Estimates of Thermal Properties for Fire Fighters' Protective Clothing Materials.
Estimates of Thermal Properties for Fire Fighters'
Protective Clothing Materials.
(4646 K)
Lawson, J. R.; Walton, W. D.; Bryner, N. P.; Amon, F. K.
NISTIR 7282; 71 p. June 2005.
Keywords:
fire fighters; protective clothing; thermal properties;
absorptivity; absorptance; heat transfer; reflectivity;
reflectance; specific heat; thermal conductivity;
transmissivity; transmittance
Abstract:
A series of measurements has been carried out to
quantify the thermal properties of materials used to
fabricate fire fighters' thermal protective clothing.
The thermal property measurements chosen have direct
application for use in heat transfer model computations
that may be used to predict the thermal performance of
fire fighters' protective clothing. The thermal
properties are: thermal conductivity, specific heat, and
the thermo-optical properties of absorptivity,
reflectivity, and transmissivity. In addition, the
physical property of density was also measured. Since
thermal properties varywith ambient temperature
conditions, thermal conductivity measurements were made
over a range of temperatures, 20 DGC to 100 DGC. Specific
heat was measured over a range of 0DGC to 100 DGC. The
maximum temperature of 100 DGC was selected because it is
below the temperature wherematerial's thermal
degradation occurs, and the temperature range used
covers the temperatures where burn injuries occur in
human skin. The thermo-optical properties data were
generated only at room temperature, approximately 23 DGC,
since the test apparatus was not designed to operate at
higher temperatures.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899