Abstract:

Specialist clothing for firefighters must comply with a number of various standards in terms of e.g. water vapour resistance. The use of different materials and constructional solutions may affect the results of thermal parameters of the clothing. A search for new solutions can lead to ergonomic products. The aim of the article was to show whether there were differences in thermal parameters between the special clothing currently used for firefighters in Poland and clothing that takes into account new materials and trends in the construction of the above-mentioned type of clothing. The research results indicate no difference between the sets of clothing tested in terms of global thermal parameters; however, differences are recorded for values of local thermal insulation and water vapour resistance. These differences are attributable mainly to the construction of the clothing and not to the materials used.