United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
Tech Tips
National Technology & Development Program • Fire • November 2013 • 5100 • 1451–2306P–MTDC
Evaluating the Methods for Refurbishing
Firefighter Cordura Items
Sean Wildhaber, Interagency Hotshot Squad Leader and Mary Ann Davies, Program Leader
Highlights…
• Avoid machine washing Cordura items if
possible. Pay attention to equipment care
labels and the National Wildfire Coordinating
Group “Fire Equipment Storage and Refurbishing Standards” <http://www.nwcg.gov
/pms/pubs/PMS448`/pms448.pdf>.
• Take special care when machine washing
Cordura items with polyurethane linings.
Always machine wash on the gentle wash
setting with cold water in a front-loading
machine.
• When faced with extremely soiled items,
soak or spray with approved biodegradable
degreasers before washing.
T
he Missoula Technology and Development Center
(MTDC) was asked to determine the effects of washing Cordura items available for firefighters from the
U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Cordura is a collection of fabrics that are durable with resistance to abrasions,
tears, and scuffs. The National Interagency Support Caches
supply and distribute items made with Cordura, such as fireline packs, during the fire season. When the Cordura items
are returned, the cache cleans them as well as all other items,
this is known as refurbishing. Required refurbishing standards
are published by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group
(NWCG). The 2011 update of the NWCG publication “Fire
Equipment Storage and Refurbishing Standards” allows for
machine washing of most Cordura items handled by the caches.
However, long-term effects of machine washing Cordura items
and alternative drying techniques, other than hanging to dry, are
not known (figure 1).
Figure 1—The fuel bottle bag (left) and line gear (right) are Cordura items
evaluated in the refurbishing equipment study.
For additional information, contact: USDA Forest Service, MTDC; 5785 Hwy. 10 West; Missoula, MT 59808–9361.
Phone: 406–329–3900; fax: 406–329–3719; email: wo_mtdc_pubs@fs.fed.us
A 2010 MTDC questionnaire to the national cache community on textile cleaning methods with special emphasis on
handling of Cordura items identified that 15 of the 18 caches
do not perform any inhouse machine washing of Cordura
items while 3 said they do. Of the three, two said that they are
following the recommended machine washing method (cold
water, gentle wash setting, and hang-to-dry) and were satisfied with the outcome. The third cache was soaking items in
CitroSqueeze (a commercial citrus-based cleaning product),
machine washing in warm water, and machine drying at 100 °F.
MTDC tested five methods of washing Cordura items.
The focus was to evaluate positive or negative effects of these
methods.
The main questions to answer were:
• Do any of these methods reduce long-term durability
of Cordura items?
• How does Cordura hold up to the alternative washing
and drying methods?
• Which method or methods are the best?
• Does the evaluation of these washing methods support
the current NWCG cleaning practices?
MTDC determined which methods are less than ideal for
the serviceability of Cordura items and made recommendations on them.
Fraying of
unbound
edge
Loose or
missing
stitching
Comparison of Refurbishing Methods
Figures 2a and 2b—Some factory defects (fraying and incomplete stitching)
of Cordura items that were evaluated in this study.
MTDC inspected Cordura items for any visible factory
defects, such as loose or missing stitching, abrasions, tears,
fraying, flaking or missing polyurethane coatings, and delaminating silk screen placards (figures 2a and 2b). We took
photos and measured the Cordura items (length, width, and
height) to build a log of information.
We set up a control group by referencing the refurbishing methods of NWCG and most regional caches. We also set
up five additional test groups to evaluate alternative methods
(table 1).
After each cycle (soak, wash, and dry), if we observed
defects, careful evaluation would determine textile serviceability. If we found serviceability to be deficient (based on
NWCG standards), we removed Cordura items from the testing. We took photographs and measurements after the first
and fifth cycles.
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Results
Table 1—Refurbishing methods used for the test groups.
