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The Finest Supporting the Bravest!

The purpose of the Fire Mechanics Section is to promote standardization of fire apparatus and equipment preventative maintenance, improve safety standards and practices, promote workshops, conferences, and seminars related to the purposes of this Section, and to promote cost savings through standardization of building and equipment purchasing and maintenance.

RECENT FIRE MECHANIC NEWS

New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
Posted: Jan 26, 2018

New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance

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.)

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.)

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.”

3 Globe by MSA worked with TenCate on its Kombat™ Stretch, an outer shell fabric made from a blend of PBI®/Kevlar® that allows a less bulky fit and a greater range of motions, as shown o </div> <a class=Read more
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New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
Posted: Jan 26, 2018

New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance

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.)

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.)

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.”

3 Globe by MSA worked with TenCate on its Kombat™ Stretch, an outer shell fabric made from a blend of PBI®/Kevlar® that allows a less bulky fit and a greater range of motions, as shown o </div> <a class=Read more
  • 336
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New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance
Posted: Jan 26, 2018

New, Improved Fabrics Enhance PPE Performance

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.)

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.)

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.”

3 Globe by MSA worked with TenCate on its Kombat™ Stretch, an outer shell fabric made from a blend of PBI®/Kevlar® that allows a less bulky fit and a greater range of motions, as shown o </div> <a class=Read more
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Murfreesboro Fire Donates 1990 Pierce Fire Apparatus To Eagleville Fire Department
Murfreesboro Fire Donates 1990 Pierce Fire Apparatus To Eagleville Fire Department
Posted: Jan 26, 2018

Murfreesboro Fire Donates 1990 Pierce Fire Apparatus To Eagleville Fire Department

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.

Read more at wgnsradio.com
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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Fire Mechanics Section Board

Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Chair

Elliot Courage
North Whatcom Fire & Rescue
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Vice Chair

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Vice Chair

Mike Smith 
Pierce County Fire District #5
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Secretary

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Secretary

Greg Bach
South Snohomish County Fire & Rescue
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Director #1

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #1

Doug Jones
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
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Director #2

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #2

Paul Spencer 
Fire Fleet Maintenance LLC
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Director #3

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #3

Jim Morris
Mountain View Fire Department
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Director #4

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #4

Arnie Kuchta

Clark County Fire District 6

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Director #6

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #6

Brett Annear
Kitsap County Fire District 18
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Director #5

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Director #5

Jay Jacks
Camano Island Fire & Rescue
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Legislative Representative

Posted: Oct 21, 2015

Legislative Representative

TBD
TBD
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Immediate Past Chair

Posted: Oct 20, 2015

Immediate Past Chair

Brian Fortner
Graham Fire & Rescue

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