When ROOTS was founded in 2004, we were dissatisfied from the very beginning with the quality of flame-retardant fabrics available on “the market.” The mediocre quality, the sometimes abysmal flame-retardant properties, and the often poor comfort forced ROOTS to decide to develop its own fabrics. To this day, ROOTS remains one of the few—if not the only—leading manufacturer of flame-retardant clothing that controls the production of its own fabrics from the purchase of fibers all the way through to the finished product. Only the finest raw materials are used in the production of ROOTS fabrics. A great garment starts with a good fabric. For this reason, only the finest cotton fibers are used, resulting in unparalleled comfort, fabric strength, and safety performance. The flame-retardant chemicals used by ROOTS do not emit any odor, which wearers experience as enhanced comfort.

When ROOTS was founded in 2004, we were dissatisfied from the very beginning with the quality of flame-retardant fabrics available on “the market.” The mediocre quality, the sometimes abysmal flame-retardant properties, and the often poor comfort forced ROOTS to decide to develop its own fabrics. To this day, ROOTS remains one of the few—if not the only—leading manufacturer of flame-retardant clothing that controls the production of its own fabrics from the purchase of fibers all the way through to the finished product. Only the finest raw materials are used in the production of ROOTS fabrics. A great garment starts with a good fabric. For this reason, only the finest cotton fibers are used, resulting in unparalleled comfort, fabric strength, and safety performance. The flame-retardant chemicals used by ROOTS do not emit any odor, which wearers experience as enhanced comfort.

Every garment can be traced back to the fabric batch from which it was produced.

In the final phase of the fabric production process, ROOTS has implemented a world-class quality control system. After each batch of fabric is produced, all fabrics are tested in the laboratory for critical properties, such as tensile strength, tear resistance, flame retardancy, and shrinkage. This batch is assigned a unique number that we call a Cosort number. This number is sewn into the stitching of every garment that is manufactured. As a result, the Cosort number remains visible even after a fire or due to normal wear and tear. The Cosort number can truly be seen as an additional guarantee of the garment’s quality. Since late 2012, ROOTS has also chosen to make the reflective tape it uses traceable. Each batch of reflective tape (a batch consists of 100,000 meters) has a unique number that corresponds to a laboratory report confirming that the tape has been tested for all critical parameters. It is not only the high visibility values that are tested; the tape is also tested for flame-retardant properties as well as wash performance.

Every garment can be traced back to the fabric batch from which it was produced.

In the final phase of the fabric production process, ROOTS has implemented a world-class quality control system. After each batch of fabric is produced, all fabrics are tested in the laboratory for critical properties, such as tensile strength, tear resistance, flame retardancy, and shrinkage. This batch is assigned a unique number that we call a Cosort number. This number is sewn into the stitching of every garment that is manufactured. As a result, the Cosort number remains visible even after a fire or due to normal wear and tear. The Cosort number can truly be seen as an additional guarantee of the garment’s quality. Since late 2012, ROOTS has also chosen to make the reflective tape it uses traceable. Each batch of reflective tape (a batch consists of 100,000 meters) has a unique number that corresponds to a laboratory report confirming that the tape has been tested for all critical parameters. It is not only the high visibility values that are tested; the tape is also tested for flame-retardant properties as well as wash performance.

ROOTS works with independent laboratories that inspect our fabrics for quality before each clothing production run. For every new batch of garments we produce, a sample of the fabric used is sent for testing.

Our partners are world-class leaders in fabric inspection, testing, and certification, and we are extremely proud to have built partnerships with such renowned organizations. Only after these independent tests are completed do we approve our fabrics for garment production. Independent testing is conducted in addition to our own laboratory tests and is performed on every color that comes off the production line. Most other manufacturers of flame-retardant garments would be satisfied with only the internal laboratory reports provided by the weaver.

Certified Quality
Control At ROOTS, we prioritize safety above all else when it comes to our products—after all, we may be able to save people’s lives in the event of a disaster. We view our clothing first and foremost as safety gear and secondarily as business workwear. This mindset demands a high level of quality and performance from our fabrics.

That is why we believe that the additional quality control provided by a certified third party is invaluable and drives us to make our products even better. This drive to continuously improve has led us to create some of the best-performing garments on the market, offering the lowest risk of combustion, exceptional durability, and high comfort.

