Fire Fighters Suit

 

            A fire fighters suit is a suit designed to protect a fire fighter from high temperatures, especially near fires of extreme temperature such as aircraft fires.

                Fire fighters suits first appeared during the 1930s, and were originally made of asbestos fabric (hence also known as the asbestos suit). Today they are manufactured from aluminized materials that reflect the high radiant loads produced by the fire.

 

     There are three basic types of these aluminized suits:

    •Approach suit—used for work in the general area of high temperatures such as steel   mills and melting facilities. (Ambient heat protection up to ~200 °F (93 °C).)

    •Proximity suit—used for aircraft rescue and fire fighting. ambient protection~ 500 °F (260 °C))

•Entry suit—used for entry into extreme heat and situations requiring protection from total flame engulfment. Most commonly made of Fyrepel. (Entry suit ambient protection ~1,500 °F (816 °C) for short duration and prolonged radiant heat up to 2,000 °F (1,093 °C))

FYREPEL: ALUMINIZED NOMEX BY DUPONT PROXIMITY SUIT FIRE FIGHTING COAT

 

Complete proximity protection requires:

•Aluminized hood or helmet cover with neck shroud

•Aluminized jacket and pants complete with vapor barrier insulated liner

•Aluminized lined gloves

•Aluminized AR-FF boots

•SCBA