In the harsh and complex fire scene, sudden dangerous situations can occur at any time, especially the high temperature as a fire killer, which directly threatens the life safety of firefighters. The PBI Matrix fire fighting suit equipped by the Fire Service of the Hong Kong SAR Government effectively solves this problem and adds a layer of protection to the lives of rescuers.
PBI Matrix structure fire extinguishing protective clothing
The PBI Matrix structure fire extinguishing protective clothing, commonly known as the "golden suit", is the personal protective equipment of firefighters, with gold as the main color, including a fire fighting suit and a pair of fire extinguishing pants. Each set is worth about 7,000 yuan, weighs 3.9 kilograms, and can resist the burning of 1093 degrees Celsius for 8 seconds.
Protective clothing and protective pants consist of three layers of materials, including thermal and waterproof materials such as PBI Matrix and GORE-TEX Airlock. The outer layer has flame retardant and high temperature resistance, with high tensile force and tear endurance. The middle layer prevents water and chemical fluids from entering the garment, but at the same time allows air and sweat to drain out, and the innermost layer has flame retardant and high temperature resistance.
The biggest difference between PBI material fire suit and other material fire suits is that PBI material fire suits can resist the fire field may produce flashing, deflagration instantaneous attack. If a firefighter is unfortunate enough to fall into a fire or is exposed to flames, it can provide the firefighter with 30 seconds or even 1 minute to escape.
- Light weight
A 50/52 PBI Matrix combat top weighs just 1.79KG. It is more than 20% lighter than fireproof clothing with similar performance.
- Excellent breathability
27% of the surface of the fire combat suit top is covered with reflective tape. Current fireproof clothing styles, their reflective tapes prevent water vapor from penetrating and discharging, thus greatly limiting the function of a good waterproof layer itself. In the traditional use of reflective tapes, sweat cannot be drained, and as a result, most of the moisture stays on the skin, but these moisture forms a heat transfer conductor to cause burns to the skin of firefighters.
- PBI Matrix fire fighting jacket
A special cut from the neck along the contour of the shoulders to the arms (sleeves) makes the three-layer reinforced fire combat jacket double security. Especially when it is necessary to raise your hand to work, its cut leaves room for flexible elbow movement. Compared to other similar combat suits, because of the unique tailoring design of the fitted short combat suits - the fabric overlaps between the combat suit and the combat pants, when the hand is raised, the wearer is specially cut due to the armpit elbow, and the wearer no longer needs to support the weight of the top and still has sufficient protection.
- PBI Matrix fire fighting suit pants
The high waistband and enhanced protection of the kidney area are designed for the comfort of wearing respiratory equipment. The back strap padding is designed at the shoulder position and its widening to prevent uncomfortable tightness and at the same time facilitate the wearing of BA. The double fabric and padded design of the shoulder greatly provides the thermal insulation function of the shoulder, and can effectively play its protective function in preventing the hazard of structural fire.
The close-fitting and unique diamond-shaped crotch design protects the wear performance and greatly reduces the friction of movements, allowing for flexible movements such as kneeling, climbing and crawling. Sew slightly higher at the cuffs to avoid premature wear or tearing fabrics due to excessive length.
- Rescuer's tools for his rescue
According to the EU EN1498 standard, life belts are designed to save lives and the rescuers are therefore protected. It is located between the outer layer of the jacket and the waterproof layer. The wearer is barely aware of the life belt but can rely on this highly specialized tool in an emergency.
Product technical parameters
Complies with NFPA1971 or EN469:2005 standards. Its thermal resistance, tensile strength, surface moisture resistance, dimensional stability and chemical liquid permeability have all passed the relevant tests. This product is manufactured in line with GA633-2006 national standard, and the material is imported flame retardant fabric. Oil and water repellent, flame retardant, wear-resistant, anti-static, lightweight, strong tensile force.
Features: with flame retardant, wear-resistant, fireproof, lightweight, high strength and other characteristics. And in the elbows, knees have strengthened abrasion resistance reinforcement.
Uses: Used for physical protection during emergency rescue at accident sites such as building collapse, narrow space and climbing outside the fire site.
