Does Leather Burn? [Real Deal VS Faux Leather]

Wonder if your expensive leather couch will survive an unexpected fire? Maybe you want to jump over a campfire (not judging) and wonder if your leather boots will keep you safe. Or maybe afraid to burn your leather gloves when lighting a cigarette?

Whatever the reason, this article will answer the question: Does leather burn? At which temperature does it burn? And how to fix it?

Does leather burn?

No, technically. Real leather barely burns. When leather happens to catch fire, the parts in contact may darken and char. Still, the fire barely spreads, and the material stays safe and intact.

Real leather doesn’t melt as well. That’s because the proteins that make it up degrade before they get enough energy to melt. Leather fibers shrivel but don’t turn into hot gooey drops.

Is leather fireproof or fire-resistant?

Fireproof is something almost invulnerable to fire and high temperatures. With such material, you can stand in a campfire and leave it with no burning mark. A good example here is Aramid, a synthetic material often used in a firefighter uniform.

Flame retardants include a diverse group of chemicals, but leather is not among them.

Leather is fire-resistant. Technically, it doesn’t burn. Not easily. But leather fibers still degrade with fire and, left too long, leather will completely burn.

The reasons for such fire resistance

Leather items resist fire due to leather pores, which absorb and retain moisture. The moisture offers this flame protection. Tanned leather is even more resilient.

You may also ask: how does leather burn barely, when our human skin, a similar material, is not fire resistant? Human skin has less moisture and more fat, and fat makes it flammable and prone to burning. Real leather also undergoes a tanning process, which increases its strength and fire resistance.

If you’re looking for the leather with best durability, then look no further than vegetable-tanned leather. Veg-tanned leather is made from animal hides that are processed using natural ingredients such as tree bark, fruits, or leaves. The vegetable-tanned leather comes with a distinct appearance and unmatched resilience.

The burning point

Leather burns at temperatures hotter than 392°F/200°C. There’s a sand line in when does leather burn because high-quality leather may start burning at higher temperatures.

As for the time, natural leather burns after around 10 seconds of consistent exposure to high temperatures.

Some leather may take longer and won’t ignite faster.

What happens when leather is burnt?

When real leather burns, it can cause various effects, such as:

• Discoloration and charring of the surface.
• Cracking and bubbling of the finish.
• Shrinking and warping of the shape.
• Breakdown of the material into ash and brittle pieces.
• Smelling like burnt hair.

Synthetic leather has a worse matchup with flames, due to a lack of fire resistance. Faux leather, made from plastic or rubber, releases toxic fumes and pollutes the environment when burned. Burned faux smells like burning plastic. It also melts, and such stains are hard to get rid of.

The extent of the damage depends on the type and quality of the leather, the source and intensity of the heat, and the duration of the exposure. Some minor burns can be repaired with a leather repair kit, but major burns may require professional restoration or replacement.

Is burning leather toxic?

Does leather burn with the aftermath? Real leather is not toxic when burned. It’s clear to see when you compare it to human skin. Both are practically the same material and when burned, there are no toxic gases. The worst case is the smell of burning hair.

But burning synthetic leather can be toxic, as it’s often made from a possibly harmful material, polyvinyl chloride. On fire, amongst other chemicals, carbon monoxide is released. Let’s have a better look at this synthetic leather.

Authentic leather vs fake leather

Artificial leather, also often called faux leather, might look like real leather, but it’s quite different from its natural counterpart. 

It’s important to differentiate between real natural leather and artificial ones.

Here are some differences between real and fake leather:

• Authentic leather has natural variations in grain, color, and texture, while faux has a more uniform and consistent appearance. 
• Authentic leather is more breathable and comfortable than fake one, which can feel sticky or sweaty in warm weather.
• Authentic leather is more durable and resistant to wear and tear than faker, which can crack, peel, or fade over time.
• Authentic leather is more expensive and requires more care and maintenance than faux, which is cheaper and easier to clean.
• Authentic leather is considered more sustainable and eco-friendly than artificial one, which is made from petroleum and can release harmful chemicals into the environment.

The most important attribute of artificial leather (for this article) is the lack of fire resistance. It burns easier than real leather items. The imitation leather has significantly lower melting points than 392°F/200°C. It’s all because such leather is made from plastic elements, which have poor fire resistance.

How to spot fake leather?

The easiest way is… your nose! Real leather smells like (surprise) leather, and the fakers smell like chemicals and like burnt plastic (when on fire).

The absence of wrinkles and other imperfections on the leather surface is also a sign of synthetic materials. For example, leather on car seats usually looks almost too good, and most often it’s fake. It’s all because such leather goes through a specific tanning process.

One more detection method… burn leather! Though that is the worst method by far, if you have a piece of leather, you can burn it. The real leathers char slightly and smell like burnt hair, and the fake leather fibres easily submit to fire.

As a rule, the artificial leather item will cost less than the real deal. It’s not always the case, as some brands try to pass them off as genuine and so increase the price.

Burning leather and pyrography

Sometimes a little char is quite a charm. Pyrography is the art of burning patterns on tanned leather.

Burning leather can be used to decorate and personalize leather items such as bags, wallets, belts, book covers, and even leather jackets.

Pyrography is an ancient technique that has been practiced by different cultures around the world. Pyrography artists can use light-colored woods, such as beech, birch, or sycamore, as their canvas, and draw their design with a heated pencil.

Leather is a perfect material for this hard craft. You may try one yourself, when interested. Don’t forget your work gloves. Safety is the key.

FAQ

You already know when and how does leather burn. You may look at some other frequently asked questions.

Real leather burns only with passion

I hope you’ve found the answers to your questions: does leather burn? Still, you better stay away from the fire. I`ve heard it’s quite dangerous.