Thermal Protective Clothing Market - By Material Type, By Application, and By Geography Analysis - Forecast 2023 - 2028

The thermal protective clothing market size is forecast to reach USD 4.92 billion by 2029, after growing at a CAGR of 6.10% during 2024-2029. Thermal protective clothing is essential for persons working in primary metal industries with molten metal and other high-heat environments such as welding, foundries, manufacturing, and construction. High heat-resistant fibers such as Nomex, Kevlar, PBI, Kermel, P84, and pre-oxidized PAN-based fibers are commonly used in thermal protection clothing. Various regulations, such as NFPA1971, ASTM 2701-08, ISO 17492, CGSB, ASTM F955-07, and others, govern thermal protective clothing that allows useful thermal protection as well as high levels of chemical resistance, typically an outer garment of thermally resistant material worn over the chemical suit, thereby increasing the market for thermal protective clothing over the forecast period.   

The report “Thermal Protective Clothing Market– Forecast (2024-2029)”, by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the thermal protective clothing market.

By Material Type: Chemically modified fire-retardant (Flame-Resistant Cotton, Nylon, Polyester, Others), Inherently fire-resistant (Aramid fibers, Polyamide-imide, Polybenzimidazole, Polyacrylate, Others)

By Application: Oil And Gas, Chemical Industry, Fire and Security Applications, Foundry and Welding, Others

By Geography:  North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, RoW

• The market for protective clothing is expected to grow due to strict staff safety norms in emerging nations and increased industrialization. For example, the Indian Ministry of Textiles told the WTO in a Draft Protective Textiles (Quality Control) Order, 2022, to increase the standard and quality of Protective Textiles, protect human health and safety, and create quality requirements.

• Companies are leveraging consumer desire for transparent and sustainable products. For example, in October 2023, National Safety Apparel Inc. (NSA), a market leader in flame-resistant clothing, electrical PPE and products, and thermal & industrial PPE, acquired Paulson Manufacturing to expand its portfolio with eco-friendly protective gear, in line with the market's shift toward sustainability.

• Insufficiently enforced safety standards in China lead to frequent industrial mishaps such as factory fires and mining disasters. As a result, the thermal protective clothing market is predicted to expand rapidly throughout the forecast period. For instance, a fire swept through a two-story factory in central China in November 2022, killing 38 people in one of the deadliest fires in the country in recent years.

Inherently fire-resistant segment dominated the thermal protective clothing market in 2023. Aramids are extremely popular for use in firefighting protective gear due to their exceptional heat resistance and excellent strength-to-weight ratio. Aramid fibers are commonly utilized in flame-resistant apparel, body armor, hot air filtration materials, sailcloths, and other applications. DuPont de Nemours, Nike, Teijin, Welspun Group, and Elevate Textiles are the leading patent filing companies in the blended aramid fire-resistant fabrics market. For example, DuPont Personal Protection announced the launch of a new line of Kevlar-designed yarns in October 2022. The design of these yarns is to protect against heat, flame, and electric arc dangers. These companies are projected to maintain their growth trajectory in the future, as they continue to spend on R&D and extend their product portfolios to satisfy the changing demands of the market.

Oil & Gas dominated the thermal protective clothing market in 2023. The operations of the oil and gas industry often necessitate the use of protective garments specifically designed to withstand extreme temperatures, flames, and other potentially dangerous situations. Thermal protective clothing is critical for guaranteeing worker safety during oil and gas extraction, refining, and processing processes. The market for thermal protection clothing in the oil and gas industry is driven by various governments that have imposed severe laws requiring workers in the oil and gas industries to wear protective clothing and equipment. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1910.132 regulation requires workers in the oil and gas industries to wear thermal protective apparel.

In addition, the oil and gas industry is governed by other standards on the use of protective clothing, including NFPA 2112 and 2113 (which address flash-fire dangers), NFPA 70E (which addresses arc-flash hazards), and ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 (which specifies high-visibility safety apparel). As a result, regulations help to drive the expansion of the thermal protective clothing market.

North America dominated the thermal protective clothing market in 2023. The growth of end-use industries such as chemicals, oil & gas, has led to ample growth opportunities in the North American protective clothing market. For instance, Mexico is one of the largest oil producers in the world (with 1.6 million barrels produced daily in 2022), and the fourth largest in the Americas after the United States, Canada, and Brazil. In August 2021, at least five people were killed and six injured in a fire at an offshore oil platform owned by Mexico's state-run company Pemex. This incident has caused an increase in demand for protective clothing usage in the region.

The North American thermal protective clothing market is also driven by government laws and requirements. Government agencies, such as the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), enforce stringent restrictions and mandates requiring the use of protective garments in dangerous workplaces. For example, OSHA requires workers in the oil and gas industry to wear heat- and flame-resistant gear, which increases demand for sophisticated protective apparel.

