FIREFIGHTER
performance durability
lower wear-life cost
heat stress protection
extra seconds of safety
May 2012
International Journal of
Firefighter in action wearing Nomex® Gold
An authoritative look at the world of Personal Protection Apparel,
investigating the key factors involved in modern firefighting.
1
Marco Mazzolini,
Lead Technician
DuPont Protection
Technologies
performance durability May 2012
contents
Andre Capt,
Technical Leader
DuPont Protection
Technologies
4
Rüdiger Classen,
8
12
Fritsche CEO
4
12
8
15
9
15
10
16
Ensuring inherent safety:
survey results support expert
findings on increasing durability
Bruno Schmitz,
co-owner of textile
The importance of
abrasion-resistance: a textile
manufacturer’s perspective
manufacturer
S-Gard
Reinhard Ries,
Head Chief Officer
of Frankfurt Fire
Brigade
Frederique Favier,
DuPont™ Thermo-Man®:
new generation of software
set to provide even more
detailed results
limited offer!
Act now for free performance
report on your used PPE
Application
Development Leader
DuPont Protection
Life-or-death decisions:
the importance of choice
Raising standards
behind the scenes at CEN
Technologies
Bernd Schmeltzle,
RAGTAL fire trainer
After two years of intensive use,
Nomex® garments still “in perfect
condition”, says Bernd Schmeltzle,
RAGTAL fire trainer
Axel Meyer,
Laundry Wäscherei
Meyer
Cover page: Firefighter in action wearing Nomex® Gold
DuPont Protection Technologies www.fire-fighters.nomex.eu
This Journal is produced in association with DuPont™. All content is copyright ©2012 DuPont™, unless specifically stated otherwise.
All rights reserved.
2
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
The guarantee of genuine PPE:
the DuPont™ Nomex®
Partner Program
The importance
of the quality chain
in manufacturing personnel protective apparel
When fire brigades turn out very often they are going to
face multiple risks. Before EN 469 became a European
Standard such risks seemed to be different among
the European countries, between professionals and
volunteers or public and private brigades. It was an
enormous success in the EU to create a common
understanding of what is appropriate to personnel
protective apparel. Today fire brigades are highly
sensitive to quality of turn out gear and expect hard
performance factors which have been proven by tests,
as heat protection, mechanical strength, wear comfort
and good breathability. But for FB managements
more and more additional criteria become essential
in decision making: Durability, washing conditions,
abrasive properties, and lifelong proper appearance.
So performance and properties of PPA must be
guaranteed for years or many
washing cycles. Unfortunately a new
“Today fire brigades are highly sensitive to quality of turn threat in PPA product performance
and safety has emerged in the form
out gear and expect hard performance factors which
of counterfeiting and imitating.
have been proven by tests, as heat protection, mechanical Therefore only products which
ensure the whole quality chain of
strength, wear comfort and good breathability.”
manufacturing from fibre to tissue
and design can fulfil the needs and
expectations of the end users. From my point of view it
is very important to point this out to the fire brigades.
Professor Ernst-Peter Döbbeling,
University of Applied Sciences, Furtwangen, Germany
3
Ensuring
inherent
safety:
survey results support expert
findings on increasing durability
Firefighter in action wearing Nomex® Gold
4
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
A recent market survey contacted fire fighters from
different fire brigades and organisations across Germany,
France and the UK. The 130 respondents took part in
structured phone and in-person interviews, as well as
a range of focus groups to determine their priorities
when choosing turn out gear.
The quantitative and qualitative
research found that fire fighters
see themselves as a multifaceted rescue service, tasked
with rescuing people from all
kinds of dangerous situations.
Interestingly, the survey showed
that fire rescue is a minor
proportion of call-out incidents.
Fire fighting teams need to
provide emergency technical
assistance in a range of
environments, making the
durability, weight and comfort
of turnout gear key priorities.
fire protection. Unsurprisingly,
flashover protection was the
most important, with colour
ranking bottom of the list.