Oil-repellent and water-repellent, with flame retardant, wear-resistant, anti-static, lightweight, strong tensile, orange-red color, and logo eye-catching performance in the shoulders, top chest before and after, hem before and after, hem before and after, cuffs, pants at the sewing ≥ 50mm reflective sign band, in 360 ° all direction can be seen clearly, reflective sign belt after high and low temperature will not appear broken, wrinkled, twisted phenomenon. It consists of a protective top and protective pants.
Outer fabric: yellow, PBI Matrix fabric, 60% Kevlar fiber (bulletproof fiber), 40% PBI fiber, interwoven Kevlar filament fiber rectangular grid, grammage (205±10) g/m2; The fabric is colored with raw fibers and the color is brownish yellow. After the 180°C thermal stability performance test, the rate of change of longitude and latitude dimensions ≤2%, and there is no combustion and melting phenomenon; The strength of the warp and weft fracture ≥ 1700N, and the residual fracture strength of the warp and latitude after the radiant heat ≥ 1200N; Warp and weft tearing force ≥ 240N; Outer seam strength ≥ 380N; After 5 times of washing and drying, the flame does not burn to the edge of the cloth, no pore formation, no melting, dripping phenomenon, continuous combustion time of 0s, no smoldering; Water staining grade ≥ 4; The rate of change in the size of the longitude and latitude ≤3%.
Waterproof and breathable fabric (imported Stedair3000e): Stedair3000e, Nomex (fireproof fiber) and Kevlar (bulletproof fiber) blended spunlace felt fitted PTFE film, grammage (169±10) g/m2. After the 180°C thermal stability performance test, the rate of change of longitude and latitude dimensions ≤2%, and there is no combustion and melting phenomenon; After 5 washes and drying, the rate of change in the size of the longitude and latitude ≤3%; Hydrostatic pressure resistance ≥20kPa; Damp heat hinders Ret ≤15m2.Pa/W.
Thermal insulation inner fabric (imported): 34.5% para-aramid (bulletproof fiber), 33.5% flame retardant viscose, 32% meta-aramid (fireproof fiber), grammage (200±10) g/m2, special weft reinforcement structure, resulting in air insulation effect. After the 180°C thermal stability performance test, the rate of change of longitude and latitude dimensions ≤2%, and there is no combustion and melting phenomenon; After 5 times of washing and drying, the flame does not burn to the edge of the cloth, no pore formation, no melting, dripping phenomenon, continuous combustion time of 0s, no smoldering; The rate of change in the size of the longitude and latitude ≤3%.
Style requirements: upper shoulder, elbow, knee area reinforcement. The hem has large pockets and leaks at the bottom of the pockets. The main stitches such as reflective sign belt, pendulum seam, sleeve seam, and sleeve seam are double needle thread, and aramid high temperature resistant thread is used. Cuffs, cuffs, cowhide hem, waterproof ribbed cuffs, and a thumb loop design, ribbed sleeve material is aramid. The elastic band uses strong and elastic rubber ribs, and the heel design of the pants is inverted U-shaped anti-pedal notch;
Clothing fit, advocating the use of high protection level, light weight of the new non-removable integrated thin fire extinguishing protective clothing;
Each outfit is equipped with a DRD rescue system.
Reflective belt: the use of 3M9587 # yellow silver yellow reflective sign band, reflective belt accounted for 27% of the area of the whole set of clothing, in order to ensure the good breathability of the whole set of clothing using uniform hole design to ensure the excellent breathability of the clothing.
epilogue
In 2011, the Hong Kong Fire Services Department replaced all of its former aramid firefighting suits with PBI Matrix structure firefighting protective suits, which have made great achievements in protecting the safety of firefighters.
As the last line of protection for firefighters facing fire hazards, firefighter firefighting protective clothing has an irreplaceable protective role. This PBI Matrix construct fire extinguishing protective suit is lighter in weight but high in perspiration and breathability, with increased elbow space for more flexible arm movement. It improves comfort and extra personal safety for the wearer, is lightweight and reliable.