Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection
Abstract Firefighter protective clothing is composed of multiple layers, each serving distinct functions. The outer layer shields the user from fire, chemicals, cuts, body fluids, and water, while also permitting water vapour to escape. The middle membrane layer acts as a thermal and moisture barrie...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00264-3 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849312092511797248 |
|---|---|
| author | Rahel Heesemann Sudhanshu Maurya Rochak Rathour Apurba Das Thomas Gries |
| author_facet | Rahel Heesemann Sudhanshu Maurya Rochak Rathour Apurba Das Thomas Gries |
| author_sort | Rahel Heesemann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Firefighter protective clothing is composed of multiple layers, each serving distinct functions. The outer layer shields the user from fire, chemicals, cuts, body fluids, and water, while also permitting water vapour to escape. The middle membrane layer acts as a thermal and moisture barrier, preventing heat and liquid penetration but allowing vapour diffusion. The inner layer enhances thermal protection and wearer comfort. A nationwide German survey and risk analysis with different fire brigades identified a need for enhanced comfort, reduced physiological heat load, and improved protection against stabs and cuts. Enhanced tear resistance is one proposed method for increased stab and cut protection. Wearer comfort parameters include water vapour permeability, breathability, air permeability, efficient cooling and increased breathability of the protective clothing are crucial for comfort. Sweat is diffused through the jacket due to differing water vapour partial pressures inside and outside the jacket. Enhancing air permeability of the outer layer and reducing the water vapour transmission resistance across the entire layer structure improve cooling by lowering the external water vapour partial pressure, thus facilitating better sweat transport and heat dissipation. To increase breathability and stab- and cut protection, different fabric weaves for the outer layer of a firefighter´s jacket are produced and compared with each other. The Honeycomb and the Huck-a-back fabric achieve better properties than Twill 2/2 fabric used as standard. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-368611cdcf31406c9a43449f15cdf4ee |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-368611cdcf31406c9a43449f15cdf4ee2025-08-20T03:53:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-00264-3Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protectionRahel Heesemann0Sudhanshu Maurya1Rochak Rathour2Apurba Das3Thomas Gries4Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen UniversityDepartment of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology DelhiDepartment of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology DelhiDepartment of Textile and Fibre Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology DelhiInstitut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen UniversityAbstract Firefighter protective clothing is composed of multiple layers, each serving distinct functions. The outer layer shields the user from fire, chemicals, cuts, body fluids, and water, while also permitting water vapour to escape. The middle membrane layer acts as a thermal and moisture barrier, preventing heat and liquid penetration but allowing vapour diffusion. The inner layer enhances thermal protection and wearer comfort. A nationwide German survey and risk analysis with different fire brigades identified a need for enhanced comfort, reduced physiological heat load, and improved protection against stabs and cuts. Enhanced tear resistance is one proposed method for increased stab and cut protection. Wearer comfort parameters include water vapour permeability, breathability, air permeability, efficient cooling and increased breathability of the protective clothing are crucial for comfort. Sweat is diffused through the jacket due to differing water vapour partial pressures inside and outside the jacket. Enhancing air permeability of the outer layer and reducing the water vapour transmission resistance across the entire layer structure improve cooling by lowering the external water vapour partial pressure, thus facilitating better sweat transport and heat dissipation. To increase breathability and stab- and cut protection, different fabric weaves for the outer layer of a firefighter´s jacket are produced and compared with each other. The Honeycomb and the Huck-a-back fabric achieve better properties than Twill 2/2 fabric used as standard.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00264-3FirefighterPersonal protective clothingWeavingWearing comfortProtective performance |
| spellingShingle | Rahel Heesemann Sudhanshu Maurya Rochak Rathour Apurba Das Thomas Gries Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection Scientific Reports Firefighter Personal protective clothing Weaving Wearing comfort Protective performance |
| title | Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection |
| title_full | Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection |
| title_short | Investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection |
| title_sort | investigation of the air permeability of fabric weaves to increase the wearing comfort of firefighter clothing and improve stab and cut protection |
| topic | Firefighter Personal protective clothing Weaving Wearing comfort Protective performance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00264-3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rahelheesemann investigationoftheairpermeabilityoffabricweavestoincreasethewearingcomfortoffirefighterclothingandimprovestabandcutprotection AT sudhanshumaurya investigationoftheairpermeabilityoffabricweavestoincreasethewearingcomfortoffirefighterclothingandimprovestabandcutprotection AT rochakrathour investigationoftheairpermeabilityoffabricweavestoincreasethewearingcomfortoffirefighterclothingandimprovestabandcutprotection AT apurbadas investigationoftheairpermeabilityoffabricweavestoincreasethewearingcomfortoffirefighterclothingandimprovestabandcutprotection AT thomasgries investigationoftheairpermeabilityoffabricweavestoincreasethewearingcomfortoffirefighterclothingandimprovestabandcutprotection |