Cordura Refurbishing Methods
Groups
Soak for
10 to 12
hours in
CitroSqueeze
Wash
settings
Drying
procedures
Control
Group
Yes
Rinse or
pressure wash
with a “Hotsy”
machine
Hang-to-dry
Group 2
Yes
Machine wash
heavy
Hang-to-dry
Group 3
Yes
Machine wash
heavy
Machine dry
air
Group 4
Yes
Machine wash
heavy
Machine dry
low
Group 5
Yes
Machine wash
gentle
Hang-to-dry
Group 6
Yes
Machine wash
gentle
Machine dry
low
Cordura Physical Characteristics
and General Care Guidelines
Cordura with polyurethane coating is
designed to be longlasting and is generally
resistant to all types of normal wear and tear.
Over time, all synthetic laminated materials
are prone to delaminating of the polyurethane
coating. This can be hastened by exposure of
the polyurethane coating to direct sunlight for
long periods; use of harsh chemicals for cleaning; exposure to chlorine; or long periods of
storage in damp areas, particularly on cement
floors. When put in storage, Cordura items
must be 100 percent dry and preferably stored
hanging up with adequate air circulation.
The Control Group showed the best results in maintaining durability and equipment lifespan. After 10 successive
cycles of soaking, pressure washing, and hanging to dry, the
Control Group had little to no observable damage. Although
much more labor-intensive, manual washing potentially may
be more cost effective. The Control Group will stay in service longer and will not need to be replaced as frequently
due to refurbishing damage. These results support the current
NWCG standards.
Groups 5 and 6, washed on a gentle wash setting in cold
water, also showed promising signs as an alternative method.
Placards on the fuel bottle bags did not show any increase in
wear or delamination compared to the Control Group. Polyurethane linings showed some breakdown after the fifth cycle
was completed (figure 3).
Polyurethane
lining
degradation
Figure 3—Polyurethane lining showing some degradation after five cycles of
soaking, washing on gentle cycle, and hanging to dry.
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Washing Cordura items on a heavy wash setting had
adverse effects on the lifespan and serviceability. After the
first heavy wash setting, 100 percent of the items in Groups 2,
3, and 4 showed significant signs of wear, especially the fuel
bottle bags; flammable liquid placards were delaminating.
After initial delaminating occurred, a marked increase in the
speed at which placards broke down occurred. The placards
were so heavily damaged by the fifth cycle that all fuel bottle
bags in Groups 2, 3, and 4 were deemed unserviceable and
were eliminated from the evaluation (figures 4a and 4b).
One cycle
Figures 4a and 4b—On a heavy wash setting, flammable liquid placards
show delamination after only a single cycle. Excessive delamination
shows after the fifth cycle.
Five cycles
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Washing Cordura items on a heavy wash setting had
serious damaging effects on line gear in test Groups 2 and 4.
Serious damage and breakdown of the polyurethane lining
and heavy fraying of unbound edges were identified after five
cycles (figures 5a and 5b). Due to excessive damage and based
on NWCG refurbishing standards, the packs were deemed
unserviceable and removed from the evaluation. Fraying of
unbound fabric edges was accelerated by the heavy wash setting. In contrast, the Control Group packs showed little to no
damage to the polyurethane lining and unbound fabric edges.
Separated
polyurethane
Excessive
fraying
Figures 5a and 5b—The heavy wash setting caused serious damaging
effects to the polyurethane lining of fire packs after five successive wash
cycles. Excessive fraying of edges with no binding was also observed.
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Drying procedures showed some varied effects. We performed three drying procedures in order to look at drying
time, volume (shrinkage) changes, and damage. The three drying procedures were hang-to-dry, dryer (air dry setting), and
dryer (low heat setting). We took and recorded initial volume
measurements for the Control Group (hang-to-dry) and Group
4 (low heat setting). After these initial measurements were
recorded for each group, we evaluated them after each cycle
(one through five). Based on the measurements, the Control
Group and Group 4 showed signs of shrinkage. However,
Group 4, dried on a low heat setting, showed more volume
loss per cycle, except cycle 4 (figure 6). Total average volume
loss after five cycles was more significant for Group 4 that
was dried on a low heat setting (figure 7). It was observed that
none of the drying procedures of Cordura items sped up the
process of polyurethane or placard breakdown. Most observable damage came during washing practices.