The following tests are always conducted:

• Flame-retardant properties of the material after 50 wash/dry cycles. • Fabric shrinkage after 5 and 50 wash/dry cycles.
• Tear resistance of the fabric after 5 wash/dry cycles.
• Tensile strength of the fabric after 5 wash/dry cycles.
• pH value
• Formaldehyde content
• Colorfastness
• Weight of the fabric

ROOTS works with independent laboratories that inspect our fabrics for quality before each clothing production run. For every new batch of garments we produce, a sample of the fabric used is sent for testing.

Our partners are world-class leaders in fabric inspection, testing, and certification, and we are extremely proud to have built partnerships with such renowned organizations. Only after these independent tests are completed do we approve our fabrics for garment production. Independent testing is conducted in addition to our own laboratory tests and is performed on every color that comes off the production line. Most other manufacturers of flame-retardant garments would be satisfied with only the internal laboratory reports provided by the weaver.

Certified Quality
Control At ROOTS, we prioritize safety above all else when it comes to our products—after all, we may be able to save people’s lives in the event of a disaster. We view our clothing first and foremost as safety gear and secondarily as business workwear. This mindset demands a high level of quality and performance from our fabrics.

That is why we believe that the additional quality control provided by a certified third party is invaluable and drives us to make our products even better. This drive to continuously improve has led us to create some of the best-performing garments on the market, offering the lowest risk of combustion, exceptional durability, and high comfort.

The following tests are always conducted:

• Flame-retardant properties of the material after 50 wash/dry cycles. • Fabric shrinkage after 5 and 50 wash/dry cycles.
• Tear resistance of the fabric after 5 wash/dry cycles.
• Tensile strength of the fabric after 5 wash/dry cycles.
• pH value
• Formaldehyde content
• Colorfastness
• Weight of the fabric

All fabrics have been tested and have a UPF rating of 50+.

All fabrics have been tested and have a UPF rating of 50+.

Sharing knowledge as an indispensable part of ROOTS’ quality

ROOTS can provide every customer with a wealth of information, ranging from clothing certifications to mannequin test results for burn predictions.

ROOTS believes that, when it comes to such critical safety products, having sufficient information is of vital importance. For this reason, ROOTS has decided to develop its own training program for flame-retardant clothing. The ROOTS training program covers flame-retardant and related standards, various flame-retardant fabric properties and benefits, specific garment requirements, production control systems, and we emphasize the importance of proper handling by laundries. In short, we present and teach a highly complex subject in an understandable way.

The training can be completed in half a day and is offered free of charge to ROOTS partners and end users at our office in Rotterdam.

Sharing knowledge as an indispensable part of ROOTS’ quality

ROOTS can provide every customer with a wealth of information, ranging from clothing certifications to mannequin test results for burn predictions.

ROOTS believes that, when it comes to such critical safety products, having sufficient information is of vital importance. For this reason, ROOTS has decided to develop its own training program for flame-retardant clothing. The ROOTS training program covers flame-retardant and related standards, various flame-retardant fabric properties and benefits, specific garment requirements, production control systems, and we emphasize the importance of proper handling by laundries. In short, we present and teach a highly complex subject in an understandable way.

The training can be completed in half a day and is offered free of charge to ROOTS partners and end users at our office in Rotterdam.

A program designed to make a complex topic easy to understand

In extreme circumstances, flame-retardant clothing may need to provide protection against the hazards of an electric arc. ROOTS considers sharing and presenting such specialized knowledge on such an important topic to be essential to its relationship with end users. For this reason, ROOTS has received permission from the Technical University of Ilmenau to organize on-site arc flash seminars featuring two distinguished speakers: Professor Holger Schau, who can be considered the spiritual father of the IEC 61482 arc flash standard, and Mr. Jürgen Haasse, former director of the notified body STFI and closely involved in the development of the EN 1149 antistatic standards. The seminar in Ilmenau focuses primarily on the box test method (IEC 61482-1-2).

During the seminar, attendees will witness a “live” arc flash test. There will also be extensive information on the test method as specified by the standard, followed by an open question-and-answer session with the experts.

