| Keywords |
Firefighter ; Personal protective equipment (PPE) ; Test method ; Flame manikin ; Human wear trial |
| Abstract |
The present study aimed at reviewing international and domestic test methods for firefighters' personal protective equipment (PPE). The PPE in this review was limited to firefighters' turnout jacket, turnout pants, fire protective hoods, helmet, gloves and boots. We analyzed test methods on the six items from ASTM, EN, ISO, KS and NFPA. Those test methods were classified into three levels: material (textiles) tests, general/thermal/flame manikin tests, and human wear trials. A total of 40 test methods on materials were extracted. We suggested that terminology in Korean should be reexamined because identical terms were used with different meanings. This could be because test terms in Korea were translated from various international standards. Also, similar test methods on materials were often found in Korea. Similar test methods need to be combined in a test method. Finally, it needs that the test methods using thermal/flame manikins and human subjects are extended because test results from materials or textiles do not fit the performance of PPE. In particular, tests on dexterity, mobility and physiological strains should be evaluated through human wear trials. To adopt such test methods, test systems should be built and experts should be prepared prior to the adopting. The review will provide improving directions for current Korea standards. |