Quantitatively evaluating the effects of flash fire exposure on the mechanical performance of thermal protective clothing

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the effect of flash fire exposure on the mechanical properties of single-layer thermal protective clothing. Design/methodology/approach The full-scale flame manikin tests were performed to simulate flash fire exposure. Two typical fire-resistant fabrics were investigated. The manikin was divided into seven body parts and the specimens meeting the requirements of tensile and tear strength standards were sampled. Fabric thickness, mass per unit area, tensile strength and tear strength were measured and analyzed. Findings The results revealed the significant influence of heat flux on both of tensile and tear strength. However, the regression analysis indicated the low R 2 of the liner models. When the tensile and tear strength retention were reorganized based on the body parts, both of the multiple linear regression models for tensile and tear strength showed higher R 2 than the one-variable linear regressions. Furthermore, the R 2 of the multiple linear regression model for tear strength retention was remarkably higher than that of the tensile strength. Practical implications The findings suggested that greater attention should be paid to the local part of human body and more factors such as the air gap should be considered in the future thermal aging of firefighters’ clothing studies. Originality/value The outcomes provided useful information to evaluate the mechanical properties of thermal protective clothing and predict its service life.