The latest kit for industrial environments
Published: 01 September, 2006
Who says PPE developments are few and far between? Today’s revelations include a truly ‘green’, Proban-treated FR garment, and the first non-gold PBI fibre outfit.
As the textiles industry begins to wake up to the environmental concerns of many of its clients, one company has decided to take the bull by the horns and create a revolutionary new environmentally sustainable, fully biodegradable fabric made of rejuvenated, cellulosic fibre, with FR treatment Proban.
Not before time, considering that around 20 million tonnes of synthetic, non-biodegradable waste is created every year.
Ecosafe FR is about to be launched by Australian headquartered company Flamesafe Fabric Specialists, the world’s biggest manufacturer of knitted flame retardant cotton fabrics with Proban.
Ecosafe FR, as Sales and Marketing Director Ross Kordakis explains, is much more eco-friendly than cotton fabrics because it is made from a plant that requires very little water and pesticides – in fact, this as-yet secret plant requires only a quarter of the water and land that is needed to grow cotton.
The new fabric is also completely biodegradable, with initial tests showing complete biodegradability in less than five years. ‘And the Proban treatment consists of a phosphorus and nitrogen polymer, which essentially means it turns into a fertiliser,’ adds Ross.
Ecosafe FR properties
‘The cellulose fibre has the same softness properties as cotton, and what is more it has inherent anti-microbial properties. But the most incredible thing is that it is up to four times more absorbent than cotton while still keeping a moisture wicking effect.’
Tests conducted by Flamesafe have revealed that Ecosafe FR has some interesting thermal insulation properties which could particularly benefit wearers working in variable climates. ‘We found out that when it is hot outside, the inside temperature of the fabric is generally two degrees cooler than the outside. Interestingly, when it is cold, the reverse happens and it is around two degrees warmer.’
Although not aimed at structural firefighting, Ecosafe FR garments will be ‘an ideal solution’ for workers in the petrochemical, electrical utility and mining industries, says Ross. ‘We are initially launching it in the form of FR T-shirts, Polo shirts and underwear, but if the demand is there we will go into trousers, jackets and coveralls.’
The new fabric will initially be promoted in the USA, which is currently experiencing a push towards environmentally sustainable fabrics, explains Ross. Ecosafe FR will be the first true FR plant fibre to hit the market, and Ross is confident it will be received well by health and safety practitioners, not only because of its FR and anti-microbial properties, but also because of its soft handle. ‘It looks like cotton but it actually feels softer than cotton while being stronger.’
Multi-protection PBI Triguard
You can have it any colour that you want, as long as it is... gold. That has long been the case with the world renowned PBI Gold fibre famous for its very high flame/thermal protection characteristics. Up until now, that is.
PBI has just launched its relatively new PBI TriGuard range of fabric in a range of different base colours, navy, dark red, various shades of green, and black, following its launch into Europe around a year ago. ‘The problem was finding a way of dying PBI and pararamid Twaron – for these types of fabrics you want fibres that don’t react with anything, so you need very experienced partners to find a solution,’ commented PBI (Europe) Sales and Marketing Director Helmut Zepf.
For those that don’t know PBI TriGuard, this remarkable fabric is very lightweight, yet still retains the well-documented protective properties of PBI. It is made up of a blend of three inherently FR fibres, PBI, Lenzing FR viscose, and Twaron Micro fibre, split three ways (20 per cent PBI, 30 per cent Lenzing and 50 per cent MicroTwaron).
Each fibre brings its own strengths to the mix; Lenzing a soft and gentle touch; Twaron high mechanical strength; and PBI strong FR properties. ‘But the main feature about PBI TriGuard,’ says Helmut, ‘is that compared to others that offer the same performance characteristics it is a lot lighter and stronger.’
In Europe, TriGuard will also have the additional characteristic of being anti-static, and meeting said standard EN 1149. When PBI TriGuard was first being developed as a solution for the industrial market, the starting point was the well known mix of 40% PBI and 60% pararamid used very successfully for firefighter bunker gear, explains Helmut. ‘We had to accept that such a high protection level that is crucial for firefighters lives might not really be needed in the reality of the industrial markets. So we developed TriGuard as a more cost effective product, but one that still offered the outstanding advantages of PBI.’
