THERMAL DEGRADATION OF FIREFIGHTER TURNOUT GEAR DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF MOISTURE

Abstract

This research examines the effect of moisture on firefighting turnout gear. As moisture from perspiration penetrates a firefighters clothing and eventually migrates into his turnout gear, the thermal properties of the fabric are altered, resulting in thermal degradation. A numerical simulation was developed using a one dimensional heat conduction equation solved using Crank Nicholson finite difference methodology. Moisture was prescribed to penetrate the inner layers of the turnout gear and tracked using a regain measurement. Experimental tests were then performed under conditions with and without moisture with a radiant panel suspended over a guarded sweatplate to validate the results from the numerical simulation. The numerical simulation developed will be used in combination with future testing to design more effective firefighter turnout gear.