Skip Nav Destination
ASTM Selected Technical Papers
Performance of Protective Clothing and Equipment: 11th Volume, Innovative Solutions to Evolving Challenges
By
Karen Lehtonen,
Karen Lehtonen
Symposium Chair and STP Editor
1
LION
, Dayton, OH,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
Brian P. Shiels,
Brian P. Shiels
Symposium Chair and STP Editor
2
ArcWear
, Louisville, KY,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
R. Bryan Ormond
R. Bryan Ormond
Symposium Chair and STP Editor
3
North Carolina State University
, Raleigh, NC,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
ISBN:
978-0-8031-7694-2
No. of Pages:
319
Publisher:
ASTM International
Publication date:
2020
eBook Chapter
Effect of a Lightweight Structural Firefighter Turnout Composite on Physiological Comfort
By
Meredith McQuerry
,
Meredith McQuerry
1
Textile Testing Laboratory, Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship, Florida State University
, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
Margaret Morrissey
,
Margaret Morrissey
2
Korey Stringer Institute, Dept. of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut
, 2095 Hillside Rd. U-1110, Storrs, CT 06269,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
Jacob Kisiolek
,
Jacob Kisiolek
3
School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Northern Colorado
, 501 20th St., Greeley, CO 80639,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
Stephanie Gipson
,
Stephanie Gipson
4
Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine, Dept. of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University
, 1104 Spirit Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306,
US
Search for other works by this author on:
Michael Ormsbee
Michael Ormsbee
4
Institute of Sports Sciences and Medicine, Dept. of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, Florida State University
, 1104 Spirit Way, Tallahassee, FL 32306,
US
5
Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, University of KawaZulu-Natal
, Durban 4041,
ZA
Search for other works by this author on:
Page Count:
28
-
Published:2020
Citation
McQuerry, M, Morrissey, M, Kisiolek, J, Gipson, S, & Ormsbee, M. "Effect of a Lightweight Structural Firefighter Turnout Composite on Physiological Comfort." Performance of Protective Clothing and Equipment: 11th Volume, Innovative Solutions to Evolving Challenges. Ed. Lehtonen, K, Shiels, BP, & Ormond, RB. 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959 : ASTM International, 2020.
Download citation file:
This research investigated the impact of a novel lightweight turnout composite on the physiological response and comfort of structural firefighters during intense physical activity. Lighter weight materials were incorporated into a prototype turnout suit. Four ensembles were evaluated for physiological response and comfort: (1) a lightweight (LW) prototype, (2) a traditional turnout suit (Control), (3) a single-layer (SL) outer-shell garment, and (4) a base layer (BL; t-shirt and shorts). Ten male career firefighters participated in a human wear trial, which involved wearing all four test garments (LW, Control, SL, and BL) in two test conditions: graded exercise test (GXT) and a firefighter simulation exercise (FFSE). For the GXT, participants ran for 2 min at a 0% grade for each of three predetermined running speeds before the incline was increased by 2% every 2 min until volitional exhaustion occurred. For the FFSE, participants were asked to perform realistic firefighting exercises, including a hose carry, dummy drag, weighted rope lift, stair climbs, and tire flips. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), blood lactate, intestinal core temperature, skin temperature, sweat rate, and heart rate, were measured during both test conditions, with the exception of VO2peak, which was collected during the GXT only. Subjective thermal comfort assessments (perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and comfort) were also collected for all test sessions. The relationship between material weight, ensemble weight, and physiological strain was analyzed. No significant differences were found between the test ensembles for core temperature, skin temperature, or heart rate. Findings indicate firefighters experienced similar levels of physiological strain, regardless of turnout suit material weight, during both exercise protocols. Significant reductions in heat strain may require whole-garment layering modifications as exhibited by the SL ensemble, which significantly extended the time to volitional exhaustion, reduced subject weight loss during the GXT, and lowered skin temperature during the FFSE.
References
1.
Fahy
R. F.
, Leblanc
P. R.
, and Molis
J. L.
, Firefighter Fatalities in the United States–2017
(Quincy, MA
: National Fire Protection Association
, 2018
).2.
Boorady
L. M.
, Barker
J.
, Lee
Y.
, Lin
S.
, and Ashdown
S. P.
, “Exploration of Firefighter Turnout Gear Part 1: Identifying Male Firefighter User Needs
,” Journal of Textile Apparel, Technology and Management
8
, no. 1
(2013
): 1–13.3.
Park
H.
, Park
J.
, Lin
S.
, and Boorady
L.
, “Assessment of Firefighters' Needs for Personal Protective Equipment
,” Fashion and Textiles
1
, no. 8
(2014
): 1–13.4.
