Predicting tensile strength of fabrics used in firefighters’ protective clothing after multiple radiation exposures

Abstract

During daily training, in-site firefighting and emergency rescue, firefighters often encountered multiple exposures to various thermal hazards. In this study, the tensile strengths of three typical fabrics used in firefighters’ protective clothing after exposure to multiple radiations were investigated. Radiant heat flux of 21 kW/m2 was simulated by a radiant protective performance tester. Totally 12 scenarios with different exposure frequencies and durations were selected. The results showed that the tensile strength of fabric decreased after different radiation exposures. The exposure frequency, individual duration and cumulative exposure duration had impact on the tensile strength. The tensile strength decreased with the increasing of exposure frequency with the same individual duration. While keeping the same cumulative exposure duration, the longer individual exposure duration resulted in lower tensile strength. Empirical equations were developed to predict the lifetime of firefighters’ protective clothing. It can be concluded that the effects of radiation exposure frequency and individual duration on the tensile strength of firefighters’ protective clothing should be considered during protective clothing selection and maintenance.