SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 29 September 2016
STP159320160003

Alternative Methodologies for Determining the Impact of Clothing Ventilation in Structural Firefighter Turnout Suits

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The purpose of this research was to investigate the use of indirect measurement systems for determining garment ventilation in structural firefighter turnout suits. Clothing ventilation designs were implemented in firefighter turnouts to determine the benefit of ventilation toward heat loss. Ventilated turnout suits were assessed for heat loss improvement, compared to a standard control, using sweating mannequin testing methodologies. For this research, a comprehensive ventilation study was conducted using ASTM standards to determine the effectiveness of ventilation designs in structural firefighter turnouts. Ventilation designs were tested on a sweating thermal mannequin while standing and moving, with and without wind. Both thermal and evaporative resistance measurements were taken according to ASTM F1291-10 and ASTM F2370-10. A predicted total heat loss (THL) value was calculated from these measurements as an indication of ventilation performance of each design. Analysis of the data included alternative methodologies such as a heat loss ratio calculation to map the improvement in THL across all zones of the sweating mannequin and estimated ventilation calculations per the traditional direct measurement method for determining clothing ventilation. The relationship between THL values and predicted ventilation rates was examined. Results from this study will be used to design state-of-the-art prototypes as part of the revolutionary modern turnout suit project at North Carolina State University.

Author Information

McQuerry, Meredith
North Carolina State University, Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science Dept., Raleigh, NC, US
DenHartog, Emiel
North Carolina State University, Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science Dept., Raleigh, NC, US
Barker, Roger
North Carolina State University, Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science Dept., Raleigh, NC, US
Hummel, Alex
North Carolina State University, Textile Engineering, Chemistry, and Science Dept., Raleigh, NC, US
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Details
Developed by Committee: F23
Pages: 313–330
DOI: 10.1520/STP159320160003
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7632-4
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7631-7