Wearer trials are currently being undertaken throughout the European continent with blue-chip partners including the leading oil and gas group in Central Europe, the Austrian company OMV.
Solutions for extreme situations
Liquid chemicals, gases, combustion from sparks, shooting flames, high heat radiation, superheated steam, or supercold substances such as liquefied petroleum gas:these hazards are all possibilities for the industrial firefighter.
And it is for facing unpredictable scenarios that Tesimax has been developing specialised solutions for nearly 30 years, with customers in the chemical industry and professional/voluntary fire brigades. The company has two new developments aimed at industrial firefighters. One is a new breathing apparatus system, and the other a revolutionary concept in thermal insulation for interlinings in bunker gear.
Based in Neuhausen-Steinegg, between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, Tesimax has been quietly leading in the world of chemical protection for over 25 years. This was one of the first companies – if not the first – to introduce a non-asbestos heat protective suit in the form of the aluminised suit HS10-210 in the early 1980s. Even now, the company still leads in this sector with a single fire/chemical protective suit, with a base layer of Kevlar, the VS 10 Silverflash.
A premium piece of kit, the Silverflash was created for a scenario where a chemical spill results in a flashover – not outside the realms of possibilities, considering around 90% of industrial chemicals are explosive.
The latest development is an external respiratory air supply with automatic switchover between external and compressed air breathing apparatus, for emergency personnel in full protection suits.
Managing Director Sven Altinger explained more about a development that took over two years to come to fruition. ‘When there is a decontamination operation, the firefighter comes out of a hazardous situation and he has to wait to be hosed down by another man. There is a psychological impact because he can’t open his mask until he is fully decontaminated, and he may be worried about how much air he has left.
‘In the past, incidents have occurred where a firefighter had taken off his mask too early. With this system, when the external air is coupled to the firefighter’s compressed air system, it automatically switches over to the new supply.’ Tesimax is now supplying the new system to emergency personnel throughout Holland, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.
In the next 12 months Tesimax is introducing a new lining material to the inside layer of its turnout gear. Paralinex actually responds to hot temperatures, and expands to create air gaps inside the turnout gear. ‘The stitching actually moves away up to two centimetres away from the body, providing additional thermal insulation protection and adding crucial seconds for the fireman to get away,’ explained Sven.
Fashion with PPE – the Carhartt way
In workwear for nearly 120 years, Carhartt has been supplying industrialwear to European industries for a number of years now, and is soon to introduce a new range which has found its design inspiration in the fast world of motor sports, as Carhartt’s EMEA Marketing Manager Lothar Schafer explains. ‘When I look at our industrial firewear, there are five key points we focus on as a brand: durability, comfort, fit, function, and style. Our new firewear collections have been inspired by the fast world of car and motorcycle racing, because in the firewear market it is all about fast moving, fast thinking, and relying on a team. It’s all about speed of response, ease of move and enhanced breathability. It is essential to have the right equipment to succeed.’
The new collection will consist of multi-protection bottoms, bibs, coveralls, and jackets, complementing the existing range currently used. ‘Carhartt was the amongst the first to introduce multi-guard garments into the market, offering waterproof/breathable, High Vis, FR, anti-static, chemical protection, etc – basically ensuring that workers don’t have to keep changing their gear according to the environmental risk they are facing.’
Furthermore, Carhartt told INDUSTRIAL FIRE JOURNAL that in the next few months it is launching its premium EN 469 certified ‘Detroit’ collection. One product is ‘Carter’ – in Millenia lighter weight outer shell fabric, and another ‘Packard’ – in Carhartt’s exclusive blend of Nomex/Kevlar Ripstop. ‘We are planning to start shipping the two ranges in late 2006 and we are fully embracing the market with our proud experience and authority in the firewear market.’
