Operational Qualification of the Individualisation of Protective Clothing Design Based on the 3D Scanning Technique

Abstract

The object of the publication is to present the validation process stage (operational qualification) of developed assumptions for customised clothing manufactured in industrial conditions. 12 special clothes were made and adjusted to the individual dimensions of firefighters’ silhouettes obtained in the 3D scanning process as well as 12 special clothes adjusted to selected size subgroups after the 3D scanning process from the same identified group of 12 firefighters. Two batches of clothes having undergone the installation qualification were submitted for testing in real conditions (operational qualification). Then, on the basis of data collected from the ongoing functional tests, a batch of six sets of individualised special clothing for the Fire Service was produced in industrial conditions (changing the manufacturer and model of the clothing). A positive result of validation (operational qualification) of this batch of clothing in functional tests conducted in real conditions will allow its introduction to industry through training in production plants and procedures of individualisation of advanced protective clothing design for people working in environments with a high degree of risk to health and life. The individualisation of protective clothing design, through a better fit of the size of the clothing to the body of the user, will significantly affect the comfort of use, ergonomics of the clothing, and the safety of the user.