DESIGN PROJECT 2 Title: Personal Protective equipment for fire fighters
ROOPAL KHARE ADM -2012
Project Summary •
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The project gave a better understanding and learning about functional garments and the people who use them. The project summarizes how a fireman risks his life while on duty and how can apparel help in overcoming some of the major physical hurdles and cognitive issues related to their job. We talk about the equipment used, ergonomics and anthropometric concerns which help in improving the current uniforms and help in assisting the fireman also making him feel comfortable and most importantly safe in the harsh n hazardous environment they are exposed to everyday. To study the various processes and treatments given to fabrics and equipment which help in saving the life of a fireman. To get a better understanding of the work environment, their duties and their functioning w.r.t their job and their tasks (drills, training exercises and wildfire circumstances) Thus the project gives me a good opportunity to contribute to these brave men and women who risk their lives every time they go out for their job. Also understand the mental psyche of the people and their efforts to save civilians and fighting some of the major catastrophes.
Research and analysis
GANDHINAGAR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION FIRE STATION
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Emergency no- 101 / 23222742 Address- Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation fire station, Sector- 11, near cinemax, Gujarat 382010. The Firemen have dedicated their lives and have been on high alert for reacting fast at situations that demand their presence. On visiting the Gandhinagar Fire Station, we learnt a lot about the lives of the firemen, and how their day goes.
GOALS OF FIREFIGHTING(in order of priority)
Personal safety
Saving victims' lives
Saving property
Protecting the environment
Firefighters during their job are exposed to: – water – static electricity – fire – Chemicals – fumes Their protective clothing have to be: – fireproof – Waterproof Firefighters' protective clothing has to satisfy the general requirements: – convenience during interventions, – comfort under normal climatic conditions and – proper ventilation system performed due to release of heat produced by natural firefighters' metabolism. – thermal protection,
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR FIREFIGHTERS
Personal protective equipment
Collective protective equipment
Protective clothing
Climbing ropes
Footwear
Equipment for respiratory protection
Masks
Decontamination equipment
Belts
Detectors
Helmets
OPERATIONAL STEPS INVOLVED IN CASE OF FIRE
Phone call
Protect themselves from fire by forming a water barrier in front of them
Extinguish the fire and return
Confirmation
Reach the venue and , 1- save people 2- save objects
Return to the Station and refill all the resources for future.
Ask the type/degree of fire- in godown, house, car etc
Fire men change in the truck
Ring the alarm
Fire fighter truck leaves within 2 mins, along with Ambulance
Users Sex- male Age- 18 years to 55 years
Off site
On site
Control operators
Driver
Maintenance
Firemen
Station fire officer
ENVIRONMENT AND INTERACTION
Exposure to• Heat • Flames • Fumes • Chemical waste • Toxic waste • Water • Sewerage • Collapsing buildings • Height
Risks involved •machines; •mechanical risks; •noise and vibration; •heat stress; •excavations; •falls from heights, on the same level, and due to slipping.
PRODUCTS AND INTERACTION
Activities involved Bending Squatting Running Lifting Spraying Climbing Crawling Jumping
Risks involved machines; mechanical risks; noise and vibration; heat stress; excavations; falls from heights, on the same level due to slipping.
Indentified problem areas
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Lack of fast drying fabric. Cotton is used in winter. So after it gets wet, it takes time to dry. Lack of warm clothing during winters Problems of maintenance and hygiene Congestion and breathing difficulty in aluminum suit Problems of fast accessibility and wearing the uniform Size issues- same size for uniform and shoes for all Heavy Weight issue( suit weighs almost 15-20 kgs with oxygen cylinder) which slows their movement
Comfort of the protective clothing can be classified as:
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Thermophysiological comfort - maintain a comfortable state of heat and moisture (thermal resistance, partial air permeability, transport of moisture through the material, the amount of moisture in the material, the possibility of refusing water ).
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Sensory comfort - various sensory stimuli during the contact of fabrics with body contact (rough or soft cloth, a feeling of warmth or coldness of the body due to contact with the fabric, creating static electricity, tingling sensation, itching ).
