- Author
-
Veghte, J. H.
- Title
- Field Evaluation of Chemical Protective Suits. Final Report. Task 1.
- Coporate
- Biotherm, Inc., Beavercreek, OH
- Sponsor
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, Washington, DC
- Report
-
FA-108
September 1991
38 p.
- Contract
- EMW-88-R-2755
- Keywords
-
protective clothing
|
hazardous materials
|
fire fighters
|
fire tests
|
climate
|
self contained breathing apparatus
- Abstract
- Five experienced hazardous material fire fighters participated in field tests at each of four cities to evaluate the Challenge chemical protective clothing with one or two exhaust valves. The climate conditions at these test sites were comfort (61 deg F), cold (35 deg F), hot/dry (99 deg F) and hot/wet (92 deg F). The work tasks prescribed in the ASTM F-1154 were conducted at each test site to evaluate the suit construction and human factors associated with wearing this clothing. The average work duration was 14 minuetes to complete these tasks. Each fire fighter performed these work tasks wearing either the Challenge protective clothing with 1 or 2 exhaust valves or their station uniform without an SCBA to provide control values. The Challenge suits were worn with SCBA. Rectal temperature (TR), heart rates (HR), nude and clothed weights and climatic parameters were recorded before and after each test. Test results showed average TR, HR and sweat losses increased to 100.4 deg F, 152 beats/min and 0.60 lbs respectively during the hot/wet exposures. The wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) levels for the hot/wet conditions were equal to the NIOSH recommended limiting criteria. Physiological parameters measured during comfort and cold conditions were similar. The design of protective clothing resulted in upward and downward vision impariment, difficulty in performing overhead work and climbing ladders. The fire fighters preferred the two exhaust valves in the suit over the single valve because of increased venting during bending movements. The ASTM F-1154 testing procedures were not streneous enough to adequately evaluate this clothing.