- Author
- Barker, R. | Myhre, L. | Scruggs, B. | Shalev, I. | Prahsarn, C. | Miszko, T.
- Title
- Effect of Measured Heat Loss through Turnout Materials on Firefighter Comfort and Heat Stress. Part 1: Performance in a Mild Environment.
- Coporate
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh Alamo Physiological Research Institute, San Antonio, TX
- Report
- ASTM STP 1386,
- Book or Conf
- Performance of Protective Clothing: Issues and Priorities for the 21st Century. Proceedings. Seventh (7th) Volume. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). ASTM STP 1386. June 28-30, 1999, ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA, Seattle, WA, Nelson, C. N.; Henry, N. W., Editors, 519-534 p., 2000
- Keywords
- protective clothing | protective equipment | fire fighters | comfort | heat stress | heat loss | turnout coats | instruments | garments | climate | temperature rise | humidity | moisture | statistical analysis
- Identifiers
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE); guarded sweating hot plate; breathable moisture barriers; sweating hot plate values for turnout systems; physical characteristics of test subjects; mild climate test protocol; comparison of maximum core temperature rise; averaged mean skin temperature over the range of 35-115 minutes; subjective ratings; clothing weight gains
- Abstract
- This research studied the relationship between heat transfer measured using a guarded sweating hot plate test method and the actual comfort and heat stress performance of firefighter turnout clothing. Controlled environment wear trials were conducted using the climate chamber available at the Center for Research on Textile Protection and Comfort (T-PACC) in the College of Textiles at North Carolina State University. Seven professional firefighters participated in these studies. Two different wear test protocols were performed to simulate two levels of work activity, climate conditions, and clothing and equipment variables: One protocol featured light to moderate work activity in a mild climate (21°C, 65% RH). Subjective and objective measures of human psychological and physiological response were applied to quantify and rate performance in several categories. A separate study was conducted to determine the heat stress experienced by firefighters performing moderate work activities in a warm environment (39°C, 35% RH).