Thermal Protection Evaluation of Fire Fighter Ensembles Using a Flame Manikin Test System

2013 ◽  
Vol 821-822 ◽  
pp. 233-236
Author(s):  
Xiao Hui Li ◽  
Min Wang ◽  
Jun Li
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Protection ◽  
Test System ◽  
Dynamic Scene ◽  
Skin Burn ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Thermal Environments ◽  
Degree Burn ◽  
Flash Fire ◽  
New Type ◽  
Protective Performance

Objective and quantitative evaluation of garment thermal protective performance should be based on the simulation of human in actual thermal environments as realistic as possible. In this paper, by using a new type of flame manikin which can rotate and make different postures, the dynamic scene where a firefighter wearing fire protective ensembles rescue in the flash fire was simulated. The skin burn prediction result showed that the total burn percent suffered by the manikin was 7.76%, of which the 2nd degree burn and the 3rd degree burn was 5.12% and 2.64% respectively. This indicated that the firefighter ensembles exhibited relatively good thermal protective performance. It can provide enough protection for the firefighter in 8s dynamic exposure while more protection should be added to the head.

Effect of moisture content on thermal protective performance of fabric assemblies by a stored energy approach under flash exposure

2017 ◽  
Vol 88 (16) ◽  
pp. 1847-1861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Guowen Song ◽  
Yiming Gu ◽  
Haitao Ren ◽  
Juan Cao
Keyword(s):  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Thermal Protection ◽  
Outer Shell ◽  
Absorbed Energy ◽  
Thermal Hazards ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Degree Burn ◽  
Protective Performance ◽  
Flash Exposure ◽  
Second Degree

Firefighters wearing protective clothing perspire profusely in the process of performing their duties, and sweat increases moisture in the inner layers of multilayer protective clothing. Also, the outer shell fabrics inevitably become wet. In this study, two kinds of outer shell fabrics (aramid IIIA fabric and aramid 1313 and flame-retardant viscose-blended fabric) and three kinds of thermal liner fabrics with different thicknesses were selected. Two wetness conditions were investigated to simulate the sweating in thermal liner fabric with or without the wet outer shell fabric. A modified thermal protective performance (TPP) tester was employed to explore the effects of moisture and its distribution on stored thermal energy developed in six fabric systems and on TPP under flash exposure. Pearson correlations were established to analyze the relationships of the fabric systems’ thickness and second-degree burn time, and of absorbed energy and second-degree burn time in different configurations. The statistical analysis from these obtained data indicated that the thickness of fabric systems had no significant correlation for second-degree burn time ( p > 0.05), but the absorbed energy exhibited a strong relation (the lowest R2 value could reach 0.8070 and p-values were all much less than 0.05). Performance results for the wet thermal liner indicated that the negative impact on thermal protection reached the greatest degree in 15% wetness, but in some extreme situations (100% wetness), the performance was improved (the maximum increase can achieve 116.2% over performance in dry condition). However, the existing moisture in the outer shell showed a positive effect. These findings will enable the engineering of textile materials that achieve high performance protection from thermal hazards and give some guidance to firefighters during operations.

The Influence of Matching Flameresistant Materials on the Thermal Protective Performance of Firefighter Uniform

2014 ◽  
Vol 1052 ◽  
pp. 547-554
Author(s):  
Hua Zhang ◽  
Yan Gao ◽  
Zhong Qiang Wang ◽  
Mei Tong ◽  
Jie Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Composite Structures ◽  
Thermal Protection ◽  
Aramid Fiber ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Notable Effect ◽  
Flash Fire ◽  
Protective Performance ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Supporting Structures ◽  
Main Material

Firefighter uniform made of various flame retardant materials is put as the object. Analyzing the thermal protective performance of different composite structures covering outer fabrics, lagging materials and comfortable layer materials, discuss the best combination of supporting structures. Adoption flash fire simulation, verify the integrated prevention ability of firefighter uniform. The matching of different levels has a significant impact on the thermal protective performance, first the outer layer, then comfortable layer and thermal protective coating. Although inherent fire resistant fiber for the main material of the outer fabric has better durability and thermal protective performance, the fire might experience obvious contraction which leads to embrittlements. For insulation flocculus, the ratio of aramid fiber 1313 and aramid fiber 1414 at 9:1 has excellent thermal insulation. For comfortable layer, inherent fire resistant fiber has no notable effect on the clothing’s overall thermal protection performance; the polysulfonamide fiber is a relative better choice.

