A pair of new University of Alberta studies show how to make firefighters' clothing safer to wear, maintain and manufacture.
One study revealed that some fibres used in the protective gear break down when exposed to warm water, showing what can happen to the garments over time, during real-life firefighting scenarios and laundering.
The other study analyzed the water used in the manufacture of fibres, identifying a handful of harmful dye compounds leaching from the fabrics that could weaken their protective qualities.
"The findings of both studies show vulnerabilities and potential ways to improve the materials currently being used in firefighters' clothing, and for maintenance," says Saiful Hoque, who conducted the work to earn a PhD in textile and apparel science from the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences (ALES).
