MINUTES OF THE MEETING
TECHINICAL COMMITTEE ON STRUCTURAL AND PROXIMITY FIRE FIGHTING
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
San Diego, CA
4-6 MARCH 2014
PRE-FIRST DRAFT MEETING
4 March 2014
Agenda items 1 and 2: Call to Order, Introduction of Members and Guests
TC Chairman King called the meeting to order at 0900. Chairman King then called for an
introduction of members and guests.
The following members and guests were present:
Principal Members
Steven King
George Berger
Paul Curtis
Tim Durby
David Fanning
Patricia Freeman
Richard Granger
Ira Harkness
William Haskell
Earl Hayden
John Karban
Steve Lakey
Karen Lehtonen
Michael McKenna
Daniel Melia
Louis Ott
Tom Ragan
Jim Reidy
John Rihn
R. Robison
Jeffrey Stull
Tim Tomlinson
Robert Tutterow
Chairman
USMC/Systems Command
L.N. Curtis & Sons
International Fire Service Training
E.D. Bullard Company
Globe Manufacturing
Charlotte FD
U.S. Dept. of the Navy
NIOSH NPPTL
IAFF
FireDex LLC
Verified Independent Service Providers
Lion Apparel
Michael McKenna & Associates
FDNY
Gentex Corporation
Shelby Specialty Gloves
Texas Association of Fire Fighters
MSA
NVFC
International Personnel Protection
Addison Fire Department
Fire Industry Equipment Research Org.
Alternates Members Present:
Kim Klaren (Voting Alternate)
Jonathan Fesik
Tricia Hock
Pamela Kavalesky
Michael Laton
Amanda Newsom
Marni Schmid
Jeff Sedivec
Daniel Silvestri
David Whiting
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Dept.
Fire Industry Repair Maintenance
SEI
Intertek Testing Services
Honeywell
UL
FIERO
L.N. Curtis & Sons
Verified Independent Service Providers
IAFC
Guests Present:
Ray Russell
Bill Brooks
Shaun Russell
Angel Sanchez
Charles Dunn
George Comer
Kirk Owen
Pierre Robert
Kim Schoppa
Dick Weise
Dan Ertel
Rich Young
Harry Winer
Tim Gardner
Debra Martin
Tim Porch
Stephane Rousse
Diane Hess
Brian Shiels
Mark Williams
Bill Van Lent
Holly Blake
Jennifer Wise
Jim Walter
Kathleen Rouse
Brian Marenco
Scott Cheek
Teresa Lawson
Donald Holman
Nicholas Curtis
Phenix Technology
UniMac Laundry
Phenix Technology
Phenix Technology
Tencate Protective Fabrics
Tencate
Tencate
Stedfast
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue
L.A. County Fire
L.A. County Fire
DuPont
HIP Consulting
3M
Winsol Laboratories
3M
Innotex
PBI Performance Products
PBI Performance Products
W.L Gore
Veridian
W.L. Gore
W.L. Gore
Honeywell
Teijin Aramid
Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell
MCSC
Guests Present (continued):
Joey Underwood
Pat Woods
Jessie Gentry
Matt Elmore
Ron Bove
Ed MacDonald
Stephen Asthalter
Scott Gohl
Brooke Hildreth
Robin Royster
Harish Lilani
Tom Flaherty
Chris Gaudette
Tom Hamma
Safety Components
FDNY
DFW Airport
Bullard
W.L. Gore
Stanfield’s Life Liners
Stanfield’s Life Liners
Dragon Fire Gloves
San Antonio Fire
UL
NORFAB Corp.
Orafol
Orafol
Heartland Fire & Rescue
Agenda Item 3: Staff Liaison Report:
David Trebisacci provided the NFPA Staff Liaison report. Dave reviewed the NFPA procedures
applicable to the business of the Pre-First Draft meeting and outlined the timeline associated with
the next editions of NFPA 1971 and NFPA 1851.
Agenda Item 4: Approval of the TC Minutes of St. Louis, MO meeting October 1-2, 2013:
Jeff Stull moved to amend the minutes to change the title of the Glove Task Group to Glove
Thermal Shrinkage Task Group, second by Jim Reidy. Committee discussed the motion and
approved the change.
Jeff Stull moved to approve the minutes as amended. Bill Haskell seconded. Motion approved.
[Note: this change was made to the online edition of the St. Louis meeting Minutes].
Agenda Item 5: Chairman’s Remarks:
Chairman King welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined the day’s agenda. The chairman
noted that this meeting was a Pre-First Draft meeting.
Agenda Item Additional A: Presentation – Battalion Chief Brook Hildreth, Glove Sizing
Brook Hildreth, Battalion Chief, I-Women, discussed Firefighter Structural Glove Sizing
System. Please see Attachment A.
Agenda Item 6: Task Group Reports:
Robert Tutterow announced the Regional Fire PPE Workshop May 21, 2014 at DFW Training
Center.

