Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this treatise is to develop and verify mathematical models dealing with thermal properties of firefighter’s protective clothing, for different tests conditions, with the view of predicting and analyzing thermal conditions as well as determining maximum operating periods for firefighters equipped with such clothing.
Introduction: The work of a firefighter, during fire incidents, is fraught with significant health risks and potential for loss of life. Often, such work results in exposure to heat bordering on acceptable limits of endurance for humans and exceeding norms for materials used in the manufacture of thermal protective clothing. Materials used in the manufacture of protective clothing may overheat or catch fire and cause burns. An excessive temperature increase for humans may also cause heat stroke. In order to increase the safety of a firefighter, it is important to establish a safe working period, for specific operational conditions, and not permit for such limits to be exceeded.
Methodology: There are a number of methods and experimental study approaches to determine the properties of protective clothing, in which test samples are exposed to heat from different sources. Because full-scale tests are quite complicated and expensive, consequently, at the design stage, an increasingly frequent use is made of thermal mathematical models with or without the participation of a firefighter. Modelling, because of its operability, allows for an analysis of a larger volume of working conditions as well as influences on the temperature of protective clothing. Modelling facilitates numerous thermal calculations for different materials used in manufacture of protective clothing with the purpose of identifying an optimal link between appropriate layers of materials used and best thermal protection whilst achieving the least weight for the garment and lowest production cost.
Results: Developed mathematical models can be used to determine maximum operating periods for firefighters. They facilitate an analysis of the degree of influence, for a range of factors, on the physical condition of a firefighter as well as that of clothing which should protect from the effects of heat. Such models may also help in the development of new manufacturing technology with use of other materials.
Conclusions: An analysis of accessible projects engaged with modelling of thermal protective clothing properties revealed the need to improve modelling methods so that an application may be found for different fire hazard conditions. Developed, in compliance with data for thermal studies, and tested the mathematical model for determining the thermal condition of a three layered protective garment in a thermal test environment. The developed model can be used to determine the optimum parameters for a protective suit and the maximum operating time for a firefighter in different operating circumstances.
Keywords: firefighter’s heat resistant clothing, thermal testing of clothing, modelling, firefighter’s maximum operating period
Type of article: original scientific article