Gm. Budd et al., PROJECT-AQUARIUS .13. THE THERMAL BURDEN OF HIGH INSULATION AND ENCAPSULATION IN WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS CLOTHING, International journal of wildland fire, 7(2), 1997, pp. 207-218
Light, heavy, and encapsulating clothing were compared in a climatic c
hamber during 60 minutes of moderate exercise (energy expenditure 382-
464 W) in warm, dry conditions with no added radiant heat (air and mea
n radiant temperature 30 degrees C, relative humidity 33 %, air veloci
ty 0.5 m s(-1)). The results showed that high insulation and reduced v
entilation restricted the evaporation of sweat and thus hindered the d
issipation of metabolic heat. These adverse effects were apparent in (
1) a reduced cooling efficiency of sweat and hence a higher sweat rate
; (2) increased heat storage, cardiovascular strain, discomfort, and f
atigue; and (3) a failure to attain thermal equilibrium even after 60
minutes of work. Comparison with the effects of fire, previously repor
ted, on lightly dressed firefighters showed that the above penalties w
ould outweigh any benefit that extra insulation or encapsulation could
confer during wildland fire suppression with hand tools.