Where can I find a SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for Tyvek® 400 SFR garments?
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are written in accordance with applicable federal regulations, 29 CFR 1910.1200, to communicate health and safety data on usage and handling of hazardous chemicals. Under this regulation, DuPont™ Tyvek®, ProShield®, and Tychem® materials and garments are defined as articles, not chemicals, and the SDS and labeling requirements in that standard do not apply.
Can Tyvek® 400 SFR garments be used as primary flame resistant (FR) garments?
No. Primary flame-resistant (FR) garments, such as those made with DuPont™ Nomex® Essential (Nomex®IIIA) fabric, can be worn alone to provide the necessary level of protection from a flame/thermal threat. Garments made of DuPont™ Tyvek® 400 SFR fabric are not substitutes for primary flame-resistant protective garments. Tyvek® 400 SFR garments provide only secondary flame-resistant protection and are engineered to be worn over your primary flame resistant / thermal protective garments to provide an inherent barrier against particles (down to 1.0 micron in size) while not contributing to burn injury in the event of a flash fire. They must always be worn over an appropriate primary flame-resistant garment in an environment that needs flame protection, along with other personal protective equipment that protects your face, hands, and feet. DuPont operates the thermal manikin test facility Thermo-Man®, which allows a manufacturer or end-user the ability to test and evaluate the performance of different fabric and garment systems
Do Tyvek® garments contain silicone?
All Tyvek® garments are manufactured under specifications that do not contain silicone or silicone oils. Tyvek® shoe covers with skid-resistant material on the soles, or Tyvek® garments with attached skid-resistant shoe covers might contain silicone in the sole substrate. This includes styles TY122, TY121, TY454, FC450 and FC454. End users who are consuming these styles and who have concerns about silicone contamination should conduct their own testing to ensure they are suitable for their application(s).
In what ways can I dispose of Tyvek® 400 SFR garments?
If not contaminated with chemical or biological hazards, Tyvek® 400 SFR garments can be recycled. Contact DuPont Protective Apparel Customer Service at 1-800-931-3456 for information on the
Tyvek® Protective Apparel Recycling Program.
If not exposed to chemical or biological hazards, Tyvek® 400 SFR garments may be landfilled or incinerated in accordance with local regulations. Uncontaminated chemical protective garments may be incinerated in a facility that is capable of handling mixtures containing plastics. Likewise, an uncontaminated chemical protective garment may be buried in a facility that accepts plastic materials.
Contaminated garments that cannot be handled safely without protective equipment must be disposed of with other hazardous wastes, either through incineration or landfill per local regulations.
Before discarding, cut off a sleeve or a leg so the garments cannot be worn again as protective clothing.
Why isn’t there a claim made re: ASTM D6413: Standard Test Method for Flame Resistance of Textiles (Vertical Test) for this garment?
In general, the fabric sample should not ignite and continue to burn. Char lengths are not considered meaningful predictors of thermal protective performance of the fabric in flash fire. Additionally, this methodology excludes garment ensembles and trim elements such as elastic, hook and loop fastener, closures, labels, emblems, patches, and other clothing components from testing. Users of only fabric parameters are cautioned that garment components could contribute to burn injury depending on their composition, size, and location on the protective clothing. We do not advocate for inclusion of fabric char length in specifications for these reasons.
A useful reference from the public domain is provided: R. L. Barker, J. Ingram, J. Morton-Aslanis, and A. S. Deaton, “Relationships between Bench Scale Measures of After-Flame and Thermal Shrinkage and Fire-Resistant Garment Performance in Fire Manikin Tests,” in Performance of Protective Clothing and Equipment: 11th Volume, Innovative Solutions to Evolving Challenges, ed. K. Lehtonen, B. P. Shiels, and R. B. Ormond (West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International, 2020), 1–17.
What is the difference between primary and secondary flame resistant (FR) garments?
Primary flame resistant garments are designed to provide stand alone protection from flame and arc exposures. Common examples are garments made with DuPont™ Nomex® Essential (Nomex® IIIA). Primary flame resistant garments selected based on the hazard analysis can provide protection from burn injury in the event of an industrial fire or electric arc exposure even when worn alone.
Secondary flame resistant garments are made with fabrics that are designed to resist ignition and to self extinguish once the flame/heat source is removed. Secondary flame resistant garments are not expected to contribute to burn injury if exposure to heat and flame occurs when worn over an appropriate primary flame resistant garment. However, secondary flame resistant garments (like ProShield® 6 SFR, Tyvek® 400 SFR, and Tychem® 2000 SFR) are not expected to provide any protection from burn injury to the wearer when worn without primary flame resistant garments underneath.
What causes Tyvek® 400 SFR garments to discolor?
Cosmetic changes such as discoloration of Tyvek® 400 SFR fabric may occur over time. In general, discoloration may be due to an increased exposure to ultraviolet light, but can be due to excess heat, humidity, cold, and other extreme temperatures and environments. It is the user's responsibility to store garments appropriately and check garments for damage tears or wear before use.
How should Tyvek® 400 SFR garments be stored?
Store Tyvek® 400 SFR garments in a cool, dark, dry location free of dirt and insects. Sunlight, ozone, high temperatures (>120° F ; 49° C), vehicle exhaust fumes, compression under heavy weights and sharp edges or projections are some conditions known to degrade the materials in these garments.
Store Tyvek® 400 SFR garments in boxes, in bags or on hangers. Never step on protective garments. Never place or store heavy objects on top of protective garments.
How are Tyvek® 400 SFR garments different from Tyvek® 400 garments?
The Tyvek® fabric used to make Tyvek® 400 SFR is disparate with a proprietary FR coating. The Tyvek® 400 SFR chest patch and label features a red border and states ‘SFR’ and ‘Secondary Flame Resistance.’ The Tyvek® 400 SFR garment has a relaxed fit design and red trim elements including red externally sewn seams and a red zipper.