As you can see in fig.1, the
survey found significant gaps in
the area of mechanical strength
and sweat management:
respondents ranked these
as highly important but were
generally not happy with the
performance of their current kit. >
Results on the importance and satisfaction of key selection
criteria with heat&flame protective garments:
4.6
Protects in flashover situation
4.1
Prevents heat-stress
4.5
Permanent fire protection (inherent)
4.4
Protection exceeding EN standard performance
4.4
4.3
Made with an material ingredient brand I trust
Durability and breathability
All respondents agreed that the
3.6
4.3
Provides good sweat management
ideal protective garment should
be safe under all conditions,
3.9 4.2
High mechanical strength
including heat, flames and
3.9
Lightweight
explosions, and that it should
be lightweight, comfortable
Importance
3.7
Keeps nice look over time
and functional. As well as its
Satisfaction
breathability, the garment
3.2
Available in a likeable colour
should be highly durable, easy
0
1
2
3
4
5
to maintain and good value for
money. Fire fighters were asked
Figure 1: Importance vs. satisfaction
to rate the importance and
Respondents were asked to rate the importance & satisfaction of following criteria
satisfaction of a range of criteria, when selecting/ purchasing heat and flame protective garments, on a scale from 1=not
4.6
Protects
flashover
situation at all important/ not at all satisfied to 5=highly important/ absolutely
4.2
satisfied.
including
weightinand
inherent
Prevents heat-stress
Permanent fire protection (inherent)
4.1
4.2
4.5
4.4
5
180
300
160
250
140
120
200
100
1
80
60
100
3
40
EN 469
20
requirement
0
150
2
50
4
p-aramid based fabric
(60% p-aramid content)
Fabric with Nomex®
(Hainsworth Titan with Nomex®)
0
Multi-layered system:
p-aramid based fabric
(60% p-aramid content)
Fabric with Nomex®
(Hainsworth Titan with Nomex®
1. Lining
2. Thermal insulation
Tear resistance (ISO 13937-2:2000)
after 25 washings
200
Air permeability (ISO 9237)
on original fabrics
3. Membrane
4. Outer Layer
350
180
300
160
250
140
120
-48% vs original
200
-16% vs original
-78% vs original
100
40
p-aramid based fabric
(60% p-aramid content)
Fabric with Nomex
(Hainsworth Titan with Nomex®)
“Durability of the garment is mainly measured by the level
Tear resistance (ISO 13937-2:2000)
of mechanical performance
the outer fabric, not only its
after of
25 washes
200
tensile and tear strengths, but also its resistance to abrasion
180
and its ageing due to wearing and washing.”
160
140
N
120
100
turnout gear made from different
is to develop fabric solutions for
2 + times
2 + times
than fighters
materials,higher
and than
how this can
garments usedhigher
by fire
the norm
the norm
directly impact the durability
and industrial workers. She
40
EN 469
and breathability of the apparel.
helps spinners, weavers and requirement
20
finishers
to develop innovative
0
80
60
-48% of original
-16% of original
p-aramid based fabric (60% p-aramid content)
Fabric with Nomex® (Hainsworth® TITAN)
®
Nomex® with
(Hainsworth®
TITAN)
Correlates to
garment waerlife
Nomex® Comfort
Nomex Tough
®
#abrasion cycles
18
)
6
16
50,00
100,00
Contact heat resistance
(ISO 12127-1:2007)
6.5
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
6
)
EUR/lfm
Fabric with
60% para-aramid
Version I
Fabric with
60% para-aramid
Version II
to the fabric when it is new.
The chemistry 100
of synergy
“There are some misperceptions
“Turnout gear is a complex
50
on the market about high para
assembly, from the lining to the
0
aramid content blends,
membrane and outer
shell, that
p-aramid based fabric
Fabric with Nomex®
specifically
about (Hainsworth
their
double-faced layer composed
of
(60% p-aramid
content)
Titan with Nomex®
performance over time. When
two different materials. The
using high ratios of para aramid,
outer shell is generally made of
Air permeability
(ISO 9237)actually
typically
60%, fabrics
high performance thermostable
after 25 washes
have weaknesses. The
fibers like meta350aramid
perception is that ‘the more para
DuPont™ Nomex® or other
300
chemical fibres (polyazole for
aramid, the more strength’,
250are often
example); these
when in fact, the opposite could
combined with para aramid like
be true. The generally more
200
DuPont™ Kevlar® to increase
affordable para aramid fibres
150
mechanical strength
and offer
are actually higher in the mix
stability against
heat
and
flame
also because this reduces the
100
8 times higher
exposure. It’s the ratio of these
cost of the
end garment.