McQuerry
M.
, DenHartog
E.
, and Barker
R.
, “Impact of Reinforcements on Heat Stress in Structural Firefighter Turnout Suits
,” Journal of the Textile Institute
109
, no. 10
(2018
): 1–7.5.
McQuerry
M.
, Barker
R.
, Hummel
A.
, and Deaton
S.
, “The Cost of a Pocket: How Additional Reinforcements Impact THL and TPP
,” Fire Engineering
168
, no. 12
(2015
): 78–79.6.
7.
Havenith
G.
, “Heat Balance When Wearing Protective Clothing
,” Annals of Occupational Hygiene
43
, no. 5
(1999
): 289–296.8.
Deng
M.
, Wang
Y.
, and Li
P.
, “Effect of Air Gaps Characteristics on Thermal Protective Performance of Firefighters' Clothing: A Review
,” International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology
30
, no. 2
(2018
): 246–267.9.
McQuerry
M.
, Barker
R.
, and DenHartog
E.
, “Relationship between Novel Design Modifications and Heat Stress Relief in Structural Firefighters' Protective Clothing
,” Applied Ergonomics
70
(2018
): 260–268.10.
Nayak
R.
, Houshyar
S.
, and Padhye
R.
, “Recent Trends and Future Scope in the Protection and Comfort of Fire-fighters' Personal Protective Clothing
,” Fire Science Reviews
3
, no. 4
(2014
): 1–19.11.
Jin
L.
, Cao
M. L.
, Yu
W.
, Hu
J. Y.
, Yoon
K. J.
, Park
P. K.
, and Li
Y.
, “New Approaches to Evaluate the Performance of Firefighter Protective Clothing Materials
,” Fire Technology
54
, no. 5
(2018
): 1283–1307.12.
Barr
D.
, Gregson
W.
, and Reilly
T.
, “The Thermal Ergonomics of Firefighting Reviewed
,” Applied Ergonomics
41
, no. 1
(2010
): 161–172.13.
McCarthy
L. K.
and Marzo
M.
, “The Application of Phase Change Material in Fire Fighter Protective Clothing
,” Fire Technology
48
, no. 4
(2011
): 841–864.14.
Hu
Y.
, Huang
D.
, Qi
Z.
, He
S.
, Yang
H.
, and Zhang
H.
, “Modeling Thermal Insulation of Firefighting Protective Clothing Embedded with Phase Change Material
,” Heat and Mass Transfer
49
, no. 4
(2012
): 567–573.15.
Wang
S. X.
, Li
Y.
, Hu
J. Y.
, Tokura
H.
, and Song
Q. W.
, “Effect of Phase-Change Material on Energy Consumption of Intelligent Thermal-Protective Clothing
,” Polymer Testing
25
, no. 5
(2006
): 580–587.16.
Shaid
A.
, Wang
L.
, Fergusson
S. M.
, and Padhye
R.
, “Effect of Aerogel Incorporation in PCM-Containing Thermal Liner of Firefighting Garment
,” Clothing and Textile Research Journal
36
, no. 3
(2018
): 151–164.17.
Huang
D.
and Guo
C.
, “Thermal Protective Performance of Silica Aerogel Felt Bedded Firefighters' Protective Clothing under Fire Conditions
,” Materials Science
23
, no. 4
(2017
): 4–11.18.
Jin
L.
, Hong
K.
, and Yoon
K.
, “Effect of Aerogel on Thermal Protective Performance of Firefighter Clothing
,” Journal of Fiber Bioengineering and Informatics
6
, no. 3
(2013
): 315–324.19.
Congalton
D.
, “Shape Memory Alloys for Use in Thermally Activated Clothing, Protection against Flame and Heat
,” Fire and Materials
23
, no. 5
(1999
): 223–226.20.
He
J.
, Lu
Y.
, Wang
L.
, and Ma
N.
, “On the Improvement of Thermal Protection for Temperature-Responsive Protective Clothing Incorporated with Shape Memory Alloy
,” Materials (Basel)
11
, no. 10
(2018
): 1932.21.
Lah
A. S.
, Fah
P.
, Kugler
G.
, and Rijavec
T.
, “A NiTi Alloy Weft Knitted Fabric for Smart Firefighting Clothing
,” Smart Materials and Structures
28
, no. 6
(2019
), 1–11.22.
McQuerry
M.
, DenHartog
E.
, and Barker
R.
, “Garment Ventilation Strategies for Improving Heat Loss in Structural Firefighter Clothing Ensembles
,” AATCC Journal of Research
3
, no. 3
(2016
): 9–14.23.
