SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1989
STP22932S

Comparative Heat Stress of Four Chemical Protective Suits

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A primary limitation of chemical protective clothing is the cumulative effects of exposure to warm environments and activity which limit the duration of exposure due to heat storage and associated heat stress. Five subjects were exposed to three test environments while walking on a treadmill. They wore four versions of semipermeable battle dress overgarments (BDO) consisting of a current issue overgarment and three prototypes constructed with carbon or polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) laminates. The three test environments were 29.4°C, 20% rh, 5 m∙s-1 wind speed (E1); 29.4°C, 20% rh, 1.1 m∙s-1 wind speed (E2) and 29.4°C, 85% rh and 5 m∙s-1 wind speed (E3). Rectal temperature (Tre), chest, forearm and calf skin temperatures, heart rate and metabolic rate (M) were measured. Subjects drank water ad libitum during each walk period. The test procedure consisted of a 10 min baseline, and four 25 min walk sessions at treadmill speed of 1.3 or 1.6 m∙s-1 (M≂500 W) separated by 5 minute rests. Differences between uniforms were significant (p⩽0.05) for mean skin temperature (Tsk) and the change in rectal temperature (ΔTre) in environments E1 and E2. In comparing prototype uniforms to the issue BDO (Tukey's t-test), on the basis of reduced ΔTre and Tsk in E2, one uniform (carbon sphere polyester taffeta laminate without fire retardant) was significantly better in terms of the heat strain experienced by subjects.

Author Information

Santee, WR
Wenger, CB
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Details
Developed by Committee: F23
Pages: 41–50
DOI: 10.1520/STP22932S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-5093-5
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-1297-1