Field Evaluation of Experimental Crash-Crew Firefighter's Facepiece.
Abstract
The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) under the sponsorship of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Development Office (CEEDO), Detachment 1 ADTC, Tyndall Air Force Base, conducted a field evaluation of an Abcite-overcoated experimental crash-crew firefighter's gold facepiece to determine if the experimental facepiece was more durable than the standard item. Laboratory results had previously shown the experimental facepiece to have at least 10 times better abrasion resistance than the standard. The study was conducted at three Air Force and three Navy activities over a four-month period. Most participants (56 percent) preferred the experimental facepiece and 77 percent of those principally engaged in firefighting operations during the evaluation favored the experimental facepiece. The experimental facepiece coatings appeared less damaged than the standard under those conditions which exist during firefighting operations, but were equally susceptible to mechanical damage during routine handling operations. In fact the standard facepiece did not outperform the experimental facepiece under any condition. Although the experimental facepiece proved superior to the standard facepiece in the field test, it should not immediately replace the standard because it is more costly, proprietary, and can be damaged during handling. Cheaper and more available coatings which approach the performance of Abcite should be investigated.... Crash-Crew firefighter's facepiece, Infrared radiant heat protection, Firefighter's gold-coated facepiece heat transmission tests, Firefighter's protective clothing field test, Abcite firefighter's facepiece overcoating, Coating abrasion resistance.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA956136
Entities
People
- Norman F. Audet