Engineering an Undergarment for Flash/Flame Protection

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frazier Hull ◽  
Jett Gambill ◽  
Andrew Hansche ◽  
Gian Agni ◽  
John Evangelista ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burn Injury ◽  
Air Permeability ◽  
Severe Burn ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Improvised Explosive Device ◽  
Degree Burn ◽  
Flash Fire ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
Improvised Explosive ◽  
Protective Performance

This paper presents a continuation of projects spanning the last two years. In year one, the physical characteristics and medical effects of burns and Improvised Explosive Device, IED, blasts were investigated [1]. In year two, the possible use of commercial intumescent materials with fabric was studied [2]. The identified needs for research into the effect of undergarments on burn protection are focused in this study. Additionally, Thermal Protective Performance, TPP-(ISO 17492) and Air Permeability, AP-(ASTM D737) tests were performed to gather the data needed for the analysis of flame and thermal resistance as well as comfort and breathability. Out of the seven samples evaluated, the Sample D, composed of 94% m-aramid, 5% p-aramid and 1% static dissipative fiber, shirt had the best overall performance in terms of air permeability, average TPP rating, and time to second degree burn. Another finding was that polyester undershirts may be dangerous in the event of a flash fire situation because the fabric could melt and stick to the Soldier’s skin causing more severe burn injury. Additionally, an initial framework for a basic mathematical model representing the system was created. This model can be further refined to yield more accurate results and eventually be used to help predict the material properties required in fabrics to design a more protective undergarment.

Modeling the Thermal Protective Performance of Heat Resistant Garments in Flash Fire Exposures

2004 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 1033-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guowen Song ◽  
Roger L. Barker ◽  
Hechmi Hamouda ◽  
Andrey V. Kuznetsov ◽  
Patirop Chitrphiromsri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Heat Resistant ◽  
Flash Fire ◽  
Protective Performance

scholarly journals Development of Industrial and Firefighter Protective Cloth of Base Fabric and Comparison of Fire Retardant Performance

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 109-114
Author(s):  
Hoseung Ro ◽  
Hyunpil Hong ◽  
Jinwon Cho ◽  
Myuongsu Park
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Fire Resistance ◽  
Thermal Protection ◽  
Fire Retardant ◽  
Performance Tests ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Follow Up Studies ◽  
Protective Performance

To develop industrial and firefighter thermal protection cloth, 12 base fabrics were prepared from a combination of several types of sample, and their thermal performances were evaluated. Thermal performance comprises flame retardant capability, radiant protective performance, and thermal protective performance. Thermal protection performance has been assessed in accordance with ISO 15025, ISO 9151, ISO 6942, and ISO 17492. In this study, however, thermal protective performance was assessed only in accordance with ISO 15025. The results showed that Samples 1-6 satisfied the fire resistance criteria, whereas Samples 7-12 did not satisfy the fire resistance criteria. Additional thermal performance tests need to be conducted in follow-up studies.

scholarly journals Investigating the Thermal-Protective Performance of Fire-Retardant Fabrics Considering Garment Aperture Structures Exposed to Flames

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 3579
Author(s):  
Miao Tian ◽  
Qi Wang ◽  
Yiting Xiao ◽  
Yun Su ◽  
Xianghui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Condition ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Thermal Aging ◽  
Thermal Protection ◽  
Fire Retardant ◽  
Air Gap ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Protective Performance

The application of fire-retardant fabrics is essential for providing thermal protective function of the garments. Appropriate clothing design are beneficial for preventing the wearers from skin burn injuries and heat strains simultaneously. The intention of this work was to investigate the effects of clothing ventilation designs on its thermal protective performance by bench-scale tests. Four boundary conditions were designed to simulate the garment aperture structures on fabric level. Tests of thermal shrinkage, mass loss and time-to-second-degree-burns were performed with and without air gap under three heat-flux levels for two kinds of inherently fire-retardant fabrics. The impacts of fabric type, heat-flux level, air gap and boundary condition were analyzed. The presence of a 6.4-mm air gap could improve thermal protective performance of the fabrics, however, the garment openings would decrease this positive effects. More severe thermal aging found for spaced test configuration indicated the importance of balancing the service life and thermal protective performance of the clothing. The findings of this study implied that the characteristics of fabric type, air gap, boundary condition, and their effects on fabric thermal aging should be considered during clothing ventilation designs, to balance the thermal protection and comfort of the protective gear.

