Protective and Comfort Performance of Fire Protective Clothing

Abstract

The study examined the fire protection performance of several woven products. Given that the comfort and fire protection properties of fire protective clothing (FPC) are opposite, it is important to consider the specific needs of firefighters when selecting the most suitable structure from various plain-woven derivatives, such as plain, basket, and ripstop. The yarn used was Nomex IIIA, which is a type of meta-aramid fibre. To achieve different thread densities, the pick density was adjusted while keeping the end density constant. The physical characteristics, thermal protective performance, thermal resistance, thermal conductivity, water vapour transmission rate and air permeability of all samples were assessed according to the appropriate standards. The goal was to identify the weave structure with the highest performance and the most optimal thread density. The basket weave structure was proposed as a fire protective clothing (FPC) having comfort qualities at a moderate level. Furthermore, increased density provided enhanced fire resistance, however, comfort must be sacrificed. Thus, to achieve a balance between fire protection and comfort, it was recommended to choose a thread density that is of an average level and the suggestion made by this research is to use the fabric as a basket weave design with an ends per inch of approximately 42, it is recommended to retain the pick density within the range of 46 with 44 tex Nomex IIIA yarn. The results of this study may be replicated in other designs using Nomex IIIA and comparable types of cloth and weave specifications.