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YOU’VE GOT QUESTIONS, WE’VE GOT ANSWERS

Thirty years and 3,500 finish lines later, we’ve seen it all. We’ve prepared answers to some of your most pressing questions. Still have more questions? Send us an email or give us a call. We’ll answer you right away.

General Questions About AFMInc Heatsheets®:


Helping You Choose a Vendor for Heat-Reflective Blankets:



General Questions About AFMInc Heatsheets®:

What makes Heatsheets heat-reflective blankets the best choice?
  • Heatsheets LDPE-4 heat-reflective blankets can be recycled through our exclusive Blankets to Boards recycling program in partnership with Trex Company. To the best of our knowledge, other types of heat-reflective plastic blankets are not currently recyclable.
  • Heatsheets blankets are center-folded without hard creases – they open more easily and are readily stored for reuse. Other blankets are rolled or folded forming hard creases that often grab and tear while opening, particularly after they’ve been stored for long periods.
  • Heatsheets are 30%-50% thicker to make them more durable.
  • Heatsheets are puncture-resistant and do not fracture if the edges are nicked, as metallized polyester blankets do. They stand up better in wind and tears don’t have to turn into disasters.
  • Heatsheets proprietary Met-PE blankets are much softer and quieter than competing brands made from metallized polyester (“Mylar”) or the cheaper metallized polypropylene, which rattle with every movement.
  • Heatsheets are offered in cartonless packaging for use with our Rapid Unwind Racks, increasing efficiency in distribution and decreasing waste.


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Are Heatsheets environmentally safe?
Our printing partner holds an EPR Certification (Environmentally Preferred Rating) from CFECA. Heatsheets are printed in California, where state law (AB 455) prohibits the use of heavy metals in inks or materials. Most of the inks used are water-based (as opposed to solvent-based), minimizing air pollution. During film extrusion and printing, scrap and waste are recycled whenever possible. Heatsheets are produced from FDA food-grade LDPE-4 resin. In August, 2009, key provisions of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act(CPSIA) took effect. Permissible levels of lead and phthalates were greatly reduced. Heatsheets are in full compliance with the CPSIA.

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Can I reuse my Heatsheets blanket?
Yes! We encourage you to be environmentally conscious and save or reuse your Heatsheets blanket. If you aren't saving it as a souvenir, it can be placed in your car and used in case you are stranded in inclement weather. You can fold it up and take it in your backpack while hiking or stash it in your coat pocket while skiing. Please consider the environment before throwing away your Heatsheet.

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How does hypothermia affect athletes?
Athletes participating in long-distance events tend to wear just shorts and a shirt. The best way to keep cool is to sweat, but often long-distance athletes can't perspire efficiently due to dehydration. They find it difficult to take in more liquids than they lose through by perspiring. As they become more dehydrated over the long course, it becomes more difficult for the body to cool. Consequently, their core temperature rises. After crossing the finish line, their internal sensors tell their bodies to keep shedding heat. When external temperatures are cool, they lose body heat more rapidly because their heads, legs, and arms are exposed. Under these conditions, athletes run the risk of losing so much heat that they can become hypothermic. Heatsheets enable runners to cool down gradually until they get to dry clothes and fluids.

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How do Heatsheets keep me warm?
The insulation layer of Heatsheets blankets reflects up to 97% of your body's radiant heat to form a warm “envelope” of air. When your torso is wrapped with a Heatsheets blanket, this envelope reduces the risk of hypothermia. And, athletes can become hypothermic, even in mild weather conditions. The best way to prevent hypothermia is to trap body heat BEFORE your core temperature begins to drop.

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What is the “right size” for a mass participation, endurance event finish line?
Based on basic body measurement tables, and the slightly smaller size of the average male and female runner, Heatsheets brand blankets are 48” x 72” to provide coverage for the upper torso, hips, and as much of the upper leg as possible, without creating a tripping hazard. 48”x 72” blankets have been used at events for almost 30 years, without incident. Blankets that are too long pose a serious tripping hazard to finishers who may be exhausted, unsteady, or disoriented.