Reischl
U.
and Stransky
A.
, “Assessment of Ventilation Characteristics of Standard and Prototype Firefighter Protective Clothing
,” Textile Research Journal
50
, no. 3
(1980
): 193–201.24.
Reischl
U.
, Stransky
A.
, Delorme
H. R.
, and Travis
R.
, “Advanced Prototype Firefighter Protective Clothing: Heat Dissipation Characteristics
,” Textile Research Journal
52
, no. 1
(1982
): 66–73.25.
Dai
X.
and Havenith
G.
, “Effect of Clothing Ventilation on Thermal Insulation and Vapor Resistance
,” in Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Environmental Ergonomics
(Boston, MA
: International Society of Environmental Ergonomics
, 2009
), 20–25.26.
Holmér
I.
, “Protective Clothing and Heat Stress
,” Ergonomics
38
, no. 1
(1995
): 166–182.27.
McQuerry
M.
, DenHartog
E.
, and Barker
R.
, “Evaluating Turnout Composite Layering Strategies for Reducing Thermal Burden in Structural Firefighter Protective Clothing Systems
,” Textile Research Journal
87
, no. 10
(2017
): 1217–1225.28.
McQuerry
M.
, DenHartog
E.
, and Barker
R.
, “Analysis of Air Gap Volume in Structural Firefighter Turnout Suit Constructions in Relation to Heat Loss
,” Textile Research Journal
88
, no. 21
(2017
): 2475–2484.29.
McQuerry
M.
, Barker
R.
, and DenHartog
E.
, “Functional Design and Evaluation of Structural Firefighter Turnout Suits for Improved Thermal Comfort: Thermal Manikin and Physiological Modeling
,” Clothing and Textiles Research Journal
36
, no. 3
(2018
): 165–179.30.
Bouskill
L. M.
, Havenith
G.
, Kuklane
K.
, Parsons
K. C.
, and Withey
W. R.
, “Relationship between Clothing Ventilation and Thermal Insulation
,” AIHA Journal
vol. 63
, no. 3
(2002
): 262–268.31.
Adams
P. S.
and Keyserling
W. M.
, “Three Methods for Measuring Range of Motion while Wearing Protective Clothing: A Comparative Study
,” International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
12
, no. 3
(1993
): 177–191.32.
The Haddam Volunteer Fire Company
, “What's It Weigh? Firefighter Gear, Piece by Piece
,” The Haddams-Killingworth Patch
, January 1, 2013
, https://perma.cc/UU8J-F3QQ33.
Duggan
A.
, “Energy Cost of Stepping in Protective Clothing Ensembles
,” Ergonomics
31
, no. 1
(1988
): 3–11.34.
Dorman
L. E.
and Havenith
G.
, “The Effects of Protective Clothing on Energy Consumption during Different Activities
,” European Journal of Applied Physiology
105
, no. 3
(2009
): 463–470.35.
Ciesielska-Wróbel
I.
, DenHartog
E.
, and Barker
R.
, “Measuring the Effects of Structural Turnout Suits on Firefighter Range of Motion and Comfort
,” Ergonomics
60
, no. 7
(2017
): 997–1007.36.
Park
H.
, Kim
S.
, Morris
K.
, Moukperian
M.
, Moon
Y.
, and Stull
J.
, “Effect of Firefighters' Personal Protective Equipment on Gait
,” Applied Ergonomics
48
(2015
): 42–48.37.
FireRescueOne
, “How TECGEN PPE's High-Tech, Lightweight Gear Is Keeping the Heat off Firefighters
,” FireRescue.com
, December 5, 2014
, https://perma.cc/G6LH-US4Q38.
Vukovich
M.
, Fisher
N.
, Demuth
H.
, Young
J.
, and Vaugn
C.
, Energy Cost of Tasks Associated with Firefighters
(Brookings, SD
: Human Performance Laboratory
).39.
Ensari
I.
, Motl
R. W.
, Klaren
R. E.
, Fernhall
B.
, Smith
D. L.
, and Horn
G. P.
, “Firefighter Exercise Protocols Conducted in an Environmental Chamber: Developing a Laboratory-Based Simulated Firefighting Protocol
,” Ergonomics
60
, no. 5
(2017
): 657–668.40.
Dolezal
B. A.
, Barr
D.
, Boland
D. M.
, Smith
D. L.
, and Cooper
C. B.
, “Validation of the Firefighter WFI Treadmill Protocol for Predicting VO2 Max
,” Occupational Medicine (Chic. Ill)
65
, no. 2
(2015
): 143–146.41.
