engleski

Optimization of Fire Fighters PPE Reduces Injuries

Fire fighters PPE are produced in accordance to the European Directive 89/686 EEC where are valid the stricter regulations for protection against heat, flame and burning particles. The clothing are classified into 5 classes, through work clothing, safety equipment, partial heat protection, light protection suit up to heavy protection suit. The main features are to protect the user against flame, to protect his head and hands, to permit evaporation, enable reflection and to enable comfortable mobility. However the heavy protection suit is intended to hardest condition, but additional insulation can cause problems regarding the thermal balance of the user. The advanced technological development of personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters also dictates the use of advanced test and measurement tools and methods. For this study, the available measurement equipment, like manikins, who presents the anatomical shape of human body was used. However, neither of the mentioned method is prescribed inside the EN469, we believe, that by testing overall clothing system the most valuable information (results of burn injuries with picture analysis and thermal insulation values) could be obtained for the use in the industry. To determine the burning behavior of the protective garments was used flame manikin, while thermal manikin was used for the determination of the thermal insulation of the fire fighters PPE. Both test methods allow testing of total clothing system where all garment items inside one clothing system have been investigated. Parallel testing allows investigating the flame protection in comparison to thermal insulation. After detail analysis of this preliminary investigation it can be conclude, that additional layer of textile inside of clothing system does not always increase the flame protection. However, this is still an open question for future research on the field.

personal protective equipment; clothing systems for firefighters; flame manikin; thermal manikin

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