Functional Development and Evaluation of Residential Fire-Resistant Clothing

Abstract

Residential fires are a significant risk factor threatening the health and security of occupants. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel fire-safety product to help occupants safely and quickly evacuate from fire. Residential fire-resistant clothing with an alterable robe-coverall structure was developed according to a functional design procedure. The protection and ergonomic performance of the new fire-resistant clothing were verified by material selection and testing, flame manikin testing, and a simulated evacuation test. The results demonstrated that the fire-resistant clothing could provide essential thermal protection, inhalation protection, tear resistant, and visibility. Moreover, compared to current fire blankets, this fire-resistant clothing integrated the robe and coverall together, providing improved thermal protection and ergonomics, while decreasing skin burn percentage by 30.04% and allowing flexible leg movement.