• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.921-935
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• 2016

This research analyzed the manual performance of firefighting protective gloves on global markets in order to suggest an evaluation method for firefighting protective gloves wearing comfort. We collected 13 types of firefighting gloves from domestic and international markets (7 types from Korea, 3 types form Europe, 2 types from the U.S and 1 type from Japan). We set the Don-Doff test as a basal requirement for moving toward to further manual performance tests that consist of: ASTM dexterity test, Minnesota dexterity test, Bennett hand tool test and ASTM torque test. All gloves were evaluated in dry and wet conditions, we included eight current male firefighters ($43.4{\pm}7.0yr$ in age, $173.1{\pm}4.4cm$ in height, $79.9{\pm}9.2kg$ in body mass) for the tests. Four gloves (1 Korea, 1 U.S, 1 Germany, and 1 Japan) out of thirteen firefighting gloves passed the Don-Doff test and had great subject preferences. There was no significant difference between dry and wet conditions on the ASTM dexterity test, Minnesota dexterity test, Bennett hand tool test and ASTM torque test. However, Japanese gloves had the greatest score and showed 3-4 times faster completion time on the ASTM dexterity test (p<.05), 1.2-1.5 times faster on the Minnesota dexterity test (p<.05), as fast as the bare hand on Bennett hand tool test (p<.05), and greater performance on the ASTM torque test compared to bare hand. In conclusion, Don-Doff test in wet conditions should be the first step for a mobility evaluation of domestic firefighting protective gloves; subsequently, a comprehensive test assorting ASTM, Minnesota, and Bennett test should be developed as a second step. The current ASTM torque test can be adopted as a third step. This three-step-method for evaluating firefighting protective glove mobility can be expected to expand into surveys of other safety gloves in Korea.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.74-83
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• 2018

In order to secure safety and improve work efficiency of forest firefighting crews, performance evaluation criteria for safety gloves were developed. Since the standard for forest firefighting safety gloves is not available in Korea, we started the study based on the standard for firefighting safety gloves operated by KFI. 12 test items were selected excluding 5 test items out of the 17 test items through the consultation of stakeholders and the review of foreign standards. Two types of general safety gloves used by forest firefighting crews and one firefighting gloves were tested by applying KFI standard and the results were compared. Materials such as nylon or polyurethane which are weak to fire are not suitable for forest firefighting safety gloves. We compared the criteria of KFI, ISO 16073, NFPA 1977, NFPA 1971 and BS EN 659, and finally selected 12 test items and acceptance criteria suitable for the work environment of forest firefighting crews in Korea.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.138-148
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• 2016

A firefighting simulation was developed in order to assess the physical work capacity of firefighters. The simulation consisted of eight common firefighting tasks, including walking with radiant heat for 3 min while wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). Nine professional firefighters performed the test a total of three times with a 5 min rest interval between each session. The entire series of tests took approximately 30 min to complete ($381{\pm}30s$). Rectal temperatures were found to increase from $37.4{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$ to $38.5{\pm}0.4^{\circ}C$, while heart rates were found to increase from $92{\pm}18bpm$ to $185{\pm}13bpm$ during testing. Time to completion of the test drills and non-modified physical fitness values showed a significantly negative correlation (r = -0.728, p < 0.05). Firefighters who had longer periods of firefighting service had longer duration time and also recorded higher scores using an integrated scoring system of time to completion (TTC) and physiological strain index (PhSI). The results indicated that the determination of TTC alone can be a misrepresentation of capability, as it neglects to account for accumulated heat strain. The simulated firefighting test provided a useful insight into physical fitness level, but also the comprehensive work capacity of the firefighters when assessed based on TTC and PhSI.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.66-77
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• 2019

To secure the safety and improve the work efficiency of forest firefighting crews, performance evaluation criteria for safety helmets were developed in this study. Because the standards for forest firefighting safety helmets are not available in Korea, we began our study based on the standards for firefighting safety helmets used by the Korea Fire Institute (KFI). Eleven test items were selected excluding 15 other items out of the 26 test items that, through the consultation of stakeholders and the review of foreign standards, were initially included in our study. Two types of general safety helmets and one firefighting helmet were tested by applying KFI standards, and the results were compared. The general safety helmets did not meet the standards of the retention system and chin strap. Additionally, polyethylene and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene materials were found to be especially weak under heat conditions. We compared the criteria of KFI, International Standardization Organization (ISO) 16073, National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) 1977, NFPA 1971, and British Standards European Norm (BS EN) 443, and finally selected 11 test items and their acceptance criteria suitable for the work environment of forest firefighting crews in Korea.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.43-54
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• 2019

In this study, results of completion inspection are investigated according to the performance of the firefighting construction supervision personnel and according to the necessity of clean air supply in a performance test of the firefighting construction supervision personnel. The results of the completion inspection are measured and the causes of defects in the fire protection facilities after issuance of a completion inspection certificate are analyzed. The findings of this investigation can be used to minimize the risk of apartment fires and improve the performance of firefighting construction supervision personnel. The results of this study are summarized as follows. First, the results of the completion inspection conducted by the firefighting construction supervision personnel varies according to particular occupation. The performance of fire facility supervisors from design companies and fire construction companies were significantly higher than the fire officers. Therefore, it is necessary to employ supervisors who have experience in supervising the construction of apartments, in order to improve the performance of fire construction supervision officers. Second, the analysis of the completion inspection results according to the necessity of a clean air supply for performance tests of firefighting construction supervision personnel showed that the necessity of a clean air supply was significantly higher for fire facility supervisors from design companies and fire construction companies than for the fire officers. In order to improve, the completion inspection should be carried out up until the completion date of the building. In addition, a system needs to be established to ensure that clients are not able to demand that a completion inspection certificate be issued on the construction completion date. Finally, it is found that defects of completion inspection after issuance of a completion inspection certificate affects the result of the completion inspection. The results of the completion inspections conducted by the fire facility supervisors from design companies and fire construction companies were affected significantly less by defects than that of the general contractors. Research shows that faults have occured in firefighting facilities after the issuance of a completion inspection certificate due to the client and the construction company demanding the issuance of the completion inspection certificate.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.386-392
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• 2017