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Comfort during the use of clothes - the ability of clothing to allow free movement of the body, reduce stress or follows the contours of the body / body part (elongation, weight ).
EXISTING UNIFORMS & SOLUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD
1. Turnout clothing Turnout clothing can consist of a combination of trousers with an overall strap attached, boots, and a jacket. According to NFPA( National Fire Protection Association), all turnout clothing must have three components: • an outer shell : Nomex/ Kevlar blend with rip stop weave and water repellent finish. • a moisture barrier, • a thermal barrier. In between these layers are pockets of air referred to as "dead zones“.
Turnout clothing consists of :
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Turnout trousers Turnout trousers will be the first article of clothing that a firefighter will usually wear. Suspenders worn with the turnout trousers should be the heavy duty type. Most experienced interior firefighters (firefighters that enter the structure in an emergency) will carry, in their turnout trouser pockets, various tools and equipment as well as rope they may need during an emergency.
NOMEX CARGO POCKETS
HORIZONTAL PADDING AT KNEE RADIUM REFLECTORS
SUSPENDERS
• Turnout coat -A turnout coat is the type of jacket typically worn by firefighters. -Oversized pockets allow for carrying tools and equipment, and reflective safety stripes ensure that firefighters remain visible to each other. -Protective coats usually has a Velcro or zipper functions. -There is also a storm flap which covers this closure area and protects it against damage and loosening. -Wristlets, 4 inch (according to NFPA) 100% Nomex coverings along the distal end of the coat arms.
Moisture barrier lining Loops to attach dog clips
Storm flap with velcro closure
Reflective bands
8” x 4” x 2” pocket with drain holes
Self material reinforced cuffs for longer life
Wristlet in Kevlar
Thumb hole for better grip
• Overalls The overalls that are available are of the same materials and specifications. Usually an overall has a cord built in around the waist to make it fit better. Because of its size it's more difficult to scrunch up the overall around the boots.
• Boots - Firefighter turnout boots are usually sized as a regular shoe, but are made of rubber or leather with a Boron Steel toe insert. - The boots are slipped inside the legs of the trousers to maintain a barrier from the heat given off by the fire. - Due to the enormous amounts of potential hazards at a fire scene to the feet, turnout boots are required to be able to handle a variety of different burns and blows. - All boots are required to be outfitted with safety toes and a puncture resistant midsole plate to prevent puncture from sharp objects that may be stepped on.
• Helmet -It is designed to protect a firefighter from falling debris and injury to the head while fighting a fire. -It provides a hard shell, electrical, heat, and steam burn protection. -Some types of helmets have goggles or a visor. Goggles or a visor are used to protect the firefighter's eyes during rescue and extrication operations. -Fire helmets are constructed of various materials including non conductive materials for protection against electrical currents, carbon fiber and plastic combination for a lightweight design for comfort with Kevlar lining.
There are four basic components to firefighting helmets: •
Helmet shell: Well balanced, lightweight, and designed to provide maximum protection. Contains a Front Brim (provides protection to "eyes and facial" area), Rear Brim (Protection to "neck" from debris and water run-off), and Raised Top (Provides stability from impact from above).
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Impact ring: 3/8" thick sponge rubber Impact Ring to absorb impact energy
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Helmet liner: High Density plastic liner, made of fire retardant cotton and nomex; completely adjustable;
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Chin strap: 3/4" wide, black nylon w/ Velcro on one end, leather backed "postman" side buckle. The leather helps protect the skin of the cheek from the metal buckle
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Flash hood/Nomex hood
-When helmets do not provide built-in protection for the ears, neck and part of the face a protective firefighting hood is worn by firefighters. ----These are fitted and designed to protect the firefighter’s ears, neck, and the parts of his face which are not protected by the SCBA(self contained breathing apparatus)mask. -First, the hood is tucked into the collar. The SCBA mask is then donned, and the hood pulled over the face seal to cover any exposed skin.
Hand Protection The most common used these days are the work glove and the structural firefighting glove. • • •
Work gloves are a must for all fire services. Extrication gloves are similar in design and appearance to auto mechanic's gloves but are made of a heavier rip-proof and puncture-resistant material. For an actual working fire, structural firefighting gloves must be worn.