Flame-resistant and antistatic gear is vital for preventing accidents in tasks that include electricity, flames, and high temperatures. Firefighters, as well as workers in the power, petrochemical, and gas industries, are among those exposed to these risks. Minimizing them is critical to providing safer working conditions. Because of the high concentration of fuel in the air, spontaneous fires are possible during oil or natural gas drilling work. It may only last a few seconds, but temperatures can exceed 1,900 degrees. These flare-ups can be fatal for a worker who is not wearing flame-resistant and antistatic clothes, as conventional clothing ignites and spreads the fire. 

The increasing emphasis on flame resistance in the workplace is driven by a heightened awareness of occupational safety and the need to protect workers from potential risks. For example, In July 2022, a new edition of the 2112 Standard on Flame-Resistant Clothing for Protection was released by the NFPA Flash Fire Protective Garments Committee. This edition outlines the minimal requirements for the design, construction, evaluation, and certification of flame-resistant garments for use by manufacturing personnel in 2023. The 2023 edition adds a new reference to ASTM F3502-21 Standard Specification for Barrier Face Coverings, and items must now fulfill that standard. Barrier Face Coverings must also be properly approved, reversing a previously eased requirement introduced in the 2018 version.

As the oil and gas sector expands, there's an increased demand for protective gear to ensure the safety of workers operating in various environments, including those with high temperatures, flames, and chemical exposure risks. Oil and gas workers in many countries must protect themselves from hazardous substances and fire accidents which are common in the oil and gas industry. For instance, major Mexican oil and gas corporations have confirmed the existence of significant oil reserves, and efforts to enhance the country's current logistics infrastructure are expected to attract private sector investment. With its northern border situated right near a booming US shale patch, Mexico aims to be one of the world’s top shippers of sought-after LNG. In September 2022, the President announced that Mexico plans a $4-$5 bn LNG hub at the Gulf port to serve the European demand.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasizes the importance of Brazil, which will produce over 50% of the world's offshore oil by 2040, or approximately 5.2 million barrels per day. This investment creates a need for additional service companies in Brazil to develop a diverse and competitive supply chain and services market. Therefore, the growth in the oil and gas industry is driving the protective clothing market, as fire-resistant protective clothing certified according to NFPA 2112, is a must for oil and gas workers in Brazil.

To be considered flame resistant, a garment must meet specific specifications (EN11612), which principally demand that it be made of non-flammable materials. Compliance with various industry standards and regulations is essential for thermal protective clothing manufacturers. Keeping up with changing regulatory requirements across different regions and industries can be complex and may require significant investments in testing and certification. Furthermore, flame-resistant clothing is subjected to rigorous laboratory testing to ensure that it meets these and other criteria. Flame-resistant clothing serves as a barrier between fire or extreme heat sources and the skin, shielding the wearer from direct exposure. These qualities are derived from the fabrics used to make them. These industry standards can act as a barrier to entry for new entrants into the thermal protective clothing market.

Traditional thermal protective clothing serves a specific purpose (e.g., fire-resistant suits). Expanding its functionality for diverse applications is challenging. Meanwhile, there is a rising desire for multi-functional and durable clothes. These could include defenses against electricity shock, radiation, heat/fire, extreme cold, mechanical impact, physical harm, rain, electric shock, radiation, and infectious and hazardous chemicals. Developing multifunctional thermal protective clothing that adapts to various hazards (heat, chemicals, etc.) is an ongoing area of research.

Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the thermal protective clothing market. In 2023, the market of thermal protective clothing has been fragmented by the top players. Major players in the thermal protective clothing market are Dupont de Numours Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Ansell Ltd, 3M, Sioen N.V., Carhartt, and Lakeland Industries Inc. among others.

 In April 2024, Lakeland Industries, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire the fire and rescue business of LHD Group Deutschland GmbH (LHD) and its Hong Kong and Australian subsidiaries in an all-cash transaction valued at about $16.7 million. LHD offers a variety of structural, wildland, and industrial fire and rescue gear, technical rescue equipment, and station wear, among other goods, with a focus on safety, innovation, and practicality to meet the different needs of firefighters.

 In October 2023, National Safety Apparel Inc. (NSA), a market leader in flame-resistant clothing, electrical PPE and products, and thermal & industrial PPE, acquired Paulson Manufacturing to broaden its portfolio with eco-friendly protective gear in response to the market's shift toward sustainability.

 In March 2022, DuPont Personal Protection launched Nomex® Xtreme Performance, an innovative portfolio of protection and efficiency solutions for emergency responders. Nomex® Xtreme Performance is a comprehensive and groundbreaking solution for the next generation of personal protective equipment (PPE), providing superior thermal protection and humidity management.