Reducing Heat Impact

Empirical evidence key to advancing firefighter PPE performance

Until about 15 years ago, fire and rescue services and firefighter PPE manufacturers focused on advancing the technical performance of firefighter garments to increase the level of thermal protection. Since the turn of the century, a growing awareness of the physiological impact on the firefighter of wearing protective clothing prompted research to be undertaken to test its nature and extent.

Ian Mitchell, Joint Managing Director, Bristol Uniforms looks at some of the research work undertaken in recent years and the contribution it has made to the design of lighter, safer protective garments.

With acknowledgements to Fire & Rescue magazine http://ebooks.hgluk.com/~production/ebooks/F&R/F&R_Q4_2013/