Hey guys! In this post I got some pictures of Structural Firefighting personal Protective Equipment and some details about it all.
According to NFPA (National Firefighting Protection Association) 1971, all turnout clothing must be made up of three components: an outer shell, a moisture barrier, and a thermal barrier. In between these layers are pockets of air referred to as "dead zones". These layers of air along with the three protective layers help to further protect the wearer from the extreme temperatures from fires. The materials used for the three layers in turnout pants and coats may vary but will very often include a Nomex/Kevlar combination of material.
Due to the enormous amounts of potential hazards at a fire scene to the firefighters feet, turnout boots are required to be able to handle anything the firefighter can throw at it. All boots are required to have safety toes and puncture resistant mid sole plate to prevent puncture from sharp objects that may be stepped on. Turnout boots can be made of rubber, leather, or special hazmat resistant material.
There are many types of hand protection which are available to firefighters today, the most common being "Structure Gloves". Structure Gloves are mostly made out of leather, Nomex, and kevlar. These days there are also some made of fire/abrasive resistant synthetic materials.
Firefighters wear helmets to protect their heads from falling objects, heat, and cinders. I have been asked many times as to why the brim of a firefighters helmet is longer in the back than the front like a baseball cap. The reason is, so debris or water goes down the firefighters neck while working. These days helmets are made of high-tech plastic and composite materials. These days all helmets are also required to have a suspension system and energy foam impact liners.