The other location where ROOTS organizes seminars is in Valencia, at Aitex’s brand-new open-arc ATPV laboratory. Here, the focus is primarily on the open-arc test method (IEC 61482-1-1). The main speaker at the seminar in Valencia is Mr. Hugh Hoagland, a leading expert in this field. The results of these open-arc tests yield what are known as caloric values. Both seminars feature “live” arc tests and provide information on the relevant standards. Of course, ample time will be devoted to questions and requests for information. Please contact your ROOTS advisor for more information.

A program designed to make a complex topic easy to understand

In extreme circumstances, flame-retardant clothing may need to provide protection against the hazards of an electric arc. ROOTS considers sharing and presenting such specialized knowledge on such an important topic to be essential to its relationship with end users. For this reason, ROOTS has received permission from the Technical University of Ilmenau to organize on-site arc flash seminars featuring two distinguished speakers: Professor Holger Schau, who can be considered the spiritual father of the IEC 61482 arc flash standard, and Mr. Jürgen Haasse, former director of the notified body STFI and closely involved in the development of the EN 1149 antistatic standards. The seminar in Ilmenau focuses primarily on the box test method (IEC 61482-1-2).

During the seminar, attendees will witness a “live” arc flash test. There will also be extensive information on the test method as specified by the standard, followed by an open question-and-answer session with the experts.

The other location where ROOTS organizes seminars is in Valencia, at Aitex’s brand-new open-arc ATPV laboratory. Here, the focus is primarily on the open-arc test method (IEC 61482-1-1). The main speaker at the seminar in Valencia is Mr. Hugh Hoagland, a leading expert in this field. The results of these open-arc tests yield what are known as caloric values. Both seminars feature “live” arc tests and provide information on the relevant standards. Of course, ample time will be devoted to questions and requests for information. Please contact your ROOTS advisor for more information.

Find out the actual level of protection provided by your flame-retardant clothing.

Burn predictions, according to EN ISO 11612, are optional. However, they are mandatory for the American test method NFPA 2112 for 3 seconds. We have applied this test method to all our garments, but for 4 seconds.

For example, customers often ask for garments that comply with EN ISO 11612. What few people realize is that it is already possible to obtain certification under this standard after 5 washes and 5 dry cycles, even though the garment’s lifespan can easily reach 50 washes. You have to dig deeper into the technical documentation behind the certificate to obtain this important information. This is relevant information because the use of FR chemicals accounts for a significant portion of the cost of flame-retardant fabrics. ROOTS and ISO 11612 garments are certified for 50 wash and dry cycles.

How safe is your clothing? Read more about this topic in our catalog.

Find out the actual level of protection provided by your flame-retardant clothing.

Burn predictions, according to EN ISO 11612, are optional. However, they are mandatory for the American test method NFPA 2112 for 3 seconds. We have applied this test method to all our garments, but for 4 seconds.

For example, customers often ask for garments that comply with EN ISO 11612. What few people realize is that it is already possible to obtain certification under this standard after 5 washes and 5 dry cycles, even though the garment’s lifespan can easily reach 50 washes. You have to dig deeper into the technical documentation behind the certificate to obtain this important information. This is relevant information because the use of FR chemicals accounts for a significant portion of the cost of flame-retardant fabrics. ROOTS and ISO 11612 garments are certified for 50 wash and dry cycles.

How safe is your clothing? Read more about this topic in our catalog.

All ROOTS collections help protect against electric arcs.

Flash fires and electric arcs are the two main reasons for wearing flame-retardant workwear. To truly know what level of protection a garment can offer against these hazards, it must be tested. ROOTS believes that an accurate test that simulates a real-life catastrophe as closely as possible is the only way to truly know how safe a garment is.

For flash fires, ROOTS subjects the garment to a 4-second sea of flames. This provides a burn prediction that accurately reflects safety levels. As a specialist in arc flash protection, ROOTS performs the same testing on its garments using the box test (IEC 61482-1-2) and the open arc test (IEC 61482-1-1) for each individual range.

Read about the differences between these test methods in the catalog.

All ROOTS collections help protect against electric arcs.

Flash fires and electric arcs are the two main reasons for wearing flame-retardant workwear. To truly know what level of protection a garment can offer against these hazards, it must be tested. ROOTS believes that an accurate test that simulates a real-life catastrophe as closely as possible is the only way to truly know how safe a garment is.

