A categorization tool for fabric systems used in firefighters' clothing based on their thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performances

Mandal, Sumit; Annaheim, Simon; Capt, André; Greve, Jemma; Camenzind, Martin; Rossi, René M.

doi:10.1177/0040517518809055

Cited by 17 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…However, these tests are fabric destructive in nature, time consuming, and/or expensive to carry out on a regular basis [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. As a result, previous studies have focused on characterizing and developing empirical models to predict the protective and comfort performance based on physical properties of the fabrics [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]. For this, first, significant fabrics’ properties that affect the protective and comfort performance of fabrics were identified.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization and Modeling of Thermal Protective and Thermo-Physiological Comfort Performance of Polymeric Textile Materials—A Review

et al. 2021

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In 2017, more than 60,000 firefighters and oilfield-workers injuries and fatalities occurred while they were working under various thermal hazards such as flame, radiant heat, steam, etc., or due to their significant heat stress related discomfort. The majority of these burn injuries and fatalities results from an inadequate protection and comfort provided by firefighters’ and oilfield-workers’ fire protective polymeric textile materials used in their workwear. Hence, both the thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performance of fabrics used in workwear significantly contribute to limit firefighters’ and oilfield-workers’ skin burns and heat stress. Considering this, previous studies have focused on characterizing and developing empirical models to predict the protective and comfort performance based on physical properties of the fabrics. However, there are still some technical knowledge gaps in the existing literature related to this. This paper critically reviewed the literature on characterization and modeling of thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performance of fire protective textile fabric materials. The key issues in this field have been indicated in order to provide direction for the future research and advance this scientific field for better protection and comfort of the firefighters and oilfield-workers.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization and Modeling of Thermal Protective and Thermo-Physiological Comfort Performance of Polymeric Textile Materials—A Review

et al. 2021

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“…The research focused on the effect of fabric mass and thickness on thermal resistance, air permeability, evaporation resistance and water spreading rate. Some studies have dealt with the categorization of commercial fabrics woven in different weave structures [26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Fabric Weave on Thermal Radiation Resistance and Water Vapor Permeability

Kiš¹,

Brnada

Kovačević

2020

Polymers

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In this work, aramid fibers were used to develop new, high-performance fabrics for high-temperature protective clothing. The research was based on the impact of the weave structure on fabric resistance to radiant heat. The goals of the research were primarily related to the development of new fabric structures created by the weave structure, which gives better protection of the body against high temperatures in relation to the standard weave structures that are used today. According to the results obtained it can be concluded that the fabric weave significantly affects the fabric structure, which consequently determines the effectiveness of protection against high temperatures. The justification for the use of multi-weft and strucks weave structure, which provides greater thermal protection and satisfactory breathability than commonly used weave structures, was ascertained.

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“…It means a positive relationship exists between the air permeability and transmitted thermal energy. This is because a fabric system with high air permeability possesses high porosity [8,53]. Due to this high porosity, the flammable liquids may easily transmit through the fabric system to the wearers’ skins.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization and modeling of thermal protective fabrics under Molotov cocktail exposure

Mandal

Song

Rossi

et al. 2021

Journal of Industrial Textiles

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This study aims to characterize and model the thermal protective fabrics usually used in workwear under Molotov cocktail exposure. Physical properties of the fabrics were measured; and, thermal protective performances of the fabrics were evaluated under a fire exposure generated from the laboratory-simulated Molotov cocktail. The performance was calculated in terms of the amount of thermal energy transmitted through the fabrics; additionally, the time required to generate a second-degree burn on wearers’ bodies was predicted from the calculated transmitted thermal energy. For the characterization, the parameters that affected the protective performance were identified and discussed with regards to the theory of heat and mass transfer. The relationships between the properties of the fabric systems and the protective performances were statistically analyzed. The significant fabric properties affecting the performance were further employed in the empirical modeling techniques − Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for predicting the protective performance. The Coefficient of Determination (R2) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of the developed MLR and ANN models were also compared to identify the best-fit model for predicting the protective performance. This study found that thermal resistance and evaporative resistance are two significant properties (P-Values < 0.05) that negatively affect the transmitted thermal energy through the fabric systems. Also, R2 and RMSE values of ANN model were much higher (R2 = 0.94) and lower (RMSE = 37.42), respectively, than MLR model (R2 = 0.73; RMSE = 191.38); therefore, ANN is the best-fit model to predict the protective performance. In summary, this study could build an in-depth understanding of the parameters that can affect the protective performance of fabrics used in the workwear of high-risk sectors employees and would provide them better occupational health and safety.

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A categorization tool for fabric systems used in firefighters' clothing based on their thermal protective and thermo-physiological comfort performances

Cited by 17 publications

References 16 publications

Characterization and Modeling of Thermal Protective and Thermo-Physiological Comfort Performance of Polymeric Textile Materials—A Review

Characterization and Modeling of Thermal Protective and Thermo-Physiological Comfort Performance of Polymeric Textile Materials—A Review

Influence of Fabric Weave on Thermal Radiation Resistance and Water Vapor Permeability

Characterization and modeling of thermal protective fabrics under Molotov cocktail exposure

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