50
two materials and the way they
“When you use more than 40%
are combined that
para aramid, the fact is you
0 determines
-78% to original
-55% of original
the synergy and the
reduce abrasion resistance,
performance of the garment
as a
meaning
garments may
p-aramid based
fabric (60%
p-aramidthe
content)
Fabric with Nomex (Hainsworth TITAN)
whole. Durability of the garment
require repairs after only a few
is mainly measured by the level
months, consequently increasing
of mechanical performance of
maintenance costs. In addition,
the outer fabric, not only its
they are more sensitive to
tensile and tear strengths, but
hydrolysis and UV light. This
also its resistance to abrasion
means that the more you wash
and its ageing due to wearing
this type of garment, the more
and washing.”
fibre is released from the fabric,
which actually produces a white
High para aramid based blends
‘pollution’ on the surface,
use higher ratios of Kevlar®,
resulting in colour fade. After
typically 60%. Para-aramid
around 25 washes, there is also a
fibres add mechanical strength
significant drop in performance.”
Air permeability (l/seconds/m2)
solutions, and central to this
are the criteria set by the enduser. We asked Frederique to
discuss the key differences
in
®
> We talked to Frederique Favier,
Application
Development
EN 469
20
Leader
DuPont Protection
requirement
0
Technologies.
Her role at DuPont
60
20
-55% vs original
150
80
®
Contact heat resistance
(ISO 12127-1:2007)
Breathability vs. Durability
The air permeability of the outer
shell plays a key role in sweat
control. In a flash fire, the body
will sweat to reduce temperature
rise, then perspiration will pass
through the lining and the
membrane. From here, it will be
evacuated through the outer
shell to the air. Obviously the
more air-permeable the outer
shell, the faster this can happen.
Frederique explains: “generally,
a fabric made with high content
of para aramid fibres offers less
air permeability compared to
Nomex® fabrics. Although
increased presence of para
aramid does provide more
short-term stability in intense
heat, the body heat and
perspiration is kept inside
the outer shell, preventing
evacuation.”
In addition, Nomex® fabrics have
the tendency to retain airpermeability to a higher extent.
Tests show that due to the
fibrillation of para-aramid, the
air-gaps in the fabrics are filled
which blocks air movement,
after only 25 washes. n
Firefighter in action wearing Nomex®
7
DuPont ™ Thermo-Man ®:
new generation of software set to provide even more detailed results
In order to certify a garment in the world of protective apparel, you
need to do a significant number of tests on the fabric. Abrasion
resistance, tensile strength, tear strength, pilling and so on. DuPont™
Thermo-Man® was created to be a test for the full garment, the final
product, and although it is not a mandatory test, it is generally
accepted as the final stage of a garment’s readiness for market.
Marco Mazzolini, Lead
Technician DuPont Protection
Technologies has been running
burn tests for 3 years,
sometimes up to 20 tests per
day, so has strong opinions on
the unit. “It was the first of its
kind, and in my opinion, still the
best,” explains Marco. “It uses
12 ‘Big Bertha’ propane torches
8
to fully engulf the mannequin in
flames. First there’s a pre-test to
check heat flux, ensuring the
consistency of the burn, and
that the test will ensure 100%
second- or third-degree burns.
The test itself lasts 4 or 8
seconds, during which the
122 copper/epoxy resin sensors
record the results. After the test
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
is complete, we do a re-test with
an identical garment to ensure
consistency of results.”
DuPont™ Thermo-Man® weighs
around 20 tonnes, and is to our
knowledge the only portable
mannequin testing unit in the
world. The complete unit
measures 4.6m x 2.4m x
2.5mand produces heat at a
staggering 1,200˚C, simulating
a wide range of worst-case
scenarios where protective
apparel is used. More than
8,000 burn tests have been
carried out so far, the most
recent including those for
Hessen’s Ministry of the Interior.
Andre Capt, Nomex® Technical
Leader DuPont Protection
Technologies, explains. “DuPont
was chosen, along with the
Hohestein Institute, to perform
garment testing on HuPF fire
fighters’ apparel. We are thankful
for the opportunity to help the
Ministry, and of course to
provide accurate results on the
apparel their fire fighters use.”
