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Properties and performance of textiles
Protective gear
In the area of study: Properties and performance of textiles you will learn about innovation and technological advances in the use of textiles to enhance performance, and finishing techniques to enhance fabric performance. This tutorial will focus on protective gear for fire fighters.
Outcomes
This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus
outcomes:
H3.2 The student develops knowledge and awareness of emerging textile technologies.
Source: Board of Studies NSW, Stage 6 Textiles and Design Syllabus, Preliminary and HSC Courses (2007)
Protective gear for fire fighters
The latest clothing for fire fighters features:
- cotton overalls treated with the chemical flame retardent Proban, and
- hoods made of Nomex, a flame resistant fabric
- design features which ensure fire fighters are protected.;
Proban
When fire comes into contact with Proban treated cotton the material chars rather than burns immediately insulating the wearer from the heat of the flame. It is lightweight, resembles denim and provides the best balance between protection from heat while still allowing body heat to escape.(Dagge, 2000: 7)
Activity
Visit the Proban 
web site to find out more about the finish. Complete the
following questions to summarize the information
presented.
- What elements are introduced into the cotton fibre?
- Do Proban-treated fabrics develop static electricity?
- Why is Proban treated cotton comfortable?
- Does Proban react chemically in the cotton fibre to
change its properties?
- What will reduce Proban's effectiveness?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of Proban treated fabrics for:
- fire fighters
- the environment.
Nomex
Nomex is a flame-resistant synthetic fabric that does not burn.
While it is more flame-resistant than Proban, it does not allow heat to escape from the body. 'We couldn't have fire fighters running around covered in Nomex because they would be keeling over and passing out from heat exhaustion within a matter of minutes' said NSW Rural Fire Service spokesperson John Winter.
'It's a dual approach. You have to deal with the radiant heat produced from a fire, but it is also a matter of getting heat away from the body and allowing it to breathe'. (Dagge, 2000: 7)
Nomex hoods and accessories offer excellent flame resistance. Car racing is another activity which requires fire protection. Nomex combined with Proban treated fabrics is widely used in racing suits.
Excursion
Contact your local fire brigade and ask to view the protective clothing.
Designed to protect
The current range of protective fire fighting gear for fire fighters features:
- 2 piece overalls
- extra long overcoat which can be used as a fire blanket for fire fighters to wrap themselves and roll on the ground
- collars and cuffs specially designed to ensure neck and hands are not exposed to flames
- heavy duty gloves
- shin-high leather boots
- flash hoods similar to those worn by racing car drivers.
Activity
Click on the link http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/about/firefighting_equip.asp and sketch and label the protective gear for a fire fighter.
Cool undergarments
A new cooling vest known as the Personal Cooling System (PCS) can keep the wearer nice and cool when it's really hot inside. The vest has bubbles which are filled with steam. These move heat from the body to the outside of the vest, keeping the body inside cool, even with layers of clothes on top.
CSIRO and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation worked together to make the vest so that it could be worn under stuffy, hot protective gear, the sort of clothes that have to be worn when dangerous spills need cleaning up. The vest makes the protective clothing much more comfortable, and it means that people can work longer wearing the vest than they can without it. (CSIRO, 2001: 6)
(CSIRO, 2001: 6)
For your information
The Personal Cooling System is relevant for protective gear for the armed forces. Combatant protection and performance research focusses on:
- ballistic threats
- fire
- water
- risk of detection
- desert heat
- tropical humidity.
References
CSIRO (2001) Cool clothes, Scientriffic, May/June, p. 6.
Dagge, J. (2000) Protective gear works wonders, The Sun-Herald, December 24, p.7.
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