By Alan M. Petrillo
Personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers are making firefighter turnout gear lighter and stronger by using a variety of fabrics yet still are able to provide the level of safety necessary to protect the users from heat, flame, and other hazards.
Exterior Strength
Structural firefighting turnout gear typically consists of three layers: an outer shell, a thermal liner, and a moisture barrier. Michael Layton, product manager for body protection for Honeywell First Responder Products, says the turnout's outer shell, designed for strength and protection, is the area where improved fabrics can be used to trim weight yet provide added strength.
An outer shell that incorporates a filament yarn, such as PBI Max, which uses Kevlar®, or Vectran®, a fiber spun from liquid crystal polymer, will have a much higher strength than a spun yarn, Layton says. "When you incorporate those kinds of products into a spun yarn, it gives a higher strength to the fabric," he notes.
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Lion uses a twill weave with different fiber
combinations in its turnout gear to balance
the need for lighter weight against flame,
heat, and cut protection. (Photo courtesy of
Lion.) |
Layton says Honeywell recently launched a meta-aramid product called Bolt that incorporates another filament yarn into the fabric mix-a filament yarn on the outside of the material and spun Kevlar on the inside. "The filament is very slick and smooth so it sheds water and dirt," Layton says. "The other nice property is that because it's so slick, it doesn't resist movement in the armpits and crotch when the firefighter is swinging his arms, walking, or crawling."
Layton points out that Bolt is made specifically for turnout coats and pants and is available in all five of Honeywell's turnout lines: Morning Pride, Ultra Motion, Ranger, Vectra SL, and VE Gear. In addition, he notes that Honeywell is working on a new version of its UltraFlex thermal liner that provides a higher slickness factor for ease of mobility in the turnout gear and greater moisture absorption capability.
Patricia Freeman, technical services manager for Globe Manufacturing Co., says outer shells have always been the first line of defense for firefighters in turnout gear. "This is the layer that's subjected to direct heat sources and flame impingement," Freeman says. "Most outer shells in turnout gear primarily use Kevlar fibers as a blend-at least 60 percent Kevlar-and the rest either a PBI or PBO fiber."
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Globe Manufacturing Co. uses a fabric blend for its turnout gear
outer shells that consists of 60 percent Kevlar and the rest either a
PBI or PBO fiber. (Photo courtesy of Globe Manufacturing Co.) |
PBI is extremely flame-resistant and has very good thermal stability, she points out. "The Kevlar gives the outer shell a lot of strength and also contributes to the heat and flame resistance," she adds. "PBO also is extremely heat-resistant and very strong." PBI fibers are made by PBI Performance Products, and PBO fibers are made under the Millenia XT brand by TenCate, she says.
Interior Innovations
Freeman says that for moisture barriers, Globe has been able to reduce the