Creating new standards
When DuPont™ Thermo-Man®
was invented, it prompted the
creation of a new European
standard that is still in place
today. ISO norm 13506, the
European Standard for
Mannequin Testing, provides
guidelines on how garments
should be tested, but as Andre
explains, there is some lingering
confusion for many in the
industry. “The norm allows two
calculation models to be used,
and this has led in the past to
conflicting results between
testing houses analysing the
same garments. Obviously this
isn’t useful to end-users looking
for definitive answers. Up until
recently, the same dual
approach was taken in the
American norm ASTM F1930.
That changed in July 2011, when
America settled on a single
calculation norm. Now DuPont is
working closely with the EMPA
and BTTG testing houses to
move towards a single European
standard too.”
New norm = new software =
new levels of detailed results
To prepare for the new norm, a
team of developers has spent
2 years developing advanced
software to process the results
of every DuPont™ Thermo-Man®
test. A new user interface
includes a rotating 3D model
which will show the detailed
results of each burn.
Interestingly, the new software
will also enable ‘retro-testing’
according to the current two
standards.
The agreed model for
calculating second and third
degree burns is expected to be
passed by the International ISO
Committee in early 2012, and,
Andre hopes, “will finally solve
the confusion that many
end-users have about the
conflicting results, giving us at
last a harmonising of results
across testing houses.” n
Act now for free performance report
on your used PPE
d
DuPont is offering free performance report tests to demonstrate the
limite !
durability of DuPont™ Nomex brand fibre. The first 20 readers who
r
e
register
their interest will be eligible for a DuPont™ Thermo-Man
ff
o
burn test for their used DuPont™ Nomex garment.
®
®
®
Due to mannequin size
considerations, only certain
garments will be suitable for
testing*, and only garments
made with DuPont™ Nomex®
will be accepted.
This is a unique chance to find out
how your DuPont™ Nomex® PPE
has stood the test of time. We will
video the burn test, and provide
a detailed report of the results
to you or your station manager.
* cleaned garments, size 52 or 54, postal costs to be covered by the sender.
To be considered for the
free Thermo-man® burn test,
please register now at www.
thermoman.nomex.eu.
After two years of intensive use, Nomex ®
garments still “in perfect condition”,
says Bernd Schmeltzle, RAGTAL fire trainer.
RAGTAL (Regionale-Atemschutz-Geräte-Träger-Ausbildunbgsanlage), the Luxembourg Regional
Respiratory Equipment Wearers’ Training Facility, opened its doors in 2009 to train serving fire fighters
from across Europe. The facility was designed to show trainees effective ways to cope with a range of
dangerous situations they could expect to encounter during their daily work.
Central to the facility is a
converted steel shipping
container, now used as a
wood-fired training capsule.
Here, more than 60 high-risk
scenarios are recreated,
including flashovers, gas tank
fire-fighting and exposure to
heat and flue gas. For the
1,200 fire fighters who trained
there in 2010, it provided
valuable lessons on procedures
and equipment use. As well as
learning the correct tactics in
attacking different types of fire
within a building, the facility
offers programs on complicated
conditions such as low visibility
and emergency rescue from
extreme situations.
While the Combat Fire Behavior
team of trainers put fire fighters
through their paces in practical
exercises, they were also
personally testing a central part
of every fire fighter’s life: the
garment. Over the course of two
years, every RAGTAL trainer used
jackets & trousers made with
DuPont™ Nomex® brand fiber
in the training exercises. The
jackets & trousers, provided
by garment manufacturers from
the Nomex® Partner Program
(Consultiv, S-Gard, Texport,
Viking and Vorndamme),
were exposed to a total of
80 flashovers, as well as a
high level of mechanical
strain and considerable dirt.
After each exercise day, the
garments underwent a thorough
maintenance program in 5 steps.
First a cold-water pre-wash
removed coarse dirt, then a 60˚C
cycle. Then the jackets and
trousers were turned inside out
and pre-dried at room
temperature before thorough
tumble drying. Next, a sight
check of the kit, inside and out,
including close inspection of the
membranes. At every stage,
results were logged, including
any additional observations
from the trainers. The data
formed valuable feedback for
the garment manufacturers,
enabling them to make
adjustments and improvements
to the garment designs.
