• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.381-388
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• 2016

In this study, we surveyed the supply and perception of Personal Protective Equipments for firefighters. As a result, most of the respondents answered that they were paid in accordance with the supply standard, but 12% of the respondents said that there were insufficient equipment. Also, satisfaction with the performance of the equipment is mostly satisfied, but the safety gloves are more than 50% dissatisfied. In summing up the results of the survey, it is urgently necessary to improve the current supply standard, which is determined by the life of PPE, to the replacement period according to the using time or frequency. Also, a new standard should be prepared through the follow - up study.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.529-536
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• 2017

In this study, the perceptions were surveyed fire risk and flash flames concerning the firefighters. The results were statistically evaluated according to age, experience and rank. More than 70% of the respondents answered that there is a possibility of unexpected flame exposure in the field of fire, but there was no recognition difference according to age, experience and rank. However, if there is an emergency situation in the field of fire, the survey on the ability to cope with crises showed that there is a difference in perception depending on the age, career, and rank of respondents. From these results, it is expected that strengthening simulation training of unexpected situation will be more urgently required in the future, and measures should be taken to minimize human accidents through improvement of standard operation procedures or supplement of fire suppression education according to unexpected situation.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.319-325
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• 2015

While the conventional personal protective equipments (PPEs) covers a variety of devices and garments such as respirators, turnout gear, gloves, blankets and gas masks, several electronic devices such as personal alert safety system (PASS) and heads-up displays in the facepiece have become a part of firefighters personal protective equipments through past several years. Furthermore, more advanced electronic sensors including location traking sensor, thermal imaging caerma, toxic gas detectors, and even physiological monitoring sensors are being integrated into ensemble elements for better protection of firefighters from fire sites. Despite any electronic equipment placed on the firefighter must withstand environmental extremes and continue to properly function under any thermal conditions that firefighters routinely face, there are no specific criteria for these electronics to define functionability of these devices under given thermal conditions. Although manufacturers provide the specifications and performance guidelines for their products, their operation guidelines hardly match the real thermal conditions. Present study overviews firefighter's fatalities and thermal conditions that firefighters and their equipments face. Lastly, thermal packaging methods that we have developed and tested are introduced.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.77-81
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• 2012

This study of aims to provide basic data for improve the performance of air respirators that generate by bad influencing elements in fire emergency field. With three types of conditions set up for these tests, the pressures of containers have been extracted; the ambient temperatures have been checked, and the generation of moisture inside and outside container have been checked and identified. Specifically, these tests have been conducted at temperatures ranging between $-20{\sim}40^{\circ}C$. The pressures of containers have been extracted to reach between 0.4~0.8 MPa, using a pressure regulating valve. These tests have resulted in no change in the temperature and moisture outside the containers and no generation of moisture inside the containers as well. Although moisture has been generated inside the pressure gauge, the amount of moisture has not exceeded 25 $mg/m^3$, i.e. the limit suggested by the Korean Government. Therefore, it is judged that the moisture generated inside air respirators, which can be the most critical issue in the equipment, is likely to be caused in the process of managing the equipment or replacing air in the equipment at places of end-users, rather than in the process of manufacturing and production of the equipment.