PPE: Why Fabric Matters Chris Corner Vice President of International Business Development January 12, 2016
Agenda TenCate Overview Inherently Flame Resistant Fibers How Inherently Flame Resistant Fabrics Are Made Production Process Yarn Types Fabric Structures International Firefighting Protective Clothing Standards Outer Shell Fabrics Function Selection Fabric Examples Physical Properties Questions
Royal TenCate Corporate Summary TenCate Snapshot 2014 Sales - $1.25 Billion (USD) 4000+ Employees Worldwide Key Business Segments: Advanced Composites and Armor Technical and Protective Fabrics Geosynthetics and Synthetic Grass 3
Market Leadership Leading Supplier to the Global Emergency Response Market 70% of US Firefighters wear TenCate Protective Fabrics Products compliant to NFPA, EN, AS/NZ and ISO standards #1 Supplier of FR fabrics for US Wildland Firefighters US Forest Service and CALFIRE wear TenCate fabrics Protecting firefighters in North America, South America, and Asia Pacific Leading supplier to the Industrial Safety markets around the world Oil & Gas employees exposed to flash fire hazards on every continent depend on TenCate protective fabrics Electric utility workers exposed to electric arc hazard on every continent depend on TenCate fabrics Provide solutions for welding, chemical splash, molten metal splash & other #1 Provider of FR fabrics to the US Military U.S. Troops deployed into wartime environment wear TenCate Defender M Provide solutions for Armies, Navies, Air Forces, Law Enforcement and Special Forces around the world 4
Emergency Response Inherently Flame Resistant Fiber Comparison PBO Tensile Strength g/d Limiting Oxygen Index Decomposition Temperature o F/ o C PBO 42 68 1,200/650 PBI 3.1 41 1,200/650 P-Aramid 22 29 800 900/425-480 M-Aramid 5.3 29 750/400 5
Fabric Production Process Fiber Yarn Weaving Dye / Finish
Types of Yarn Filament Yarn Spun Yarn Engineered / Protected Filament Yarn Spun Yarn 7
Different Fabric Structures Woven Knit Non-woven
Woven Fabric Structures Plain Weave Basic Weave Pattern Yarns are square Modified Version Rip Stop Based On Plain Weave w/ Extra Yarns in the Rips 2 or 3 ends Increases trap tear strength, does not increase tensile strength Twill Weave Series of diagonal lines, or twill lines Good Flexibility
International Firefighting Protective Clothing Standards AS/NZS 4967:2009 - Protective clothing for firefighters - Requirements and test methods for protective clothing used for structural firefighting NFPA 1971 2013 Edition Standard on protective ensembles for structural firefighting and proximity firefighting. EN 469:2005 Protective clothing for firefighters Performance requirements for protective clothing for firefighting. ISO 11613-1999 Protective clothing for firefighting Laboratory test methods and performance requirements.
Typical Gear Construction Three Layer System Outer Shell Moisture Barrier Thermal Barrier
What is the Function of the Outershell? Provides tough, durable first line of defense against heat, flame and abrasion Protects the moisture barrier and thermal barrier Offers resistance to rips, cuts, and tears Allows garment to shed water Typically made from woven fabrics A broad range of choices
Choosing the Right Outer Shell for You
TenCate Outer Shells
100% Nomex IIIA 7.5 oz/yd 2 or 255 g/m 2 Plain Weave Shelltite Multiple Colors Economical 100% Nomex IIIA 6.0 oz/yd 2 or 205 g/m 2 Ripstop Weave Shelltite, Super Shelltite, EN 469 DWR Multiple Colors Economical Lightweight
60% Kevlar / 40% Nomex 7.2 oz/yd 2 or 245 g/m 2 Ripstop Weave Super Shelltite, EN 469 DWR Black, Navy, Gold, Yellow, & Khaki Good value Good durability
58% Para-aramid / 39% PBI/3% Antistat 6.0 oz/yd 2 or 205 g/m 2 Modified Plain Weave Reinforced with a high-strength filament grid Super Shelltite, EN 469 DWR, AS 4967 DWR Natural, Black, Dark Navy No puckering after laundering Light weight without compromising durability
60% Kevlar / 40% PBI 7.5 oz/yd 2 or 255 g/m 2 Modified Plain Weave Reinforced with a high-strength filament grid Super Shelltite Natural, Black Strong & flexible after thermal exposure Now softer & more flexible
60% Technora / 40% PBO 7.5 oz/yd2 or 255 g/m2 Ripstop Weave Super Shelltite Natural Strong & flexible after thermal exposure Excellent strength and durability
27% Nomex /73% Kevlar 6.6 oz./yd. or 225 g/m 2 Twill Weave Enhanced strength using in a lighter weight outer shell Uses 0% Kevlar Filament Enhanced comfort with extraordinary flexibility Super Shelltite, EN 469 DWR
Outer Shell Requirements Physical Hazards (Performance Requirements The Risk Assessment) Tensile Strength Tear Strength Abrasion Fabric Thinning Taber Martindale Ultra Violet Light 21
Tensile Strength Test 22
Newtons Tensile Strength Initial 3000 2500 Warp Fill 2000 1500 1000 NFPA 1971 Standard: 140lbs 625 N ASTM 5034 500 0 Brigade 600 RS Advance Gemini XTL Gemini XT Millenia XT Pioneer 23
Trapezoid Tear Strength ASTM 5587 Fabric begins with a small cut Large clamps are placed along two lines in the shape of a trapezoid As the fabric is torn, the machine measures the average of five displacements or tears Results are pounds of force or Newtons Tested 5 times in warp and fill direction. Average of each reported.
Newtons Trap Tear Strength Initial 400 350 Warp Filling 300 250 200 150 100 NFPA 1971 Standard: 22 lbs 100 N ASTM 5587 50 0 Brigade 600 RS Advance Gemini XTL Gemini XT Millenia XT Pioneer 25
Taber Abrasion Testing Taber Abrasion Testing Fabric disc secured and rotates while weighted heads abrades against fabric surface Calibrated testing machine counts total number of cycles completed before perforations in fabric appear Simulates extended wear ASTM D3884 Test from American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International
Advance 3500 cycles Gemini XT 4000 cycles Pioneer 3000 cycles Millenia XT 5500 cycles
Martindale Abrasion Test ISO 12947-2 Test Method Simulates extended wear life AS/NZS 4967 20,000 Cycles 12 kpa Crossbred worsted abradant TenCate Gemini XTL 50,000 Cycles 28
Ultra Violet Light Exposure UV Light Affects the Physical Properties of all Fibers and Fabrics 29
Thermal Protective Performance (TPP) Measure of thermal insulation Composite test Outer shell, moisture barrier, thermal barrier Conditions Heat Flux - 2 cal/cm² s (84 kw/m² s) 50/50 Balance Radiant & Convective Energy NFPA Minimum 35 cal/cm 2-17.5 Seconds of Protection in flashover conditions 5-8% Variance 30
Newtons Tensile Strength After 17.5 Second TPP Exposure 900 800 Warp Filling 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Brigade 600 RS Advance Gemini XTL Gemini XT Millenia XT Pioneer 32
Fabric Matters Because Protecting Firefighters Matters THANK YOU!