ASTM International is a standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary consensus technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems and services, including those for FR clothing. The ASTM subcommittee F18.65 recently made some changes to the F1506 standard for protection from electric arc flash. One notable change to this year's requirements is regarding laundry shrinkage.

Previous editions of the ASTM F1506 standard included a laundry shrinkage specification that required every fabric to be tested for shrinkage by a single wash procedure. The latest edition of F1506 allows the garment manufacturer to specify laundry shrinkage and the test method that best suits their garments' care instructions and intended end use. It is expected that the change will allow more new and innovative garments to reach the marketplace.