Numerical validation of the fire performance of fire fighter clothing and experimental tests
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abstract
The Fire Protection Clothe (FPC) of firefighters have been investigated over the last years in several terms to improve the safety of their users. FPC are designed to save the firefighters from excessive heat and fire conditions, allowing for a period of time, usually required for a rescue mission, fighting fire, or withdrawing from direct flame contact. The FPC fabrics are design in order to settle a certain degree of comfort to firefighters when exposed to accidental conditions. The heat source, intensity of fire, time of exposure, and other variables affect the protection of the FPC. The FPC is a multilayer assembly composed of various types of woven and nonwoven fabrics. Conventional fibres such as cotton, wool, and viscose and highperformance fibres such as aramid, polybenzimidazole, and polybenzoxazole (PBO) are used in FPC [1].
This investigation is focused on the numerical modelling of experimental tests to evaluate the thermal performance of the fire fighter clothing. First a 2D numerical validation is presented to asset the thermal model and materials properties. This numerical model solves a nonlinear transient thermal analysis under low thermal radiation [1]. The numerical validation is based on the bench scale cone calorimeter experience test [2] or equivalent, exposing the fabrics to a low thermal radiation of 2, 5 and 10 [kW/m2], following the procedures of NP EN ISO 6942 [1] to determine the t12, t24 and the heat flux density transmitted to skin.
