There are many risks related to molten metal splashes, radiant heat and flames. That is why PPEs are qualified by standards. There is a classification in function of the gravity of the risk.<\/p>\n
In fact, to attribute a standard to a product, a battery of tests is needed in order to prove and warranty its efficiency.<\/p>\n
The Firefighter PPE Industry use mainly three major standards. Due to the different requirements of every country, there are some differences between standards. Despite the fact they are used in the same sector, criteria may vary depending on the location.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
NFPA 1971<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n <\/p>\n
Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting
\nand Proximity Fire<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nApplied in North America & South America area.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The 3 main tests are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"flame\"](\"https:\/\/otegotextile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/flame.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nFlame Resistance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe flame should not persist for more than 2 seconds, and not extend overs 10 cm.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n![\"heat](\"https:\/\/otegotextile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/temperature-2.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nHeat and Thermal Resistance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe fabric should not shrink more than 10% of its original size.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n![\"radiant](\"https:\/\/otegotextile.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/radiantheat.png\")
<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nRadiant Heat Protective Performance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe fabric should have a RPP level of at least 20, which translates to 20 sec at 1.0 cal\/ cm2 per second of heat flux radiant exposure.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nEN 1486<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\nProtective Clothing for Firefighters<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nTest methods and requirements for reflective clothing for specialized fire fighting.<\/span><\/strong>
\nApplied in European area.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The 3 main tests are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nFlame Propagation<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe flame should not go through the fabric and it should not show any visible residual incandescence after 2 seconds.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nFlame Propagation Heat Resistance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe fabric should not melt, drip, ignite, nor shrink more than 5% of its original size after 5 minutes at 255\u00b0C.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nRadiant Heat<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nIt should take more than 120 seconds for the temperature behind the fabric to raise more than 24\u00b0C, under the exposure of 40kW\/m\u00b2 radiant heat source.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nGA 634<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\nProtective Clothing for Proximity Fire Fighting<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nOuter layer performance requirement.<\/span><\/strong>
\nApplied in China<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The 3 main tests are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\n<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nFire Retardant Ability<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe size of the damaged area of the fabric should not go over 100cm after a 2sec burning exposure.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nThermal Stability Performance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe size of the fabric should not vary more than 10% after being exposed to a 260\u00b0C \u00b15\u00b0C environment<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n\n\nRadiant Heat Stability<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nIt should take more than 60 seconds for the temperature behind the fabric to raise more than 25\u00b0C, under the exposure of 40kW\/m\u00b2 radiant heat source.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
List of the tests for each standard:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nEN 1486: Protective Clothing for Fire-Fighters.<\/span><\/h3>\nIt is applied in Europe:<\/p>\n
\n- Flame Propagation<\/li>\n
- Radiant Heat<\/li>\n
- Convective Heat<\/li>\n
- Contact Heat<\/li>\n
- Heat Resistance<\/li>\n
- Surface wetting<\/li>\n
- Tensile strength<\/li>\n
- Tear strength<\/li>\n
- Shrinking Resistance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting
\nand Proximity Fire Fighting.<\/span><\/h3>\nIt is applied in North and South America:<\/p>\n
\n- Flame Resistance<\/li>\n
- Radiant Protective Performance<\/li>\n
- Heat and Thermal Shrinkage Resistance<\/li>\n
- Water Absorption Resistance<\/li>\n
- Tear Resistance<\/li>\n
- Flex at Low Temperature<\/li>\n
- Liquid Penetration Resistance<\/li>\n
- Adhesion after Wet Flex<\/li>\n
- Wet Flex<\/li>\n
- Thermal Protective Performance (TPP)<\/li>\n
- Water Penetration Resistance<\/li>\n
- Resistance to High Temperature insulation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
GA 634-2015: Protective Clothing for Proximity Fire Fighting
\n(Outer layer performance requirement).<\/span><\/h3>\nIt is applied in China:<\/p>\n
\n- Fire retardant ability<\/li>\n
- Radiant heat resistance<\/li>\n
- Thermal stability performance<\/li>\n
- Tensile strength<\/li>\n
- Tear strength<\/li>\n
- Peeling strength<\/li>\n
- Anti-hydrostatic performance<\/li>\n
- Bending behavior<\/li>\n
- Overall thermal protective performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nand Proximity Fire<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Applied in North America & South America area.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 3 main tests are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Test methods and requirements for reflective clothing for specialized fire fighting.<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 3 main tests are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Outer layer performance requirement.<\/span><\/strong> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The 3 main tests are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n It is applied in Europe:<\/p>\n It is applied in North and South America:<\/p>\n It is applied in China:<\/p>\n\n\n
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Flame Resistance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The flame should not persist for more than 2 seconds, and not extend overs 10 cm.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Heat and Thermal Resistance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The fabric should not shrink more than 10% of its original size.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Radiant Heat Protective Performance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The fabric should have a RPP level of at least 20, which translates to 20 sec at 1.0 cal\/ cm2 per second of heat flux radiant exposure.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n EN 1486<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Protective Clothing for Firefighters<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nApplied in European area.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Flame Propagation<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The flame should not go through the fabric and it should not show any visible residual incandescence after 2 seconds.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Flame Propagation Heat Resistance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The fabric should not melt, drip, ignite, nor shrink more than 5% of its original size after 5 minutes at 255\u00b0C.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Radiant Heat<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n It should take more than 120 seconds for the temperature behind the fabric to raise more than 24\u00b0C, under the exposure of 40kW\/m\u00b2 radiant heat source.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n GA 634<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Protective Clothing for Proximity Fire Fighting<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
\nApplied in China<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Fire Retardant Ability<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The size of the damaged area of the fabric should not go over 100cm after a 2sec burning exposure.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Thermal Stability Performance<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n The size of the fabric should not vary more than 10% after being exposed to a 260\u00b0C \u00b15\u00b0C environment<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n
\n Radiant Heat Stability<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n It should take more than 60 seconds for the temperature behind the fabric to raise more than 25\u00b0C, under the exposure of 40kW\/m\u00b2 radiant heat source.<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n List of the tests for each standard:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
EN 1486: Protective Clothing for Fire-Fighters.<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n
NFPA 1971: Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting
\nand Proximity Fire Fighting.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n
GA 634-2015: Protective Clothing for Proximity Fire Fighting
\n(Outer layer performance requirement).<\/span><\/h3>\n\n