Glove Thermal Shrinkage – Michael McKenna
o Chair Michael McKenna gave an update on meetings. Chairman King disbanded
this task group and appointed a Glove Task Group.
o Glove Task Group
 Michael McKenna, TG Chair
 Jeff Stull
 Steve Corrado
 Kelly Sisson
 Karen Lehtonen
 Harry Winer
 Tricia Hock
 Rich Granger

Helmets – Dan Melia
o Chair Dan Melia reported that the TG is moving forward with their tasks and that
there is room on the task group for another member or two.

Hoods – Jim Reidy
o Chair Jim Reidy reported that the TG is focusing on two issues related to hoods:
sizing and adding a barrier layer.

Cleaning/Decontamination – Tim Tomlinson
o Chair Tim Tomlinson noted that the task group is moving forward with a
prospectus to study gear soiling and cleaning.

DRD – Rick Edinger (Steve Lakey reporting)

o Steve Lakey reported for Chair Rick Edinger that the task group is proceeding
with reviewing DRD issues related to multiple designs and the impact on
usefulness.
Risk Assessment – Structural vs Proximity – Earl Hayden
o Chair Earl Hayden reported that the task group has met and will continue to meet
to discuss issues related to proximity gear requirements at airports.

Annexes – Robert Tutterow
o Chair Robert Tutterow reported that much progress has been made in creating the
test method annex, volunteers were sought for some sections and further progress
was made at this meeting.
Agenda Item 7: Task Group Breakout Sessions
TC to reconvene at 0900, Thursday, March 6 followed by TG breakout sessions Thursday
afternoon.
Agenda Item 8: TC Discussion – use of structural and proximity gear for airport fire
fighting
TC discussed the use of structural and proximity gear for airport fire fighting during the task
group report.
Agenda Item 9: Revision of ANSI/ISEA 107 High Visibility Apparel standard – Tim
Gardner
Tim Gardner discussed proposed changes to ANSI 107-2010 and ANSI 207-2011 and asked for
input and direction from firefighters. Please see Attachment B.
Agenda Item 10: Old Business
Two issues were discussed: the Wicker Test (Hot Water Immersion Test) and NFPA 1851
Section 8.2.3.4 related to limiting slit repairs to one width of seam tape.
As part of the Wicker Test discussion, a garment task group was formed. The members are:
Tim Durby, TG Chair
Pat Freeman
Amanda Newsom
Karen Lehtonen
John Karban
Kelly Sisson
Michael Layton
Kim Klaren
Brian Shiels
Agenda Item 11: New business
The next meeting was scheduled for October 7-8, 2014, location to be determined.
Agenda Item 12: Adjournment
Chairman King adjourned the meeting at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2014.
4/11/2014
Firefighter Structural Glove
Sizing System
Are we designing the safest firefighting glove we can?
Brooke Hildreth
Battalion Chief
i-women
• To be able to perform the duties of
firefighter safely and efficiently, all gear
must be well designed and fit properly.
• 2005-2009 : 7,695 injuries to arm and
hand, 29% were burns
• Mike McKenna-”the most common
underlying factor for hand burns seemed
to be poor fit. “
NIOSH Firefighter Anthropometric
Study
• 2009-2012
• 4 different locations: MD, AZ, PA and TX
• 60 measurements per firefighter with and
without their gear
• Hand measurements included: hand
length, hand breadth, palm length, finger
lengths, finger widths, thumb lengths and
thumb widths
• NFPA lists glove sizes as XXS, XS, S, M,
L, XL and XXL defined by finger and palm
lengths and circumferences speculated to
be 40 years old and not necessarily
derived from firefighter measurements.
• Hand length = middle finger + palm length
• Glove sizing often uses 1 or 2, but not all
three
NIOSH Firefighter Anthropometric Study (NFAS)
surveyed 951 FF on equipment fit.
30% of men and 62% of women reported problems with the
f it of their glov es
• A common comment was the gloves
reduce dexterity, often citing the fact the
gloves were too big and bulky, making it
difficult to grasp small objects and work
knobs on radios
• The gloves reduced their ability to grip and
operate tools and equipment, hold handles
and climb ladders
1
4/11/2014
• Mean hand length for male and female
firefighters compared to the midsize value
of NFPA 1971
• Hand length, both male and female
firefighters compared to mid size value
specified by NFPA
• Simple sizing schemes do not generally
work to provide a full range of fit for
firefighter populations. J. and G. Stull
• The current glove sizing system does not
seem to adequately fit male or female
firefighters presently in the fire service
• Firefighters cannot safely and efficiently
carry out their duties if their gear does not
fit properly
• Male firefighters demonstrate longer hand
lengths for sizes S, M and L. Only at XL do
NFPA recommended sizes coincide.
• Female firefighters exhibit a similar trend
with XS, S and M, however L glove
includes female firefighters with shorter
hand lengths than recommended (likely
due to being issued “available” sizes)
• Finger and hand shapes are different betw een
men and w omen
• Men have more variations in their configurations,
