scholarly journals The Effects of Multiple Flame Exposures on Thermal Shrinkage and Thermal Protective Performance of Fabrics used in Firefighter Clothing

2021 ◽  
Vol 1790 (1) ◽  
pp. 012042
Author(s):  
Meng Deng ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Yunyi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Shrinkage ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Protective Performance

Durability of Firefighters' Protective Clothing to Heat and Light

1988 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Day ◽  
J. D. Cooney ◽  
T. Suprunchuk
Keyword(s):  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Heat Exposure ◽  
Outer Shell ◽  
Thermal Shrinkage ◽  
Flame Resistance ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Physical Strength ◽  
Protective Performance ◽  
Tearing Strength

Fabrics used in firefighters' protective clothing were exposed to simulated sunlight from a xenon are Weather-Ometer and heat in a forced air circulating oven, and the resulting changes in properties were measured (color, tearing strength, flame resistance and thermal protective performance). The thermal shrinkage and weight loss associated with heat exposure were also noted. Outer shell fabrics of Nomex III, Zirpro flame resistant wool, and PBI/Kevlar were all susceptible to light and underwent marked reductions in tensile tearing strength as a result of light exposure. Heat exposure resulted in a significant reduction in the tearing strength of all outer shell fabrics while increasing the tearing strength of moisture barrier fabrics. A polyamid/flame resistant viscose blend was extremely sensitive to heat exposure, undergoing a substantial loss in tearing strength and appreciable thermal shrinkage. Zirpro flame resistant wool was particularly sensitive to temperatures greater than 230°C. Although both light and heat caused losses in physical strength, there was no noticeable reduction in the flame resistance or thermal protective performance of the individual fabrics and garment assemblies studied.

scholarly journals A categorization tool for fabric systems used in firefighters' clothing based on their thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performances

2018 ◽  
Vol 89 (16) ◽  
pp. 3244-3259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit Mandal ◽  
Simon Annaheim ◽  
Andre Capt ◽  
Jemma Greve ◽  
Martin Camenzind ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Performance Index ◽  
Protective Clothing ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Clustering Algorithm ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Thermal Protective Clothing ◽  
Low Performance ◽  
Fabric System ◽  
Protective Performance

Fabric systems used in firefighters' thermal protective clothing should offer optimal thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performances. However, fabric systems that have very high thermal protective performance have very low thermo-physiological comfort performance. As these performances are inversely related, a categorization tool based on these two performances can help to find the best balance between them. Thus, this study is aimed at developing a tool for categorizing fabric systems used in protective clothing. For this, a set of commercially available fabric systems were evaluated and categorized. The thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performances were measured by standard tests and indexed into a normalized scale between 0 (low performance) and 1 (high performance). The indices dataset was first divided into three clusters by using the k-means algorithm. Here, each cluster had a centroid representing a typical Thermal Protective Performance Index (TPPI) value and a typical Thermo-physiological Comfort Performance Index (TCPI) value. By using the ISO 11612:2015 and EN 469:2014 guidelines related to the TPPI requirements, the clustered fabric systems were divided into two groups: Group 1 (high thermal protective performance-based fabric systems) and Group 2 (low thermal protective performance-based fabric systems). The fabric systems in each of these TPPI groups were further categorized based on the typical TCPI values obtained from the k-means clustering algorithm. In this study, these categorized fabric systems showed either high or low thermal protective performance with low, medium, or high thermo-physiological comfort performance. Finally, a tool for using these categorized fabric systems was prepared and presented graphically. The allocations of the fabric systems within the categorization tool have been verified based on their properties (e.g., thermal resistance, weight, evaporative resistance) and construction parameters (e.g., woven, nonwoven, layers), which significantly affect the performance. In this way, we identified key characteristics among the categorized fabric systems which can be used to upgrade or develop high-performance fabric systems. Overall, the categorization tool developed in this study could help clothing manufacturers or textile engineers select and/or develop appropriate fabric systems with maximum thermal protective performance and thermo-physiological comfort performance. Thermal protective clothing manufactured using this type of newly developed fabric system could provide better occupational health and safety for firefighters.

scholarly journals Experimental study on moisture transfer through firefighters' protective fabrics in radiant heat exposures

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1665-1671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Chen ◽  
Fanglong Zhu ◽  
Qianqian Feng ◽  
Kejing Li ◽  
Rangtong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Moisture Transfer ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Heat Radiation ◽  
Radiant Heat Flux ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Protective Fabrics ◽  
Protective Performance ◽  
Radiation Time

The effects of absorbed moisture on thermal protective performance of fire-fighters? clothing materials under radiant heat flux conditions were analyzed in this paper. A thermal protective performance tester and temperature sensor were used to measure the temperature variations for the facecloth side of four kinds of commonly used flame retardant fabrics in several radiant heat exposures, which varied in moisture content. Experimental results showed that, all of the temperature profiles of these four kinds of moistened fabrics under different radiant heat flux conditions presented the same variation trend. The addition of moisture had a positive influence on the thermal protective performance during the constant temperature period when heat radiation time was more than 60 seconds. As the heat radiation time increased beyond 500 seconds, the thermal protective performance of moistened fabrics became worse than that of dried fabrics in general.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting the Thermal Insulation and Abrasion Resistance of Heat Resistant Hydro-Entangled Nonwoven Batting Materials for Use in Firefighter Turnout Suit Thermal Liner Systems

2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 155892501100600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger L. Barker ◽  
Ryan C Heniford
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Abrasion Resistance ◽  
Aramid Fibers ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Fiber Composition ◽  
Heat Resistant ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Protective Performance

This paper describes a study on heat resistant nonwoven batting materials used as components in the construction of thermal liners systems in firefighter turnout suits. It examines relationships between the fiber composition and construction of hydroentangled nonwoven battings and properties that can affect their performance when used in this application. Relationships between batting porosity, weight, thermal insulation, bulk and abrasion resistance are examined in hydroentangled constructions made with oxidized PAN, para-aramid and meta-aramid fibers. Correlations observed between the insulation of batting materials components and the thermal protective performance of integrated multilayered fabric systems used in firefighter turnout suits are described.

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