Work Gloves
Structural firefighting Gloves
2.2 Secondary Research
Types of Functional wear for Fire Fighters at AMC Station uniform-Station uniform are worn by the fire-fighters in the station Turnout gear is to be worn over the station garments during any call that a fire-fighter is called upon. The station uniform is worn with the safety shoes, commonly referred to as work boots.
Bunker Gear-Bunker Gear or “Turnout Gear� are terms used to refer to the outer protective clothing.. Modern turnout jackets and pants are made of fire resistant fabrics (mainly Aramids such as Nomex and Kevlar) or olybenzimidazole (PBI) fibres.
Shoulder epaulette
Reflector
Wash care label
Storm flap with Velcro
Accessories
Hazmat clothing- Hazmat clothing provides protection against poisonous or dangerous solids, liquids (splashing) and gasses.
Sealed hood
Sealed zipper
Pressure Bleed Valve. Valve. Integral gloves
integral booties
Fire fighting boots
self-contained breathing apparatus
Built-in provision to accommodate the SCBA tank.
Opening of the Hazmat suit
2.3 i)Body movement and stress point analysis To understand the stress points, everyday task and movements of the firemen were performed. The joints and the muscle movement was noted to see which areas are under maximum stress. This study helps in understanding which body joints need extra protection to prevent wear and tear during tasks.
Bending and squatting involve a lot of muscle movement
The movements of fire fighters is imitated to understand stress points. The red dots indicate the joints and the yellow line indicate the muscle involved during movement
Operating the fire hose
Crawling under the fire
Lifting of equipment and breaking of walls during rescue operations
The movements of fire fighters is imitated to understand stress points. The red dots indicate the joints and the yellow line indicate the muscle involved during movement
Bending and squatting
Pulling the fire hose
Extended neckline is uncomfortable and choking in hot environment
During lifting and bending , a lot of stress is created in the fabric. Also the denim is thick that the body shows alarming rise in temperature.
The movements of fire fighters is imitated wearing the current bunker uniform to understand the stress points and also to observe the designing faults. The red dots indicate the joints and the yellow line indicate the muscle involved during movement
The everyday tasks of fire fighters shown in stick figures. The red dots indicate the joints under constant pressure
Fireproof materials • Twaron • Teijinconex • Technora • Nomex (a DuPont trademark) Nomex is a registered trademark for flame-resistant meta-aramid material developed in the early 1960s by DuPont and first marketed in 1967 • Kevlar Kevlar is the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber, related to other aramids such as Nomex and Technora. Developed at DuPont in 1965
Case studies • • • • •
Fire fighting – challenges and breakthroughs The real heroes Inside a fireman’s mind (cognitive analysis) Critical analysis of strain Material testing
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Ergonomic concerns
Paw grips/ pinch grips
H-point symantics
Pressure points/ extension points
Anthropometric analysis Critical analysis of strain
Physical tasks undertaken
Easy to wear/ quick response time
Reach and accessibility
Prioritization and classification of controls and tasks
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Extreme endurance Exposure to high temperatures and hazardous materials
Air lifting/ air mobile extinguishers Fire retardant materials and fabric treatments
Rescue operations Fire fighting challenges and breakthroughs Easy to wear/ quick response time
Fireman safety
Water resistant
Fire fighting standards and codes to be followed
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Optimistic psyche
Team spirit and workmanship
Work stress
Hierarchy and ranking
Job priorities
Work station related human factors/ work environment cognition
Cognitive analysis of a fire fighter Peer pressure
Bravery , heroic tales
Economical factorspay, rewards, incentives
Endure wear , abrasion, rips, scalping
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High tensile strength
Nomex certified calibration NFPA and ISO standards
Water resistant
Material testing Thermo-optical properties and thermophobic analysis
Ease in wear ability and quick response time High specific heat
Thermal conductivity
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Endangering their own livelihood Family stresses and work related stresses
Losing a peer