What determines if the garment is contaminated? (3021)
The decision on whether or not a garment has been contaminated is made by local managers responsible for PPE based on an analysis of the incident in which the garment was used. This analysis may include exposure time, chemicals involved, level of exposure, proximity to the actual release, tasks performed, and environmental monitoring in the area in which the garment was worn. Garments that are damaged, altered, or show signs of contamination, such as discoloration, odor, stiffening or cracks, should not be used.
Will Tyvek® 400 SFR fabric burn?
When exposed to a flame, the Tyvek® 400 SFR fabric will shrink away. In the event that a flash fire occurs, Tyvek® 400 SFR garments will not contribute to additional burn injury if appropriate primary flame-resistant personal protective equipment is worn beneath. When the flame source is removed, the Tyvek® 400 SFR fabric will self-extinguish. However, garments made of Tyvek® 400 SFR should not be used alone in areas where protection from fire or electric arc is required. They are designed to be worn over primary FR garments and ensembles.
Are Tyvek® 400 SFR garments latex free?
After January 2023, all DuPont Personal Protection product styles are manufactured under specifications that exclude components containing natural rubber latex.
Tyvek® 500, Tyvek® 600, Tyvek® 800 products manufactured before January 2023 did contain natural rubber latex which may cause allergic reactions in some sensitized individuals. Anyone who begins to exhibit an allergic response during the use of DuPont products should immediately cease using these products. The incident should also be reported to DuPont at +1 (888) 439-2988 so that an investigation can be initiated.
How are Tyvek® 400 SFR garments different from Tychem® 2000 SFR garments?
Tychem® 2000 SFR is suitable for use over top of appropriate primary flame-resistant (FR) protective clothing when chemical splash and flash fire hazards exist. Tychem® 2000 SFR provides an effective barrier against a range of inorganic acids and bases as well as industrial cleaning chemicals and particles larger than 0.3 micron.
Tyvek® 400 SFR is suitable for use over top of appropriate primary FR protective clothing when hazardous particle and flash fire hazards exist. Tyvek® 400 SFR provides an inherent barrier against hazardous and non-hazardous particles (down to 1.0 micron in size).
In what ways can I manage or prevent heat stress?
Chemical protective clothing can interfere with the natural regulation of body temperature. This can lead to a rise in core body temperature and heat stress. Implementing a conservative work/rest schedule or using a cooling system may be effective in reducing heat stress. (Note: Do not wear cooling vests in potentially flammable or explosive environments.) .)
Be aware of the symptoms and treatment of heat stress. If you or your co-workers have symptoms of heat stress such as nausea, dizziness, high heart rates, or excessive heat build-up, leave the work area immediately and remove the ensemble as quickly as possible after decontamination and seek professional care.
The maximum length of time the chemical protective clothing can be worn depends on variables such as the air supply, ambient conditions, climate inside the ensemble, physical and psychological conditions of the wearer, work rate and work load. The TLV® pocket guide from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH, Cincinnati) provides corrected heat stress limits for some garments. Similar information is available on the federal OSHA web site (www.OSHA.gov). The WBGT correction factor for chemical protective garments is at least 10°C or higher for chemical garments made of impervious films (such as Tychem® garments) and covering the entire body (hooded coverall or encapsulating designs). For Tyvek® coveralls, the WBGT correction factor is 2°C with a hood and 1°C without a hood.
How are Tyvek® 400 SFR garments different from other secondary flame resistant (SFR) garments?
Tyvek® 400 SFR garments are unique in several ways. First is the proprietary FR-treated flash spun Tyvek® fabric, available only from DuPont. The Tyvek® substrate offers an inherent breathable barrier against particles down to 1.0 micron in size, providing superior particle protection compared to other disposable SFR garments on the market. Generally, Tyvek® 400 SFR garments are lighter weight and offer improved durability. Featuring design details including red externally sewn seams, a red zipper, and a chest patch with a red border, Tyvek® 400 SFR garments are made with a relaxed fit that enables a greater range of movement while stretching and bending, improves mobility, and is easier to put on over primary flame-resistant garments. Unlike other disposable secondary flame-resistant garments on the market, Tyvek® 400 SFR garments can be recycled through the Tyvek® protective apparel recycling program if they are not contaminated with hazardous materials.
Are Tyvek® 400 SFR garments anti-static or static dissipative?
The fabric used to make Tyvek® 400 SFR garments is treated with a topical antistatic agent to help minimize static build up and reduce nuisance garment cling.
In situations where static dissipation level is a critical performance property, end-users should evaluate the performance of their entire ensemble as worn including outer garments, inner garments, footwear and other PPE. In order for any garment system to be static dissipative, it must be able to drain a charge buildup through proper grounding devices, such as, but not limited to, workstation grounding clips or static-dissipative floors.
Under certain conditions, such as cold and dry weather, it is possible that garments might build and discharge static electricity. Discharges are not normally dangerous except in situations where the generation of an electrical spark could ignite a flammable atmosphere or startle the wearer. When operating around flammable chemicals, take steps to eliminate potential static discharges. In these situations, suggested steps include, but not limited to, water spray, the use of an overcover, raising humidity level of the work area, use of a commercial, anti-static application coating, grounding straps on equipment and personnel, inherently static-dissipating under- and over-garments, and testing of the worker's static dissipation before entry into the classified area.
However, in the case of explosive or flammable atmospheres, even if steps are taken to manage static formation and dissipate static charge, the risk of severe injury remains if an uncontrolled or accidental ignition occurs. If you determine that you are in a potentially flammable or explosive environment, exit the environment immediately.