Volume Loss Per Cycle Due to Drying Procedures
Average Volume (cubic inches)
Control Group
Group 4
Comparing the Control Group and Group 4—Five Cycles
Figure 6—Cordura items in the Control Group that were air dried showed less volume loss due to shrinkage than items
in Group 4 that were dried on a low heat setting, except cycle 4.
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Volume Loss (cubic inches)
Total Average Volume Loss After Five Cycles
(Control Group vs. Group 4)
Control Group
Group 4
Figure 7—Total average volume loss of the Control Group and Group 4 after five successive cycles
of soaking, washing, and drying.
Recommendations
loading washing machine. Top-loading machines with agitaAll the different washing and drying methods performed
tors should not be used because this can amplify damaging
showed measurable and physical differences in the effects on
effects. Eco-friendly detergents show great results and do not
the Cordura items. The results support the current NWCG
contain harsh washing chemicals. When pressure washing
washing and refurbishing standards and the wash and care
Cordura, use a pressure wand that is not on a straight stream
instructions on equipment labels. Based on this information,
setting. Straight streaming can quickly damage Cordura texMTDC recommends washing Cordura items with extreme
tiles. The best methods for drying Cordura are either the hangcare. Soaking in CitroSqueeze or other biodegradable degreas- to-dry or machine air dry procedure. Avoid hanging Cordura
ers helps the cleaning process and does not damage Cordura
items in the direct sunlight as this can further degrade polytextiles. Cordura should only be washed with a pressure
urethane coatings. Ensure all Cordura items are completely
washer or on a gentle wash setting with cold water in a front- dry before being stored and provide adequate air circulation.
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About the Authors
Library Card
Sean Wildhaber is an interagency Hotshot squad
leader at the San Juan National Forest. He has worked as an
assistant project leader for two programs (fire and aviation
and safety and health) while on a detail to Missoula Technology and Development Center during the winters of 2011 and
2012. Wildhaber started his Forest Service career in 2002 as
a firefighter on a district crew in Heppner, OR. From 2003 to
the present, he has held positions as a senior firefighter, squad
leader, and assistant superintendent on Hotshot crews on the
Lewis and Clark and Bitterroot National Forests. Wildhaber
has a bachelor’s degree in human biological sciences from
the University of Montana.
Mary Ann Davies received a bachelor’s degree in
mechanical engineering with a minor in industrial and management engineering from Montana State University. She
worked in the Pacific Northwest Region as a facility engineer
and as a tramway engineer. Davies has worked in fire management as a crewmember and as a crewboss. She worked
for 5 years with the Rocky Mountain Research Station in
the fire chemistry and fire behavior groups before coming to
MTDC in 1999. In 2012, she served a detail as Fire and Aviation Program Manager at MTDC while this publication was
underway.
Wildhaber, Sean; Davies, Mary Ann. 2013. Evaluating the
methods for refurbishing firefighter cordura items. Tech. Rep.
1451–2306P–MTDC. Missoula, MT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Missoula Technology and Development Center. 8 p.
Fire caches supply many items to firefighters made of Cordura because of its durability. After fire season, the items are
returned and refurbished; machine washing and drying is one
refurbishing method. Long-term effects of this method were
not known. The Missoula Technology and Development Center
conducted tests on Cordura items using different cleaning methods. This tech tip includes the results and recommendations.
For additional technical information, contact MTDC:
USDA Forest Service
Missoula Technology and Development Center
5785 Hwy. 10 West
Missoula, MT 59808-9361
Phone: 406–329–3900
Fax: 406–329–3719
Electronic copies of National Technology and Development documents are available on the Internet at:
http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/pubs
Keywords: Cordura, drying, fire fighting, firefighting,
personal protective equipment, PPE, refurbishing, safety at
work, washing
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management
employees can search National Technology and
Development documents, CDs, DVDs, and videos on
their internal computer networks at:
http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/search/
http://fsweb.sdtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/
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