New Approaches to Evaluate the Performance of Firefighter Protective Clothing Materials

Abstract

This paper presents new proposals in the evaluation and determination of the optimum materials suitable for use in the design and development of firefighter protective clothing by simultaneously addressing the conflicting factors of thermal protection [heat transfer index (HTI), radiant heat transfer index (RHTI) and thermal threshold index (TTI)] and anti-heat stress [water vapor resistance (WVR) and total heat loss (THL)]. To achieve this, this paper proposes new indices for the materials, two types of ''total performance'' indices, which are defined as the sum and the product of the competing factors of thermal protection and anti-heat stress. The results showed that the candidate materials of firefighter protective clothing were easily rated when the new indices were applied. Of five candidate materials viz. A, B, B 1 , B 2 and C, the B sample, with values for HTI 24 = 13.2 ± 0.2 s, RHTI 24 = 18.0 ± 0.8 s, TTI = 1132 ± 33 J/m 2 , WVR = 17.5 ± 0.3 m 2 Pa/W and THL = 266.2 ± 4.1 W/m 2 , was found to exhibit the best total performance. However, the methods proposed to the scientific community in this paper have so far been validated on a limited data set only, and will require further validation by a wider group of researchers and with more samples. Lastly, comments on ISO 11999-3:2015 were also made for the further improvement and development of technical standards.

Graphene Modified Multifunctional Personal Protective Clothing

“…Based on a materials perspective, protective clothing is expected to fulfil two competing demands. Protective clothing must block heat, chemicals, and toxins, be mechanically strong while being lightweight, comfortable, and thermal dissipative . The materials used conventionally cannot satisfy all the requirements simultaneously.…”

Heat Safety in the Workplace: Modified Delphi Consensus to Establish Strategies and Resources to Protect the US Workers

“…The added weight, bulk, and insulation of PPE increase the onset of heat strain, especially when strenuous work is performed in hot and humid conditions (Havenith, 1999 ; Watson et al., 2019 ; Yeargin et al., 2006 ). Material structure, garment design, and garment fit play key roles in the buildup of metabolic heat (Jin et al., 2018 ).…”

“…This insulation is essential for protection but interferes with heat loss and leads to heat stress. Methods for reducing heat stress through materials should be considered by providing alternative insulation mechanisms, such as shape memory alloys which expand when needed for thermal protection and allow for reduced clothing layers, thereby increasing heat transfer (He et al., 2018 ; Jin et al., 2018 ). Lighter weight fibers, novel fabric materials, and multi‐layer composites may also lead to reduced ensemble weight and metabolic burden, resulting in a slower onset of heat strain (McQuerry et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Design modifications for enhancing heat loss through these layers include ventilation (both passive and active) (Bouskill, 1999 ; Lumley et al., 1991 ; McQuerry et al., 2018a , 2018b ; Reischl & Stransky, 1980 ), active cooling devices (Bach et al., 2019 ; Chicas et al., 2020 ; Tokizawa et al., 2020 ) and systems modularity which involves deploying certain layers of the ensemble for specific activities (McQuerry et al., 2020 ). For example, for firefighting protecting clothing, a single‐layer garment may be worn for search and rescue activities in lieu of the multi‐layer system (Jin et al., 2018 ). Body sweat mapping should also be used for optimum placement of design features (i.e., vents, stretch materials, PCMs, etc.)…”

Influence of Ti-Si-N Nanocomposite Coating on Heat Radiation Resistance of Fireproof Fabrics

“…The stream of thermal energy from the environment passes through the outer material, the moisture barrier, the insulation layer and the lining of the rescuer's body (Figure 1). Some solutions take into account the natural role of the underwear used in these cases, and balaclavas in the protection of the head [14].…”