Bernd Schmeltzle, RAGTAL fire
trainer, describes the condition
of the apparel after 2 years of
intensive wear and thorough
maintenance: “Despite intensive
strain in a tough environment,
all fifty garments are in perfect
condition both inside and out.”
The dark red jackets and
trousers look very close to their
original state, while the
reflective stripes, zips, seams
and membranes seem as good
Copyright 2011-2012. All rights reserved. Print disclaimer.
10
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
as new. The all-important outer
layer showed no sign of pilling,
and only one out of the
50 coveralls showed minimal
abrasion, a result of a design
issue that was later modified.
Different garments – same
levels of comfort and protection
The jacket & trousers designers
and manufacturers produced a
range of five variations on the
standard fire fighter kit design,
all certified under EN 469, each
with a three-layer structure: an
outer layer made from DuPont™
Nomex® Tough, a membrane and
position. For Mr. Schmeltzle,
the differences in the designs
are not as important as the
factors they shared:
performance and durability over
time. “It’s good to know that
even after many wash / wear
cycles we can still rely on the
flame and heat protection of our
garments made with Nomex®,”
he explains. This sentiment is
supported by the fact that his
team continues to use the same
garments in showing new
generations of trainees how to
cope with the unpredictable
situations that they will face at
“The jackets & trousers, provided by garment
manufacturers from the Nomex® Partner Program,
were exposed to a total of 80 flashovers, as well as a
high level of mechanical strain and considerable dirt.”
a Nomex® lining. Mr. Schmeltzle
describes the differences and
similarities of the designs in the
test: “The five systems show
that the same design issue can
be addressed convincingly in
different ways, and each design
has its specific strengths.” Five
different sets of trousers were
designed with five different
fastening solutions. One design
featured a fastening system with
finger access, allowing wearers
to adjust brace length with a
single pull, while another used a
metal clip and spike, which
enabled waistband adjustment
of the braces’ fastening
work. After two years of
intensive use, it’s also
interesting to note that his team
can look forward to many more
years of durable performance.
Flame tests have shown that
garments made with Nomex®
lost none of their protective
qualities even after more than
10 years’ wear. A continuous
eight seconds of intensive flame
on a DuPont™ Thermo-Man®
mannequin showed the same
result: after several years of
wear, Nomex® protective
clothing still offers the same
flame and heat protection as
it did in its original state. n
11
The importance of ab
a textile manufactur
Turn out gear is the first thing that springs to mind for
many people when you mention a fire brigade, and how it
helps people in dangerous situations. “Our members wear
their personal protective apparel (PPA) as if it was their
second skin“, says Professor Reinhard Ries, Head Chief
Officer of Frankfurt Fire Brigade, when asked to describe
the importance of PPA.
When new PPA is being
assessed, the requirements
are necessarily extremely high,
as Professor Reinhard Ries
explains. “Functionality and
endurance are the most
12
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
important properties,” he says.
“ From the safety point of view,
every piece of turn out gear that
has been specified according to
EN 469, is good” The three-layer
construction consisting of heat
and flame resistant outer shell,
membrane and inner lining
perform well. The heat and flame
protection can be tested by
means of a DuPont™ ThermoMan® test and the comfort
evaluated by means of wear trial
tests. But what about the
endurance of the PPA? What
kind of orientation guidelines
exist, to enable purchase
managers to foresee the wear
life of fire fighter protective
apparel? In answering these
questions, one phrase is
generally used by qualityoriented textile manufacturers:
the resistance to abrasion.
Abrasive properties and
maintaining appearance
“If you want confidence in how
your PPA might look after years
of normal use, take a closer look
at its abrasive properties”, says
Bruno Schmitz, co-owner of
textile manufacturer S-Gard.
“We have 125 years’ experience
in textile manufacture, and pride
ourselves on quality products
that last. For fire fighters, the
most important aspect of
long-lasting products is reliable
protective performance, which
is why S-Gard searched far and
wide to find a fabric that would
last, and still maintain its looks
after years of wear. We analyzed
the available fabrics and
constructions in terms of their
endurance properties, and
chose Nomex® over all the
other options.”
brasion-resistance:
rer’s perspective
Fire department Frankfurt
Located in Heinsberg near the
German-Dutch border, S-Gard
now devotes itself exclusively to
tailoring PPA and fire fighter
apparel. The fabric blend of
choice for the company consists
of 86% DuPont™ Nomex® fiber
and 12% para-aramid (with 2%
antistatic fibre completing the
blend). The strength of the fabric
is enhanced by a grid of
DuPont™ Kevlar® yarn, which is
placed on the inside of the outer
shell next to the membrane.
