Climatic Tests of Personal Protective Equipment for Firefighters

Обоснована необходимость проведения комплексных климатических испытаний средств индивидуальной защиты (СИЗ) пожарных и спасателей (боевой одежды пожарного, средств индивидуальной защиты органов дыхания и зрения пожарных, средств индивидуальной защиты рук, ног, головы пожарного) при сочетанном воздействии экстремально отрицательных температур, ветровых нагрузок и воды при обливе во время тушения. Проведен критический анализ методик испытаний различных СИЗ. Предложено разработать методику комплексных климатических испытаний всех средств индивидуальной защиты пожарных и спасателей при сочетанном воздействии экстремальных отрицательных температур окружающей среды, огнетушащих веществ, ветровых нагрузок. There is substantiated the necessity of conducting comprehensive climatic tests of personal protective equipment for firefighters and rescuers (combat clothing, respiratory protective equipment, protectors for hand, foot and head) under the combined effects of extremely low temperatures, wind loads and water dousing. A critical analysis of existing similar test methods for various PPE (personal protective equipment) is provided. A significant disadvantage of the GOST 34734–2021 methods is that the products are tested in a dry-air state. In real operating conditions, all PPE are collectively affected by both low temperatures and fire extinguishing agents, primarily water and aqueous solutions of foaming agents. Water dousing significantly affects the performance and protective properties of PPE. In addition, test methods do not provide for the creation of wind loads, which also significantly affects the performance and thermal protective features of PPE. The methods of climatic testing of PPE for general industrial purposes cannot be fully applicable for testing the PPE for firefighters, since they do not take into account the specifics of operational and tactical actions, as well as the level of physical activity of firefighters. In addition, the test results will allow determining the permissible working time of a firefighter (rescuer) equipped in combat clothing, personal protective equipment for firefighter's hands, feet and head at different values of negative ambient temperatures and wind loads, and also to prepare proposals for amendments to draft interstate standards on PPE in terms of requirements and test methods. The work is planned taking into account the requirements and recommendations set out in various normative documents, as well as on the basis of research carried out during the development of combat clothing for operation in the Far North and in the Arctic zone. As a result of the development of a comprehensive methodology for conducting climatic tests of PPE for firefighters and conducting tests with the participation of volunteer testers, it is expected to obtain new data on the technical condition of a PPE for firefighters, thermal protection characteristics of combat clothing, personal protective equipment for firefighters’ hands, feet, head, as well as the permissible working time of firefighters equipped with these protective equipment.