Evaluation of New Test Methods for Fire Fighting Clothing

......................................................................................................................................I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................II TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................. IV LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................... VI LIST OF FIGURES......................................................................................................................... IX LIST OF EQUATIONS .................................................................................................................XIX NOMENCLATURE.......................................................................................................................XXI 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................1 1.1 IMPETUS FOR THIS RESEARCH ..............................................................................................1 1.2 RESEARCH OUTLINE.............................................................................................................3 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................................5 2.1 SKIN BURNS.........................................................................................................................5 2.2 FIRE FIGHTING CLOTHING DESIGN ......................................................................................10 2.2.1 Performance Characteristics........................................................................................10 2.2.2 Current Test Methods...................................................................................................12 2.3 CURRENT TEST LIMITATIONS AND PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS .............................................18 3.0 PROPOSED NEW TEST METHODS .................................................................................25 3.1 THERMAL PROPERTIES TEST FIXTURE.................................................................................25 3.1.1 Test Configuration ........................................................................................................25 3.1.2 Test Cases ...................................................................................................................36 3.1.3 Material Property Determination Prop1D...................................................................38 3.2 MODIFIED RADIANT PROTECTIVE PERFORMANCE TEST ........................................................42 3.2.1 Test Configuration ........................................................................................................43 3.2.2 2 Degree Burn Determination....................................................................................49 4.0 PROTECTIVE CLOTHING PERFORMANCE ....................................................................73 4.1 THERMAL PROPERTIES .......................................................................................................73 4.1.1 Dry Material Comparison..............................................................................................73 4.1.2 Moisture Affect .............................................................................................................78 4.1.3 Ensemble Property Determination ...............................................................................86 4.2 RADIANT PROTECTIVE PERFORMANCE ................................................................................89 4.2.1 Copper Calorimeter Results.........................................................................................90 4.2.2 Skin simulant Prediction ...............................................................................................99 4.2.3 Sensor Comparison....................................................................................................129 5.0 CONCLUSION...................................................................................................................137 5.1 SUMMARY........................................................................................................................137 5.1.1 Thermal Properties Test Fixture – Material Property Summary.................................137 5.1.2 RPP Evaluations 2 Degree Burn Prediction..........................................................139 5.2 FUTURE RESEARCH..........................................................................................................141