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 Imagine running into a burning building to rescue a stranded victim on the eighth floor. You’re lugging a heavy fire hose, all while wearing an air tank and gear that can weigh over 40 pounds. With a life-and-death situation such as this, the last thing you want to worry about is whether the uniform under your turnout gear will burn and melt to your skin.
Some fire departments across the country are changing to Nomex station uniforms. Last year, the Greer City (SC) Fire Department made the switch. Greer City’s Lt. Paul Brown says the majority of fire departments in the country are volunteer and don’t always have the budget for these types of uniforms, which can cost up to $200. “If we’re going to protect our guys better,” Brown says, “then we’re going to at least do that much in the way of uniforms.”
Greer City’s old uniforms were made of a polyester/cotton blend. “The problem with polyester is that when it burns, it melts to the skin,” Brown says. “With cotton, it burns, and when you have a poly/cotton blend, you have two things working against you.” Brown is pleased with the new uniforms. “Nomex is lightweight and comfortable to wear,” he says. “It actually self-extinguishes the fire, so you don’t have the drip or combustion problems of cotton and poly.”
The Greer City uniform is a combination of 93% Nomex, 5% Kevlar and 2% anti-static fabric. Brown says his unit has a special industrial washer at the firehouse to wash the uniforms. “It’s called an extractor,” he says. “It spins very fast and the centrifugal action extracts the contaminants from the fabric.”
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