By Alan M. Petrillo
While personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers continue to refine turnout gear for safety, comfort, and ergonomics, manufacturers of the fabrics that make up that gear are turning out new and improved products that enhance the overall performance of the PPE.
DuPont
Jian Xiang, global technology leader for Fire Service DuPont Protection Solutions, points out that DuPont’s™ Nomex® and Kevlar® fibers primarily are used in all three layers of turnout gear. She notes that a minimum of 70 percent of the fibers are in typical PPE.
1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)
Jeff Fackler, DuPont’s business development manager for North American fire service, says that DuPont Protection Solutions makes hundreds of different types of Nomex and Kevlar fibers that fabric mills make into hundreds of different fabrics. “We make the fibers that are the backbone of turnout gear in both long filaments and staple fibers,” Fackler says. “For example, Kevlar fibers are used for the majority of the straps on self-contained breathing apparatus. Nomex provides heat and flame protection and outstanding durability, while Kevlar provides strength and light weight in almost all of the firefighters’ PPE.”
2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)
Xiang notes that, with the exception of Nomex Nano, Nomex Nano Flex®, and thermal liner spun lace, DuPont markets its technology to fabric mills, which make the fabrics for PPE construction as well as webbing and other materials. She adds that the Nano name comes about because the fiber is at a submicron level that is a hundred times smaller than a human hair. “Because it’s such a smaller filament, a given volume creates a large surface area and is very light,” she says. “Nomex Nano Flex uses the same technology but is elastic in one direction that allows it to be used in areas where stretch is needed, like cuffs, hoods, and gloves.”
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Posted: Jan 26, 2018
By Alan M. Petrillo
While personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers continue to refine turnout gear for safety, comfort, and ergonomics, manufacturers of the fabrics that make up that gear are turning out new and improved products that enhance the overall performance of the PPE.
DuPont
Jian Xiang, global technology leader for Fire Service DuPont Protection Solutions, points out that DuPont’s™ Nomex® and Kevlar® fibers primarily are used in all three layers of turnout gear. She notes that a minimum of 70 percent of the fibers are in typical PPE.
1 DuPont™ Nomex® Nano submicron fiber, in the background, is a hundred times smaller than a human hair, at left foreground. (Photo courtesy of DuPont.)
Jeff Fackler, DuPont’s business development manager for North American fire service, says that DuPont Protection Solutions makes hundreds of different types of Nomex and Kevlar fibers that fabric mills make into hundreds of different fabrics. “We make the fibers that are the backbone of turnout gear in both long filaments and staple fibers,” Fackler says. “For example, Kevlar fibers are used for the majority of the straps on self-contained breathing apparatus. Nomex provides heat and flame protection and outstanding durability, while Kevlar provides strength and light weight in almost all of the firefighters’ PPE.”
2 W.L Gore and Associates Inc. makes Parallon™, a moisture barrier liner system of three layers that takes the place of a traditional moisture barrier and thermal liner in a single system. (Photo courtesy of W.L Gore and Associates Inc.)
Xiang notes that, with the exception of Nomex Nano, Nomex Nano Flex®, and thermal liner spun lace, DuPont markets its technology to fabric mills, which make the fabrics for PPE construction as well as webbing and other materials. She adds that the Nano name comes about because the fiber is at a submicron level that is a hundred times smaller than a human hair. “Because it’s such a smaller filament, a given volume creates a large surface area and is very light,” she says. “Nomex Nano Flex uses the same technology but is elastic in one direction that allows it to be used in areas where stretch is needed, like cuffs, hoods, and gloves.”
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Posted: Jan 26, 2018
wgnsradio.com
Murfreesboro Fire Rescue delivered a 1990 Pierce Telesqurt to the Eagleville Fire Department (EFD) Wednesday afternoon at Eagleville City Hall. The unit had been a MFRD standby since 2005 and needed to be removed from the department's fleet due to service life. Murfreesboro City Council approved the donation to Eagleville on January 11.
The unit had been a MFRD standby since 2005 and needed to be removed from the department's fleet due to service life. Murfreesboro City Council approved the donation to Eagleville on January 11.
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Posted: Jan 26, 2018
Godanriver
It's time for Providence Fire & Rescue to replace its 47-year-old brush truck. The 1971 wildland/brush fire truck has traveled to about 250 to 300 calls in the agency's service area and has about 8,000 miles on it. Everything on it is original. "It's served its purpose," said Fire & Rescue Board President Irvin Dailey.
The 1971 wildland/brush fire truck has traveled to about 250 to 300 calls in the agency’s service area and has about 8,000 miles on it. Everything on it is original.
“It’s served its purpose,” said Fire & Rescue Board President Irvin Dailey.
On Wednesday, the department was one of 43 nonprofit community agencies to receive a total of $637,290 in new grants during the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region’s grants reception at Ballou Recreation Center.
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Posted: Jan 26, 2018
www.heraldchronicle.com
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. - The Arnold Air Force Base Fire and Emergency Services is a fully certified fire department, with all personnel trained in the core competencies of firefighting and emergency response, including specialized rescue training.
Arnold firefighters have performed exercises at the J-4 Rocket Engine Test Facility in which they performed a 260-foot vertical lift of a simulated victim using rescue ropes and a power winch. The power winch, which was purchased specifically for that operation, safely hoisted a 165-pound rescue manikin out of the J-4 shaft.
“The winch allows firefighters to raise or lower a victim quickly and safely, and because it’s portable, the winch can be set-up wherever it’s needed. It also has built-in safeguards to help ensure the victim’s safety during rescue operations.”
A similar exercise was also performed during the RC Cooler renovations at the Aeropropulsion Systems Test Facility, in which the fire team used a crane to raise a simulated victim out of the cooler and then lowered the manikin to the ground with rescue ropes and a Stokes litter or rescue basket.
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