“The Nomex® fabric (Hainsworth
Titan)we use has endured over
80,000 abrasion cycles in line
with the Martindale test, which
is three times more than we
managed to obtain when testing
a fabric containing a
substantially higher degree of
60% para-aramid,” says Bruno.
Lower percentage of para-aramid
lowers the amount of pilling
S-Gard’s experience is echoed
by the textile engineers from
weaver Theodolf Fritsche. Based
in Helmbrechts in Upper
Frankonia, the company is one
of the few remaining Germanbased weavers producing
technical textiles and fabrics for
personal protective apparel for
fire fighter turn out gear, police
and safety companies. “The
more a fabric is resistant to
abrasion, the more it will
withstand mechanical pressures
and not exhibit fibrillation”, says
Fritsche CEO Rüdiger Classen.
And the less fibrillation a textile
has, the more it keeps its
appearance, its good looks. “If a
fire brigade has a strong desire
for long lasting good looks of
their protective apparel, they
should make sure that the outer
material of the equipment
consists only of a small portion
of para-aramid,” says Rüdiger.
That is why Fritsche uses only
yarn mixtures made of DuPont™
Nomex® when they produce
flame and heat resistant
garments. Currently in
production are different types
of Nomex® III fiber, Nomex®
Comfort, Nomex® Antistatic
and Nomex® Tough, using a
minimum of 5% of para-aramid
up to a little over 20% of the
total fiber amount. The scope
of fabric constructions
for fire fighting gear starts at a
weight of 185 grams per square
meter and goes up to a square
meter weight of 265 grams.
“By using diverse fiber mixtures
and yarn strengths as well as
S-Gard
13
Weber Theodolf Fritsche
over 20 spun dyed hues, we
have the freedom to create
countless different fabric
variations,” explains Rüdiger.
Options for lighter weight PPA
Lighter weight fabrics are within
reach, according to Rüdiger.
“We are planning the use of
finer spun Nomex® yarns, which
might be combined with an
innovative fabric design and a
high performance membrane
which might lead to a lighter
weight protective apparel,” he
says. “The excellent abrasion
performance and long lasting
good looks would not be
touched by the finer spun yarn
and the newly designed fabric
constructions, because the
portion of para aramid in the
fabric would not change.”
“Ideally the development of
innovative fabrics would be
in close cooperation with the
designer and the manufacturer
of the membrane, since any
new construction of a high
14
performing fabric for fire fighting
apparel means a high degree of
design and test as well as
certification.”
degree of para-aramid fibers in
the fabric can mean that parts
of the apparel may rub against
each other causing some
“The Nomex® fabric (Hainsworth Titan) we use has endured
over 80,000 abrasion cycles in line with the Martindale test,
which is three times more than we managed to obtain when
testing a fabric containing a substantially higher degree of
60% para-aramid,”
Washing mistakes may
cause abrasion
Maintaining the fabric of the
outer shell relies on careful
cleaning and care. A higher
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
friction, which may lead to
fibrillation and pilling and also
may cause slight damage to
reflective stripes. To avoid this,
Axel Meyer recommends closing
the loop and hook tape tightly
and washing jackets and
trousers in separate washing
nets. The Segment Fire Officer
(Abschnittsleiter) of the
Voluntary Fire Brigade
Hardegsen is owner of the
laundry Wäscherei Meyer which
has specialized in cleaning and
taking care of fire fighting and
rescue apparel, servicing well
over 100 professional and
voluntary fire brigades.
According to his expertise other
causes for abrasion may be
washing machines of too small a
size as well as not enough water
used in washing, which both will
end in too much of mechanical
pressure put onto the apparel. n
Life-or-death decisions –
the importance of choice
Reinhard Ries, Fire Chief Frankfurt Fire Brigade
“In this job, ‘like a second skin’
is more than a metaphor: PPE
is the only thing that stands
between us and the fire.