For flash fires, ROOTS subjects the garment to a 4-second wall of flames. This provides a burn injury prediction that accurately reflects safety performance. As a specialist in arc flash protection, ROOTS performs the same testing on its garments using the box test (IEC 61482-1-2) and the open arc test (IEC 61482-1-1) for each individual voltage range.

Read about the differences between these test methods in the catalog.

A laundry detergent that safely tackles even the toughest stains.

ROOTS got its start in the oil and gas industry—especially offshore! “Oil-based mud” is one of the toughest stains imaginable and is therefore very difficult to remove from flame-retardant clothing. That’s why ROOTS took on the challenge of developing its own detergent called “Clean at 60.” This detergent, available in both powder and liquid forms, has proven capable of tackling the toughest stains—even the aforementioned “OBM”—at low temperatures.

It seems logical that the proper washing process for “the last line of defense” should be carried out correctly. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Offshore catering companies, in particular, often use a “general-purpose” detergent, which can result in a range of negative effects, including shrinkage and even the loss of safety properties. It’s certainly not uncommon for such detergents to contain “bleach,” which strips the clothing of its flame-retardant properties after just a few washes. Washing properly is, so to speak, not “rocket science,” but… Many customers tell us that it seems impossible to clean heavily soiled clothing at 60°C. People say the clothes only get clean when washed at boiling temperatures; this results in shrinkage and a loss of properties. With Clean at 60, ROOTS proves that it is indeed possible—even on oil rigs, ships, and platforms. ROOTS uses Sinner’s scientific circle in its approach.

Sinner’s circle in cleaning refers to the interaction of four factors that, together, should lead to a clean result. ROOTS has added a fifth factor to this: the amount of water in the washing drum. The reason for adding this fifth factor stems from daily (washing) practices on oil rigs, where drums are consistently overloaded, leaving barely any water in the drum to carry away the dirt. If one of the factors in the circle is reduced, another factor (or factors) must increase at all times to restore a closed circle. The closed circle represents a clean wash result.

A laundry detergent that safely tackles even the toughest stains.

ROOTS got its start in the oil and gas industry—especially offshore! “Oil-based mud” is one of the toughest stains imaginable and is therefore very difficult to remove from flame-retardant clothing. That’s why ROOTS took on the challenge of developing its own detergent called “Clean at 60.” This detergent, available in both powder and liquid forms, has proven capable of tackling the toughest stains—even the aforementioned “OBM”—at low temperatures.

It seems logical that the proper washing process for “the last line of defense” should be carried out correctly. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Offshore catering companies, in particular, often use a “general-purpose” detergent, which can result in a range of negative effects, including shrinkage and even the loss of safety properties. It’s certainly not uncommon for such detergents to contain “bleach,” which strips the clothing of its flame-retardant properties after just a few washes. Washing properly is, so to speak, not “rocket science,” but… Many customers tell us that it seems impossible to clean heavily soiled clothing at 60°C. People say the clothes only get clean in a boiling wash; this results in shrinkage and a loss of properties. With Clean at 60, ROOTS proves that it is indeed possible—even on oil rigs, ships, and platforms. ROOTS uses Sinner’s scientific circle in its approach.

Sinner’s circle in cleaning refers to the interaction of four factors that, together, should lead to a clean result. ROOTS has added a fifth factor to this: the amount of water in the washing drum. The reason for adding this fifth factor stems from daily (washing) practices on oil rigs, where drums are consistently overloaded, leaving barely any water in the drum to carry away the dirt. If one of the factors in the circle is reduced, another factor (or factors) must increase at all times to restore a closed circle. The closed circle represents a clean wash result.

Proper washing and drying are crucial for flame-retardant clothing.

ROOTS is in constant communication with and supports national and local industrial laundries to ensure that ROOTS clothing is handled in accordance with the washing instructions. ROOTS reminds laundries that this clothing falls under the category of personal protective equipment and must be handled with care throughout the entire washing and drying process. Flame-retardant clothing must provide wearers with continuous protection throughout the product’s entire lifespan. Wearers must be able to rely on the clothing being maintained properly so that the wearer’s safety is never compromised. Thanks to the frequent discussions ROOTS has with industrial laundries, we currently have access to a wide range of laundries that are willing to follow the flame-retardant washing guidelines.

Read the full story in the catalog.

Proper washing and drying are crucial for flame-retardant clothing.

