Many of these bacteria create odor, but more significant is the fact that these bacteria are encountered often during emergency patient care and include diseases such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSRA) and Clostridium difficile, bacteria usually associated with hospitals that are now becoming more prevalent in first responder exposures. This criteria called for the fabric to have antimicrobial properties, which reduce bacteria. Odor resistance seems to be a rather odd optional performance category. The 2014 edition has optional requirements for odor resistance, water resistance and insect repellence. However, in foreseeing the multiple roles of firefighters and other emergency service workers in different types of responses, several optional requirements were established to demonstrate performance claims. This time the same dichotomy of 100 percent cotton versus flame-resistant uniform criteria was maintained. In 2014, NFPA 1975 went through yet another transformation. Overall, the proportion the fire service uses uniforms that complies with NFPA 1975 is very small. They either buy or allow their members to use clothing that simply would not be qualified, including polyester and cotton blends and new synthetic blends that melt or shrink relatively easily when exposed to high heat. Fire departments realize that they can get noncertified items for lower cost and still satisfy the intent of the standard.Īnd there are those who simply ignores NFPA 1975. However, purchases of uniform elements including short sleeve shirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, and shorts remain low, even though offered by a number of companies as certified products. Those departments that specify flame-resistant work uniforms generally will buy garments that meet NFPA 1975 requirements. The higher category of station work uniform requirements included the flame-resistance test.ĭuring the past 20 years, certified work uniforms has remained a relatively low proportion of the overall fire service purchases. This resulted in a new thermal-stability test that provided a way of showing how material could melt and stick to itself. Yet other changes were needed because the heat resistance would not eliminate all nylon and polyester fabrics, as some fabric blends could hold up under the test conditions. One hundred percent cotton was considered the preferred uniform material because unlike polyester it doesn't melt and was comfortable. The base requirements included the same heat resistance test indicated above. In 1994, NFPA 1975 was overhauled to provide two classes of performance - baseline heat-resistant uniforms that could be either 100% cotton or wool and flame-resistant uniforms. Many flame-resistant materials are considered too 'boardy' and lacked reasonable moisture absorption.įurther, some argued that turnout clothing or other emergency clothing was intended to provide protection based on its own properties without reliance on the work uniform. Moreover, there were a number of complaints about comfort.

For organizations concerned about appearance, the uniforms did not have the crisp appearance typically associated with polyester and cotton blends, which tend to hold creases better. Many departments considered this type of clothing relatively expensive, partly due to the certification costs and the increased cost of material used.

However, there was a clear division in the fire service about the acceptability these uniforms. The philosophy of having a standard that dictated use of flame- and heat-resistant work uniforms prevailed through 1994. This was handled by adding requirements to NFPA 1975 to demonstrate that the materials used in station work uniforms would remain flame resistant after at least 100 wash cycles. It was believed that retardants could eventually wash out. The practice fell out of use when it was argued that firefighters did not always wear the correct work trousers and that the insulation levels provided by turning out clothing were superior to that of any conventional pants.ĭuring this time, some fabrics relied on flame-retardant treatments in contrast to flame-resistant fabric such as those Aramids that retain the flame resistance properties over their entire service life. This preceded the use of modern turnout clothing when long coats and high boots were worn. In the early years after NFPA 1975 was adopted, some departments relied on the pants portion the uniform to provide a significant layer of insulation for the firefighter's lower torso. Materials such as polyester or nylon can be treated for flame resistance, but will generally melt and make burn injuries worse than those from natural fibers such as cotton, which when burned turn into ash instead of molten resin. The latter property was considered important because heat resistance provided a demonstration that the material would not melt under adverse conditions.

Fire man clothing