Finishing Leather for High Heat

[PhilipR]

Good day,

I have an order from a firefighter who wants a leather strap for his helmet made. Is there a water resistant finish that isn’t toxic when burned? So that he can clean off toxic fumes. Also, is there a way to enhance the fire resistance of leather without forming a carbon layer?

Thank you all

[Beehive]

What an excellent question. 

 

I believe the leather receives a treatment before the item is made. Looking up the treatment. 

Aluminum hydroxide

Calcium carbonate

Magnesium oxide

Then there's the classes of flame retardant. A, B, and C. 

 

[chuck123wapati]

Making safety gear or parts of for other folks is something to seriously think about IMO. Simply to much risk on both ends if something happens. But you should ask the firefighter what rules or specs it may need, he would know much more about the subject than anyone here except maybe another firefighter. Personally from the training I've had if your helmet strap gets hot enough to burn so does your head and that strap wont be your main problem. Firefighters also usually wear scba when actively fighting fire so toxic fumes shouldn't be a problem. But if you do make it I would seriously ask the one who wants it and make sure he knows you don't know what the specs, if any, are and it may not comply. It's his or her ass out there. If he says there are no specs then have at it. Good luck

[PhilipR]

3 hours ago, chuck123wapati said:

Making safety gear or parts of for other folks is something to seriously think about IMO. Simply to much risk on both ends if something happens. But you should ask the firefighter what rules or specs it may need, he would know much more about the subject than anyone here except maybe another firefighter. Personally from the training I've had if your helmet strap gets hot enough to burn so does your head and that strap wont be your main problem. Firefighters also usually wear scba when actively fighting fire so toxic fumes shouldn't be a problem. But if you do make it I would seriously ask the one who wants it and make sure he knows you don't know what the specs, if any, are and it may not comply. It's his or her ass out there. If he says there are no specs then have at it. Good luck

Yes, I did inform him on the temperatures that leather burns. Here is a helpful link:https://leathercrafttoolbox.com/home/is-real-leather-flammable/ I expect to send him a video of burning some veg tan leather. He just said he thought the leather would be more flame resistant than the Velcro strap they use.