It ain't fashion, if it ain't sustainable

Protective Clothing

Functional Clothing / Firefighters

6 September 2024

U of A researchers developed a new protective shirt geared to the needs of wildland firefighters, offering more protection for the shoulders, torso, neck and wrists — the areas most vulnerable to burns.

New Shirt Offers Better Protection for Wildland Firefighters

A Canadian researcher has developed a new protective shirt geared to the needs of wildland firefighters. Offering more protection, the new prototype shirt, which is being patented, reduces the total burn area to the body by about six per cent compared with the standard shirt.

Staff Writer

Protective Clothing / Firefighters

29 May 2024

3 minutes

The overall exploration of the various yarns and their fibres provides a fuller understanding of their durability. Suggestions can now be made to manufacturers on optimum fibre blends and fabric configurations that strike a better balance between long-term protection and comfort.

New Studies Show How to Make Firefighters’ Clothing Safer to Wear, Maintain and Manufacture

New research coming from Canada’s Alberta University could help manufacturers of high-performance fibres and protective fabrics to improve their processes and take informed decisions in the selection and design of materials for more durable gear for firefighters.

Staff Writer

Protective Clothing / PFAS Release

22 January 2024

3 minutes

Research suggests that firefighters may have a higher risk for certain types of cancer than the general population does, though that is not necessarily due to PFAS specifically. Turnout gear includes pants, coats, gloves, boots and helmets.

Wear and Tear May Cause Firefighter Gear to Release More Toxic PFAS, Finds Research

Two studies—one of them recent—have identified the PFAS compounds present in selected turnout gear textiles used by firefighters, how much of each was present, and whether simulated wear and tear increased the amount of PFAS that the textiles released.

Staff Writer

Functional Textiles / Lenzing Launch

26 October 2023

2 minutes

The protective garments are light, breathable, soft, and comfortable even in extreme heat conditions. Additionally, these fibres have met the definition of “inherently flame retardant and resistant fibres” as specified by the European Man-made Fibers Association (CIRFS).

Lenzing Goes Firefighting with New Protectivewear

The Lenzing Fiber Identification System would now be used for its FR cellulosic fibres, promising traceability, quality assurance, and trust in protective garments.

Staff Writer

Innovation / ProtectiveWear

19 January 2023

Clothing that can kill viruses and bacteria on contact helps protect the people who protect us, but getting that type of protective finish onto the uniforms first responders wear is a big challenge.

Canadian Researchers Aim to Make Virus-Killing Clothing a Good Fit for Production Line

A $1 million funding is supporting researchers in the University of Alberta to make the science behind self-decontaminating fabrics a good fit for the production line.