Efect of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) on Heat Loss in Structural Firefghter Turnout Suits

摘要

Te purpose of this research was to determine the efect of frefghter’s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) on heat loss through clothing ventilation openings in structural frefghter turnout suits. Passive and active ventilation openings were fabricated into structural turnout suits and tested with and without the SCBA to determine the efect on clothing ventilation. Turnout suits were evaluated under two test conditions on a sweating manikin to measure thermal and evaporative resistance. A predicted total heat loss (THL) value was calculated for each suit and compared to a control turnout without ventilation openings. A signifcant improvement in heat loss was measured when the SCBA harness, mask, and thermal hood were removed from the structural ensemble. Results showed the SCBA harness signifcantly decreased heat loss in frefghter turnouts.