ROOTS is in constant communication with and supports national and local industrial laundries to ensure that ROOTS clothing is handled in accordance with the washing instructions. ROOTS reminds laundries that this clothing falls under the category of personal protective equipment and must be handled with care throughout the entire washing and drying process. Flame-retardant clothing must provide wearers with continuous protection throughout the product’s entire lifespan. Wearers must be able to rely on the clothing being maintained properly and that there is no compromise whatsoever to the wearer’s safety. Thanks to the frequent discussions ROOTS has with industrial laundries, we currently have access to a wide range of laundries that are willing to follow the flame-retardant washing guidelines.

Read the full story in the catalog.

At ROOTS, our customers’ trust means everything to us. We will never stop working to earn and maintain that trust by developing garments that guarantee best-in-class safety performance for the wearer. Regardless of size or gender, our products offer you comfortable protection against flames and arc flashes.

Due to the lack of well-fitting women’s clothing, we noticed that women were tempted to buy small-sized men’s clothing as a compromise, leading to ill-fitting workwear—something that can be exceptionally dangerous in the workplace. The problem with oversized clothing is that it often leads to accidents where clothing gets rolled up around the legs or sleeves. This can easily get caught in machinery.

This insight enabled our designers to create a selection of women’s fits worn across all industries: e.g., offshore, rail, utilities, transportation, and construction. Based on our experience and feedback from loyal brand users around the world, we invited women from a wide range of industries to collaborate with us to find the perfect fit. Designs are carefully tailored to the women’s feedback, ensuring a comfortable, reliable, practical, and—above all—truly feminine fit.

An
ever-growing range of women’s sizes

Unlike other manufacturers of flame-retardant workwear, we are committed to providing protective clothing for everyone. This is particularly evident in the special sizing, fits, and customization options we offer. Our first pair of women’s coveralls was introduced a few years ago. This strong commitment motivates us to continue adding women’s clothing to all our product lines. Our latest true women’s coverall is the Textreme Hi-Vis women’s coverall, which is certified for 100 industrial washes!

At ROOTS, our customers’ trust means everything to us. We will never stop working to earn and maintain that trust by developing garments that guarantee best-in-class safety performance for the wearer. Regardless of size or gender, our products offer you comfortable protection against flames and arc flashes.

Due to the lack of well-fitting women’s clothing, we noticed that women were tempted to buy small-sized men’s clothing as a compromise, leading to ill-fitting workwear—something that can be exceptionally dangerous in the workplace. The problem with oversized clothing is that it often leads to accidents where clothing gets rolled up around the legs or sleeves. This can easily get caught in machinery.

This insight enabled our designers to create a selection of women’s fits worn across all industries: e.g., offshore, rail, utilities, transportation, and construction. Based on our experience and feedback from loyal brand users around the world, we invited women from a wide range of industries to collaborate with us to find the perfect fit. Designs are carefully tailored to the women’s feedback, ensuring a comfortable, reliable, practical, and—above all—truly feminine fit.

An
ever-growing range of women’s sizes

Unlike other manufacturers of flame-retardant workwear, we are committed to providing protective clothing for everyone. This is particularly evident in the special sizing, fits, and customization options we offer. Our first pair of women’s coveralls was introduced a few years ago. This strong commitment motivates us to continue adding women’s clothing to all our product lines. Our latest true women’s coverall is the Textreme Hi-Vis women’s coverall, which is certified for 100 industrial washes!

You may be done with your coveralls, jacket, or pants, but chances are they still have a lot more to offer. If you return them to us, we’ll remove all badges and reflective tape and turn them into cleaning rags and absorbent material that you can reuse. If you don’t use these products, we’ll recycle them for free. 

In other words, your old garment can be transformed into something useful that you can reuse, helping to conserve the Earth’s precious resources and reduce your carbon footprint. 

Read more here about our vision for circularity and how you can get involved.

You may be done with your coveralls, jacket, or pants, but chances are they still have a lot more to offer. If you return them to us, we’ll remove all badges and reflective tape and turn them into cleaning rags and absorbent material that you can reuse. If you don’t use these products, we’ll recycle them for free. 

In other words, your old garment can be transformed into something useful that you can reuse, helping to conserve the Earth’s precious resources and reduce your carbon footprint. 

Read more here about our vision for circularity and how you can get involved.