although hand breadth and hand length ratios on
average appear to be the same
• How ever, the scale dow n version of gloves
designed for w omen based on men’s hand/finger
dimensions may w ork for the palm area, but not
the finger areas
• We need to develop better sizing systems
for gloves based on the new
anthropometric data gathered on the
modern firefighter
2
High Visibility Apparel:
ANSI/ISEA 107/207 Revision
and NFPA 1971
Tim J. Gardner, 3 Company
Chair, ISEA High Visibility Products Group
Presentation Outline
•
•
•
•
Overview of ISEA
History of HV apparel standards
HV apparel regulations – FHWA
Future of HV apparel standards
Who is ISEA?
• The trade association for manufacturers and
suppliers of personal protective technologies
• Membership of more than 70 manufacturers,
distributors and test labs representing more
than 100 brands
Who is ISEA?
•
•
•
•
Lobbying organization
Market trend resource
Industry partner
Accredited standards developing
organization, e.g.,
– ANSI/ISEA 107-2010, High-Visibility Safety
Apparel and Headwear
– ANSI/ISEA 207-2011, High-Visibility Public
Safety Vests
History of US HV Apparel Standards
• ANSI/ISEA 107 first published in 1999
– Based in part on EN 471-1993 standard (and its
BSI precursor from 1985)
– Drafted by ISEA High Visibility Products Group
– Established Performance Classes for garments
based on visible amounts of background and
retro-reflective materials
– Outlined appropriate designs to promote
maximum visibility
– Revised in 2004 and 2009
History of US HV Apparel Standards
• ANSI/ISEA 207 first published in 2006
– Developed in direct response to public safety
needs
– Competing hazards in public safety sector
– Design features to allow for identification, tear
away capabilities
– Revised in 2011
History of US HV Apparel Standards
• Early acceptance of ANSI/ISEA 107 by
majority of state DOTs
• NIOSH recommended use of HV apparel as a
best practice in work zones
• Other industry standards acknowledge
ANSI/ISEA 107 and ANSI/ISEA 207
– ANSI A10.47 – Work Zone Safety for Highway
Construction
– NFPA 1901 – Automotive Fire Apparatus
HV Apparel – FHWA Requirements
• Manual on Uniform Traffic Control (MUTCD)
is the governing document for roadway work
• 2003 Edition of MUTCD
– Required ANSI/ISEA 107-1999 Class 2 for
flaggers only
– Recommended its use for other personnel
• 2006 FHWA rule [23 CFR part 634]
– Required ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 for all workers on
or near federal-aid roadways
HV Apparel – FHWA Requirements
• 2008 FHWA addresses safety concerns for
firefighters and other emergency personnel
– During exposure to flame, heat, hazardous
materials, could use NFPA gear
• 2009 Edition of MUTCD
– Incorporated [23 CFR part 634]
– Requires ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Performance
Class 2 or 3 for all workers on any public access
roadway regardless of the type
HV Apparel – FHWA Requirements
• 2009 Edition of MUTCD (continued)
– Allows firefighters, law enforcement, other
emergency services personnel to use ANSI/ISEA
207-2006 public safety vests
• Acceptance of current versions of ISEA
standards
– Letters of interpretation permit use of ANSI/ISEA
107-2010 and ANSI/ISEA 207-2011 garments,
based on performance equivalence
Future of U.S. HV apparel standards
• ANSI/ISEA 107
undergoing
comprehensive review
and revision
– Expected published
revision in 2015
• Possible withdrawal of
ANSI/ISEA 207
Future of U.S. HV apparel standards
• Areas under consideration
– Other acceptable fluorescent colors
– “Type” scheme for garments based on expected
use or application
– Material amounts based on smaller body frames
– 3rd party certification?
– Updated test methods and references
– Clarification of design requirements
Implications of Combining 107 & 207
+
= ???
Emergency and Incident Responder High Visibility PPE Material Areas
1000
900
800
700
Retroreflective
Area, sq in
Fluorescent
Area, sq in
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
ANSI 107-2010 ANSI 207-2011 NFPA 1971NFPA 1971NFPA 1971Class 2
minimums
2013 "2 Arm 2013 "Project 2013 sz 28 "2
minimums
Stripes" pattern Fires" sz 46-48 Leg Stripes"
sz 46-48
First Responder High Visibility Garment Study
“This study compared the conspicuity of
three types of first-responder safety
garments (NFPA 1971-2007 turnout gear
coats, and ANSI/ISEA 107 and 207 safety
vests).
“…The results suggest that all three
garment types studied are equivalent in
making first responders conspicuous as
pedestrians when working an emergency
response scene in close proximity to
traffic.
“…Whether an NFPA or ANSI/ISEA
compliant garment is worn, first
responders are equally likely to be
detected by passing motorists, and as such
these garments should be considered to be
equivalent.”
For more information
• Contact ISEA
– Dan Shipp, president
dshipp@safetyequipment.org
– Cristine Fargo, director of member and technical services
cfargo@safetyequipment.org
– Dan Glucksman, public affairs director
dglucksman@safetyequipment.org
• 703-525-1695
• www.safetyequipment.org
• www.safetysignals.org