Background: Fire service workers often implement multiple duties in the emergency conditions, with such duties being mostly conducted in various ambient temperatures. Methods: The aim of the current study was to assess the firefighters' physiological responses, information processing, and working memory prior to and following simulated firefighting activities in three different hot environments. Seventeen healthy male firefighters performed simulated firefighting tasks in three separate conditions, namely (1) low heat (LH; $29-31^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity), (2) moderate heat (MH; $32-34^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity), and (3) severe heat (SH; $35-37^{\circ}C$, 55-60% relative humidity). It took about 45-50 minutes for each firefighter to finish all defined firefighting activities and the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT). Results: At the end of all the three experimental conditions, heart rate (HR) and tympanic temperature (TT) increased, while PASAT scores as a measure of information processing performance decreased relative to baseline. HR and TT were significantly higher at the end of the experiment in the SH ($159.41{\pm}4.25beats/min$; $38.22{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) compared with the MH ($156.59{\pm}3.77beats/min$; $38.20{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) and LH ($154.24{\pm}4.67beats/min$; $38.17{\pm}0.10^{\circ}C$) conditions (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in PASAT scores between LH and MH (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, there was a measurable difference in PASAT scores between LH and SH (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These consequences demonstrate that ambient temperature is effective in raising the physiological responses following firefighting activities. It is therefore argued that further increase of ambient temperature can impact firefighters' information processing and working memory during firefighting activity.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.310-317
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• 2024

In this study, Aimed to develop technology to ensure the safety of firefighters responding to hydrogen incidents and to review the performance of protective super absorbent polymer (SAP) that could help maintain the thermal protection performance of equipment with protective properties. Tests were conducted, including bench-scale and full-scale thermal exposure tests, to review the protective performance of SAP using firefighting garments commonly used by firefighters. The results showed that without SAP application, 2nd degree burn areas were measured at 9.4%, and 3rd degree burn areas at 7.7%. In contrast, when SAP was applied, the percentage of 2nd degree burn areas decreased to 7% on the lower body, and there was no temperature rise causing 3rd degree burns. Therefore, it is expected that by applying SAP to the outer surface of firefighter garments, even under temporarily high temperature conditions such as hydrogen jet flames, thermal damage to firefighters could be protected for a certain period.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.520-533
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• 2023

The present study developed a test protocol for evaluating the mobility of firefighting chemical and flame personal protective equipment (PPE) for the National 119 Rescue Headquarters in Korea and suggested ergonomic design factors to improve their mobility and performance. Six types of PPE were employed, including three types for flame protective PPE (5 ~ 6 kg excluding the self-contained breathing apparatus), and three types for chemical and flame protective PPE (8 ~ 11 kg). These PPEs are used by the 119 Rescue firefighters. Three male firefighters (34.3 ± 1.2 y in age, 175 ± 8 cm in height, 81 ± 13 kg in body weight) participated in the mobility test and interview. A mobility test protocol consisting of 16 components (nine postures and seven motions including a dexterity test) along with a visibility test were developed based on pre-interviews and literature reviews. The findings indicated that the clothing microclimate humidity on the neck and chest exceeded 85%RH on average for all the six PPE conditions, with the chest area reaching as high as 98%RH. This high humidity caused fogging inside the visor and impaired visibility. The requirements for improving the PPE design in terms of mobility varied depending on whether it was the separated types or all-in-one types, particularly regarding the hood and gloves design. The findings of this study can be applied to improve the design of Level A_PPE for firefighters. The mobility test protocol and visibility test developed in this study can also be applied to other types of Level A impermeable PPE.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.85-91
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• 2012

This paper analyzed firefighting officers' use situations such as the use time, maximum working pressure, hose diameter, etc. of fire pumps at fire sites and carried out various performance tests by pressures, hose diameters and quantities of fire pumps based on its results because the waterproof performance criterion for a fire pump installed in a fire engine is different from the operation situations at the site and is not clearly prescribed. As a result of site survey, the site uses a higher pressure than the standard water discharge pressure (0.85 MPa) or the high-pressure water discharge pressure (1.4 MPa) prescribed by the approval Standard of the fire pump performance on fire truck. In addition, as a result of pump performance test, the discharged water flow rate, water discharge pressure, etc. was measured to be very different from the currently prescribed the approval standard depending on the hose diameter and firefighting nozzle, so the result of this study proposes a new standard.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.97-102
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a Tabata exercise program as an alternative for firefighters whose working environment makes it difficult to manage physical fitness. The Tabata exercise program, in which 16 people participated, led to increased muscle mass and reduced weight and body fat, which not only improved the health of the firefighters but also improved their cardiopulmonary endurance, muscle endurance, and muscle strength, which are essential elements during firefighting emergency relief activities. On the basis of these results, it is believed that developing and providing guidelines for scientific and systematic exercise programs to firefighters will lead to better work capability during fire and disaster situations.