nomex. The actual structure of the fiber itself is not flammable. Woven in plain weave, 100 per cent para-aramid fabrics have excellent thermal characteristics. In addition to their good insulating properties, they can reach a peak temperature of 500 °C and a continuous operating temperature of 350 °C. Studies show that flame retardant textiles can significantly slow down or even prevent fires.

Fire prevention is regulated by national and international standards, and research into the causes of fire shows that unsuitable textiles can contribute considerably towards a fire spreading.A comparative fire test shows the speed at which a blaze can spread in a room furnished with conventional textiles.