The goal is to investigate which particles and gases penetrate through the clothing that fire and rescue services use. When we know what and how much can go through the clothes, we can use this to develop better turnout gear. In this way, we can contribute to safeguarding the fire and rescue service when they are on a mission.

The first step in the tests was to ignite fuel consisting of plastics and wood using a cone calorimeter (a conic shaped warm wire, that heats the fuel from above). This was attached to a tunnel, through which the smoke could flow. In an opening in the smoke tunnel, we attached pieces of the materials from different fire clothing. We analyzed which particles and gases penetrated the clothing. These analyses were made using an ELPI particle analyzer and an FTIR gas analyzer. Other equipment was also attached, to measure temperatures, pressures etc. in the test set-up.

We are now working on analyzing the results from the small scale testing, and planning the next step in the test series. Here we will scale up to full scale, and test the function of turnout gear when the user is wearing it and moving around in the smoke. These tests will be performed during fall 2018.

The project is managed by SINTEF Digital (dpt Health), by Mariann Sandsund. The work performed by RISE Fire Research is managed by Karolina Storesund (karolina.storesund@risefr.no).

Please contact us if you have questions. More info can be found on the project website: https://www.sintef.no/prosjekter/partikle/