FireLink

Our Department is in the process of swithing from Brown/Tan Gear to Black Gear. Do you have a preferance and why?

I dont think it matters, they say black is hotter but if your in a stucture fire its going to be hot anyway. But some dept us black so it doesnt look dirty when it really is. I say some dept us it as a short cut for cleaning turnout gear

colors also are limited to types of materials also. Our Globe Extreme gear is tan due to the material it is made of.

Firehouse Magazine recently invited a cross-section of personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers to join a roundtable discussion centering on firefighter safety issues. One of the questions they were asked was, “Does color matter in regard to the protection the gear will afford the wearer?” The following are their replies:



TOM CLEMENTS

National Sales Manager

Chieftain Safety Mfg. -- “Does color matter in regard to protection? No. I have conducted tests and drills with various fire departments outside during both day and nighttime…”



RICH YOUNG, Ph.D.

Senior Research Chemist

E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. Inc. -- “In most cases, the color of the outer shell does not significantly impact the thermal protection of the garment; most of a garment's thermal protection and heat stress relief is controlled by the inner components. In addition, most of the outer shell colors are transparent to radiant heat transmitted in a smoke-filled room, so the rate of heating is independent of color. The darker colors will also increase the contrast and visible impact of reflective trim.”



STEVE BONAMER

National Sales and Marketing

Manager, Fire-Dex -- “Color does not play as much of a factor as the protection and comfort of the gear.”



ROB FREESE

Senior Vice President Marketing

Globe Manufacturing Co., LLC -- “As for protection from heat and flame, there have been studies in the past that indicated in a layered system such as turnout gear color has little effect on the wearers' comfort or performance.”



LOUIS CARPENTIER

President

Innotex Inc. – “We do not feel that color is a major factor in the level of protection from any outer shell material.”



ADAM R. PARKER

National Sales Manager

Woven Products/Fyrepel/Reflective Apparel Div. Lakeland Industries Inc. -- Color really doesn't matter in reference to the protection the gear will afford the wearer. The protection is based upon fabric and fabric combinations in order to reach the optimal TPP and THL performances.



KIMBERLY M. HENRY

Director of Marketing & Sales - NA Performance Fabrics

PBI Performance Products Inc. -- Another color which seems to be making a comeback in the market is black. This color represents tradition in the fire service and in wear tests has proven to be as durable and protective as gold without adding stress to the wearer due to heat. To date, I have not seen any studies in which the core temperature of the wearer increased due to the color of the outer shell used in a set of turnout gear.



ANTHONY Di GIOVANNI

Strategic Marketing Director

Sperian Protective Apparel – “To the best of my knowledge, there have been no studies demonstrating that color has any effects on protection - and that includes visibility.”



ELLIAD GRANGER

Marketing Manager

TenCate SouthernMills Inc. – “Color has absolutely no impact on the protection level of turnout gear. It is strictly aesthetic.”