2004 Ergonomics—Evaluation of Thermal Strain by Physiological Measurements
, ISO 9886 (Geneva, Switzerland
: International Standards Organization
, 2004
), 1–28.42.
Moran
D. S.
, Shitzer
A.
, and Pandolf
K. B.
, “A Physiological Strain Index to Evaluate Heat Stress
,” American Journal of Physiology
275
, no. 1, Pt 2
(1998
): R129–R134.43.
Moran
D. S.
, Montain
S. J.
, and Pandolf
K. B.
, “Evaluation of Different Levels of Hydration Using a New Physiological Strain Index
,” American Journal of Physiology
vol. 275
, no. 3
(1998
): 854–860.44.
Borg
G. A.
, “Psychophysical Bases of Perceived Exertion
,” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
14
, no. 5
(1982
): 377–381.45.
1995 Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment: Assessment of the Influence of the Thermal Environment Using Subjective Judgement Scales
, ISO 10551 (Geneva, Switzerland
: International Standards Organization
, 1995
).46.
2001 Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment: Assessment of the Influence of the Thermal Environment Using Subjective Judgement Scales
, ISO 10551 (Geneva, Switzerland
: International Standards Organization
, 2001
).47.
Sawka
M. N.
, Young
J.
, Latzka
W.
, Neufer
P. D.
, Quigley
M. D.
, and Pandolf
K. B.
, “Human Tolerance to Heat Strain during Exercise: Influence of Hydration
,” Journal of Applied Physiology
73
, no. 1
(1992
): 368–375.48.
Teunissen
L. P.
J.
, de Haan
A.
, de Koning
J. J.
, and Daanen
H. A.
M.
, “Telemetry Pill versus Rectal and Esophageal Temperature during Extreme Rates of Exercise-Induced Core Temperature Change
,” Physiology Measures
33
, no. 6
(2012
): 915–924.49.
DenHartog
E. A.
, Walker
M. A.
, and Barker
R. L.
, “Total Heat Loss as a Predictor of Physiological Response in Wildland Firefighter Gear
,” Textile Research Journal
86
, no. 7
(2015
), 710–726.50.
Wenger
C. B.
, Sawka
M. N.
, Pandolf
K. B.
, Johnson
R. F.
, Kobrick
J. L.
, Gaffin
S. L.
, Hubbard
R. W.
, Nunneley
S. A.
, and Reardon
M. J.
, Medical Aspects of Harsh Environments
, vol. 1
(Washington, DC
: Office of the Surgeon General
, 2001
).51.
Xu
X.
, Rioux
T. P.
, Pomerantz
N.
, and Tew
S.
, “Effects of Fabric on Thermal and Evaporative Resistances of Chemical Protective Ensembles: Measurement and Quantification
,” Measurement
136
(2019
): 248–255.52.
Havenith
G.
, DenHartog
E.
, and Martini
S.
, “Heat Stress in Chemical Protective Clothing: Porosity and Vapour Resistance
,” Ergonomics
54
, no. 5
(2011
): 497–507.53.
McQuerry
M.
, DenHartog
E.
, Barker
R.
, and Ross
K.
, “A Review of Garment Ventilation Strategies for Structural Firefighter Protective Clothing
,” Textile Research Journal
86
, no. 7
(2016
): 727–742.54.
McQuerry
M.
, DenHartog
E.
, and Barker
R.
, “Effect of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) on Heat Loss in Structural Firefighter Turnout Suits
,” AATCC Journal of Research
4
, no. 5
(2017
): 1–5.
This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this chapter.
Email alerts
Related Chapters
Assessment of Ventilation of Firefighter Protective Clothing
Performance of Protective Clothing: Fourth Volume
Evaluating the Comfort Performance of Fabrics for Nuclear Protective Apparel
Performance of Protective Clothing: Fifth Volume
Effect of Measured Heat Loss through Turnout Materials on Firefighter Comfort and Heat Stress. Part II: Performance in a Warm Environment
Performance of Protective Clothing: Issues and Priorities for the 21st Century: Seventh Volume
Development of Methods to Evaluate the Useful Lifetime of Firefighters' Protective Clothing
Performance of Protective Clothing: Issues and Priorities for the 21st Century: Seventh Volume
Related Articles
Effects of Thermal Properties on Skin Burn Predictions in Longer Duration Protective Clothing Tests
J. ASTM Int. (January,2005)
Design, Simulation, and Fabrication of Composite Lattice Orthoses With Enhanced Structural Performance
J. Mech. Des (March,2025)
Heat Transfer Characteristics of Sports Apparel
J. ASTM Int. (November,2004)
