30 Jul 2019

During FDIC International 2019, TenCate Protective Fabrics is slated to showcase TurnOut Gear that has seen multiple exposures.

TurnOut Gear for Firefighters

Concern over higher rates of occupation cancer among firefighters prompts additional efforts in decontamination and cleaning of turnout gear to reduce particulate accumulation. But the question on everyone’s mind is whether the turnout gear is able to stand up to more washing and drying along with the daily wear-and-tear owing to firefighters’ rough use.

Each went through grueling fire evolutions and multiple extraction cleaning

TenCate Protective Fabrics wanted to find out and now firefighters at FDIC International 2019 will be able to see for themselves.

Fire evolution and extraction cleaning

The Georgia Fire Academy in Forsyth, GA, took three sets of turnouts featuring outer shells and thermal liners from TenCate Protective Fabrics. Each went through grueling fire evolutions and multiple extraction cleaning.

TenCate sent sets of its three outer shell offerings, paired with a variety of thermal liners and moisture barriers, for a wear test at the academy.

Enhanced comfort and protection

The instructors — and a few students — at the Georgia Fire Academy liked the comfort of the gear and the protection offered, “said Bart McCool, End User Marketing Manager for TenCate. “Most didn’t want to give up the gear, but we needed it for further evaluation.

The three that will be on display at booth #2109 in Hall D at the Indianapolis Convention Center, including these sets:

* Kombat Flex, an outer shell powered by PBI fiber, which saw *500* fire evolutions and *51* wash/dry cycles.

* Agility, an outer shell featuring DuPont Kevlar, which experienced *379* fire evolutions and *50* wash/dry cycles.

* Pioneer, an outer shell featuring a DuPont Nomex blend, which went through *140* fire entries and 35 wash/dry cycles.

Firefighters at FDIC be seeing plenty brand-new, sparkling-clean gear,” McCool said. He adds, “We wanted to show them what it looks and feels like after it’s been around the block a few times. It makes it easier to see what they can expect from the gear.