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How are Heatsheets packaged? Why does packaging matter?
  • Some vendors produce folded blankets for finish line use. While this package may be easy for volunteers to hand out, most finishers don’t have the manual dexterity or mental focus to break through the packaging and unfold their own blanket.
  • In 2005, AFMInc introduced the first heat-reflective plastic blanket in a dispenser carton, a huge improvement over the old flat packs. Blankets are perforated every 72” and pulled through a perforated slot in the carton top, so individual blankets are dispensed one at a time, and torn off like paper towels.
  • Heatsheets are center-folded to reduce the width to only 25 inches, making transport and handling of the cartons easy. The center-folded blankets are overlapped 1” to help volunteers find the open edge. If you’ve ever searched for the opening in a trash bag or a produce bag at the grocery store, you know why that’s important.
How much do the blankets cost?
Cost depends on volume, and if you are purchasing printed Heatsheets, it also depends on the amount of ink coverage (number of colors and size of the print area) and degree of complexity. When comparing costs, be sure to compare “apples to apples” and beware of exaggerated claims of savings. Heatsheets are manufactured in the US while similar products typically come from overseas.

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What is the lead-time for delivery of the product?
  • Unprinted Heatsheets are generally stock items but AFMInc suggests allowing two to three weeks lead time, plus delivery time from Atlanta, GA to your location to ensure delivery in plenty of time prior to your event.
  • For AFMInc printed Heatsheets, you should begin your order process a minimum of 10 weeks before your event to allow adequate time for artwork modification and approval and production of printing plates. If there is no new artwork, lead time may be reduced to about 8 weeks.


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How reliable is delivery? Timing is everything.
Ask about where the blankets are produced and about any delivery issues that may affect the delivery date. AFMInc produces Heatsheets, from start to finish, right here in the United States. This eliminates any risk of customs delays, dock strikes, or late shipments from overseas.

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Does the vendor know how volunteers and participants will handle and use these blankets?
  • Determine whether the vendor has experience with the complex needs at a finish line. AFMInc has no competition when it comes to the depth of experience with events of all sizes.
  • AFMInc is small and family-owned. We have a tradition of working behind the finish line with many of our event customers almost since our inception in 1980, providing Heatsheets to events who were pioneers in the development of mass-participation marathons.
  • We’ve physically worked side-by-side with volunteers and have separated blankets in every packaging format and with every plastic material to make sure that we've done it right. AFMInc is still testing new ideas today.
Who are the vendor’s customers? Does the vendor have event references?
It’s important to know if your vendor is reliable so be sure to get references before you place your order. Customer lists for AFMInc include all the major marathon events in the US, and several international events. In addition, we supply many ½ marathons and 10Ks throughout the country, and have done so for over thirty years.

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Does this vendor offer flexible quantities so I can allocate my blanket inventory to minimize waste?
If you deploy your heat-reflective plastic blankets at aid stations along the course, and behind your finish line in a medical tent, your elite or VIP area, baggage claim, family reunion, or on your sweep bus, you need options. Heatsheets are available in rolls of 25, 100, and 200, so you can mix-and-match sizes and reduce waste. Sending a few hundred sheets to a location that only needs 25 can quickly add to your cost.

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Will the vendor pre-sort and color-code my blankets?
You may need different packaging counts and options for start, course, finish, elite, VIP, baggage recovery, family reunion and sweep. AFMInc has a simple distribution plan, so things end up where we need them. After witnessing frequent mistakes in the pre-race deployment of Heatsheets breakouts, AFMInc realized that we had to make it easier. We have added color-coded labels for various drop-points and post-finish deployment locations. Available on request.

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Does the vendor proactively offer help and guidance to race directors?
All events, and especially new ones, can benefit for experienced vendors who have been at finish lines and observed what happens behind the scenes. This experience can be very important in planning for your event. AFMInc is not only present at many events around the world, but we also maintain a presence at workshops and conferences where other vendors share their experiences. For example, in 2008, AFMInc attended a Road Race Management workshop called “How Green is My Event?” that convinced our founder that we should aggressively pursue a means to recycle Heatsheets. AFMInc moved quickly to help with research to use our recyclable LDPE-4 plastic, and we devoted staff time to work with recycling consultants to find a viable way to recycle Heatsheets.

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Will Heatsheets earn credit towards my ReSport certification?
Recycling finish line blankets can earn one point towards the 22 points it takes to earn a basic ReSport certification. To earn points, apply for an "innovation credit" and supply documented acceptance from a plastics recycler. To learn how to apply for a Re Sport certification, go to ReSport.org.

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Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008(CPSIA)
Heatsheets fully comply with the strict requirements of H.R. 4040 Section 101 “Children’s products containing lead; lead paint rule” and Section 108 “Prohibition on Sale of Certain Products Containing Specified Phthalates”. For test results see our MSDS below.

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Material Safety Data Sheet
The following document provides technical specifications about Heatsheets. It includes information such as physical data, flash point, recommended disposal, reactivity data, health hazard data, and more. Heatsheets Material Safety Data Sheet

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