Unsung heroes and their bravery
Peronal stories and life experiences
The real heroes Rescue operations undertaken
Incentives, rewards and honor
Endurance and strength
Life saving experiences
2.5 Research Conclusion
CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF BODY PARTS WITH RESPECT TO FREQUENCY OF USE
CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF STRAIN ON HUMAN BODY JOINTS AND MUSCLES
2.6 Analysis and Inferences: WHAT IS REQUIRED
Ideation sketches and concept development for details
Adding a knit panel in the crotch area to enhance movement
Extended J and high waist trouser prevent slipping during rigorous movements
Knit panel
Pleating at the crotch area
Diamond crotch
DESIGN ALTERNATIVES FOR THE CROTCH AREA IN A TURNOUT GEAR
Knit panel
Adding a pleat at the back
Adding a pleat at the shoulder blade that extends from front to back
Images showing the extension of pleat fabric during movement
PLEATING AT JOINTS TO FACILITATE MAXIMUM MOVEMENT
Storm flap at Centre front for faster closure
Extended J with Velcro
FR Velcro closures on sleeves
Pleating on knees to facilitate movement
Alternatives to buttons and zipper for faster closure
TRIMS AND DETAILS FOR FASTER CLOSURE
Extended back in the upper garment to protect the wearer while bending and squatting
Ideation sketches and concept development for station garment FR COTTON 97% cotton 3% spandex
FR print and logo
Bellows at various areas to facilitate movement during emergencies
Rib at the bottom to prevent trouser from slipping
Ideation sketches and concept development for station garment
FR print and logo
FR cotton Knit panels to facilitate movement
Stirrups to prevent slipping of the trouser while wearing the turnout gear
FR knit Single Pleat Diamond crotch
Straps to tighten the hem while putting on turnout gear
Ideation sketch and concept development for rescue gear Pocket for communication device FR print and logo
5 cm FR Reflective tapes for better visibility in dim lights Extended back to cover the skin during bending and squatting Pocket for torch Knee and elbow padding to prevent scraping of skin Outer layer: Nomex IIIA Shoes with steel toe
PROPOSED DESIGN FOR FIREFIGHTING GEAR Pocket for communication device FR print and logo Knee and elbow padding to prevent scraping of skin
Pocket for torch
5 cm FR Reflective tapes for better visibility in dim lights Outer layer: Nomex IIIA
Shoes with steel toe
PROPOSED DESIGN FOR STATION WEAR FR COTTON 97% cotton 3% spandex
FR print and logo
Bellows at the back to facilitate movement during emergencies
Shoes removed during emergencies
Raglan sleeves provide better movement
Area for FR print and logo
Bellows at the back and knees facilitate movement during emergencies
FR COTTON 97% cotton 3% spandex
PROPOSED DESIGN FOR STATION WEAR IN ALTERNATE FABRIC
5 cm FR Reflective tapes for better visibility in dim lights Pocket for communication device FR print and logo
Knee and elbow padding to prevent scraping of skin
Pocket for torch
Proposed fabric: Single layer: Nomex IIIA
PROPOSED DESIGN FOR TURNOUT GEAR IN ALTERNATE FABRIC
CONCLUSION • • •
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During the project, as a group we came to the conclusion that before the development of the gear, the entire system needed to be rectified. Funding was needed for the fire department from the AMC for better tools and protective clothing. Though a fixed amount was allotted for clothing, the money was not put in use. Interacting with the firemen on a daily basis, it was brought into light that there were less number of firemen in the station and because of that no fire drills took place as everyone was busy working and doing overtime. More fire recruitments were needed in the department. The Ahmedabad firemen did not have the turnout gear. Instead they had a proban finished denim wear which was only effective in cases of where fire was extinguished from far. In cases where the firemen had to enter a site there was no gear provided. A good fire fighting gear was a necessity. Due to lack of funds, the firemen did not get their protective garments on time. Many of them were wearing their offsite uniform while performing fire activities onsite. Also the firemen themselves wanted a better turnout gear as the current gear was ineffective in many cases. The clothing was heavy, outdated and out of shape. More customised and smart gears were needed which were also affordable for the government. The proposed design takes into consideration the various problems that is faced in the current fire fighting gear and suggests a solution to it.