In 1990 we set up a Planning
“In this job, ‘like a second skin’ is more
than a metaphor: PPE is the only thing
that stands between us and the fire”
Commission for Future PPE, and
established that apparel is the
highest priority: for us, it ranks
higher than vehicles. Our own
tests with DuPont™ Nomex®
and ordinary apparel gave clear
results after Nomex® will last up
to 3 years longer, and still look
good – an important
consideration for the people
who wear it to work.” n
Raising standards
behind the scenes at CEN
CEN, the European Standards
Committee is an association
of 28 members, 2 councillors,
7 associate members and
6 affiliates. It works with more
than 300 trade and professional
bodies, liaising with technical
committees and in co-operation
with ISO. Dave Matthews
(FIIRSM, DIPSM, GIFireE) is a
leading figure in the world of
norms and standards, and
represents 55,000 fire fighters
in the UK.
“There are hundreds of technical
committees busy working on
standards for PPE. Every 3 years
the standards are revised, and
my role is to help make sure that
the standards force
manufacturers to continuously
improve their product.” Before
a standard becomes a national
requirement, it must first be
passed by all European member
states. EN469 2005 has been
the standard for more than
6 years now, and as Dave
explains, it is now under review.
“I was closely involved in
pushing the first standard,
as the actual convener for
CEN TC 162/WG2 ‘Heat and
Flame Protective’. The amount
of work involved, the detail
involved, is immense – the
technical file alone covered
many thousands of pages. And
even with all the people, country
members and company
representatives involved, there
is still a lot of work to be done
for the next review. Personally I
would like to see one important
aspect of PPE addressed in the
next review that was neglected
in the last. Under current
European Standards, there
are no requirements for testing
PPE after a period of use.
Considering the extremes of
stress that the work of fire
fighters places on both the PPE
and the person wearing it
throughout “normal” day-to-day
working, questions must be
asked about the ongoing
suitability of certain PPE to
protect against life-threatening
situations.
I’m sure there will be alarm from
certain quarters if this
consideration does make it into
the review. But the important
thing is that fire fighters are
protected in their work, and for
manufacturers that can produce
PPE that shows reliable durability
over time, there will always be a
loyal customer base.” n
15
The guarantee
of genuine PPE:
the DuPont™ Nomex® Partner Program
Counterfeiters around the world harm the economy and businesses
with substandard goods. For consumers unwittingly buying
fake luxury brands, it means a waste of money, frustration and
embarrassment. For fire fighters wearing counterfeit PPE, it can
mean a false sense of security, severe burns or even death.
Counterfeiters in Asia have
recently turned their attention to
protective garments. So how can
purchasers be sure that they are
not making a dangerous
“Look for the labels from
a Nomex® partner”
investment when they choose
their next supplier of PPE? “Look
for the labels from a Nomex®
partner,” says Bruno Schmitz,
of garment manufacturers
S-Gard™.
Mr. Schmitz joined the DuPont™
Nomex® Partner Program in “We
have been garment
manufacturers for 125 years,”
says Mr. Schmitz, “and pride
ourselves in providing only the
highest quality protective
apparel. For this we need the
highest quality fabrics of course,
so we only source our fabric
from other certified DuPont™
Nomex® Partner weavers. That
way we can be sure it is 100%
genuine Nomex® fabric, which
we put through a rigorous
number of tests before
incorporation into our products.
The garments we supply, outer
shells with DuPont™ Nomex®,
all carry the distinctive Nomex®
brand label, as well as the
DuPont™ Nomex® Partner label.
That is the customer’s guarantee
For an up-to-date list of Nomex® Partners, please go to www.firefighters.nomex.eu/partners
protection you deserve
This Journal is produced in association with DuPont™. All content is copyright ©2012 DuPont™, unless specifically stated otherwise.
All rights reserved.
16
International Journal of Fire Fighter Safety
that the garment is well
designed and is made from high
quality Nomex® fabrics that have
passed DuPont’s strict quality
control tests.
DuPont™ Nomex® Partners work
closely together, ensuring that
at every stage of production,
from spinning and weaving to
finishing and garment making,
only genuine Nomex® is used.
This unbroken chain of
manufacture, and the distinctive
labelling program, ensures the
compliance, performance and
product quality that fire fighters
need. What’s more, they provide
purchasers with a reassurance
that they will not find with
low-price, substandard
garments currently on offer
elsewhere in the market. n