Studies of the thermal protective performance of fabrics under fire exposure: from small-scale to hexagon tests

2017 ◽  
Vol 88 (20) ◽  
pp. 2339-2352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit Mandal ◽  
Simon Annaheim ◽  
Thomas Pitts ◽  
Martin Camenzind ◽  
René M Rossi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Air Permeability ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fire Exposure ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Flash Fire ◽  
Protective Performance ◽  
The Impact

This study aims to investigate the thermal protective performance of fabrics used in firefighters' clothing under high-intensity fire exposure. The performance of thermal protective fabric systems with different physical properties was evaluated under laboratory simulated fire exposure. Additionally, the influence of the configuration of the fire exposure tests and modes of heat transfer through the fabrics was also thoroughly investigated. The protective performance was evaluated using the standard small-scale flame [International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9151:1995] and radiant heat (ISO 6942:2002) exposure tests. Additionally, the protective performance was evaluated under flash-fire exposure using a newly developed hexagon test. The protective performance values obtained from the small-scale (flame and radiant heat) and hexagon (flash fire) tests were compared and discussed. It has been found that a multi-layered fabric with high weight, thickness, and thermal resistance can significantly and positively affect the protective performance. If the air permeability of this fabric is high, it can show a lower protective performance; however, the impact of air permeability on the protective performance is insignificant especially in the case of the hexagon test. Notably, the protective performance can differ under two types of small-scale tests − flame and radiant heat. Also, this protective performance value is generally higher in the case of hexagon test in comparison with the small-scale tests. These differences in protective performance are mainly due to the unique configurations of these tests and/or different modes of heat transfer through the tested fabrics. The findings from this study will guide textile or materials engineers in the design and selection of materials for high performance thermal protective clothing; in turn, it will improve the occupational health and safety for firefighters.

The effects of moisture on the thermal protective performance of firefighter protective clothing under medium intensity radiant exposure

2017 ◽  
Vol 88 (8) ◽  
pp. 847-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Guowen Song ◽  
Haitao Ren ◽  
Juan Cao
Keyword(s):  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Outer Shell ◽  
Absorbed Energy ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Degree Burn ◽  
Firefighter Protective Clothing ◽  
Protective Performance ◽  
Second Degree

Current firefighter protective clothing is composed of multilayer fabric systems. The outer shell fabrics inevitably become wet in the process of firefighters performing their duties, and sweat may also increase moisture in the inner layers of protective clothing. In this study, two kinds of outer shell fabrics (aramid IIIA fabric and aramid 1313 and flame-retardant viscose-blended fabric) and two kinds of thermal liner fabrics with different thicknesses were selected. Three wetness conditions were simulated for the outer shell fabric, thermal liner fabric and both fabrics together. A modified thermal protective performance (TPP) tester was applied to assess TPP provided by these wetted fabrics; in addition, second-degree skin burn time was predicted and absorbed energy indexes were calculated. The regression method was employed to create fitting curves for absorbed energy and second-degree burn time in different configurations and the Pearson correlation was established to analyze their relationship, in which the lowest R2 value could reach 0.9122 and p-values were all much less than 0.05. Performance results for both wet conditions indicated that outer shell moisture and a thicker thermal liner have a positive and increased negative effect, respectively, on fabric TPP. When the sample S-3-D (aramid 1313 and flame-retardant viscose-blended fabric, moisture barrier and the thin thermal liner) was both wetted in the outer shell and thermal liner, its second-degree burn time was improved by 12.8% over performance in dry conditions. These findings may have important applications for the design and manufacture of optimal protective performance clothing systems.

Research on Thermal Protective Performance of Thermal Insulation and Flame-Retardant Protective Clothing

2013 ◽  
Vol 796 ◽  
pp. 607-612
Author(s):  
Fei Fei Li ◽  
Chun Qin Zheng ◽  
Guan Mei Qin ◽  
Xiao Hong Zhou
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Flame Retardant ◽  
Thermal Insulation ◽  
Protective Clothing ◽  
Thermal Protection ◽  
Single Layer ◽  
Woven Fabric ◽  
Standard Requirement ◽  
Thermal Protective Performance ◽  
Protective Performance

Thermal insulation and flame-retardant (TIFR) protective clothing, which has good thermal protective performance (TPP), could protect people from high-temperature or flame in casting industry, the petrochemical industry, fire industry and et al. That is, TIFR protective clothing must have certain function of slowing or restraining heat transmission, and insulating radiant heat and convection heat from high temperature heat source. The construction of TIFR protective clothing is being developed from single layer to multi-layer fabrics made by flame-retardant (FR) fibre. In this paper, based on TPP-206 tester, the TPP coefficient of single and multi-layer fabrics with flame-retardant were measured, and the TPP of TIFR protective clothing was analyzed. TPP coefficient of single fabrics included the FR viscose non-woven fabric do not meet the standard. That of all of multi-layer fabrics meet the standard requirement, and the FR viscose/wool blended fabric is not suitable for fire fighter. It is significant and the most observable effect to put the PTFE membrane between the outer layer and the insulating layer. It could improve the overall thermal protection performance.

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