San Diego City and Surrounding county departments specify PBI Triguard 590 for wildlands apparel
Download spec sheet herePBI is now being used to protect US Marines and Air Force specify 4.5 oz PBI Gold Knit
Military Fabrics BrochureNorth Las Vegas converts from Basofil to black PBI Matrix outer shell for turn out gear. See other metro departments wearing PBI outer shells for structural gear.
PBI MatrixSan Diego County converts from Advance to PBI Matrix outer shell for turnout gear
View 38(5.22.09).pdf
Article from Fire Magazine, May 2009, page 38
View Fire_Times(page61)5.22.09.pdf
Article from Fire Times, April/May 2009
With the success that PBI has enjoyed around the world, and PBI's commitment to support our customers worldwide, the following changes to PBI's Marketing and Sales organization are being announced: Effective immediately…
Walter (Walt) Lehmann has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing - New Markets. In this role, Walt will support the adoption of PBI based products to new regions and markets. Walt will report to Bill Lawson, Managing Director and COO.
Kim Henry has been promoted to Vice President, Sales and Marketing for North America Performance Fabrics. In this role, Kim will support our partners and customers in the North American fire service, military, and industrial markets. Kim will report to Bill Lawson, Managing Director and COO.
Helmut Zepf has been promoted to Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Europe and Middle East. In this role, Helmut will support our partners and customers in Europe and the Middle East for the fire service, military, and industrial markets. Helmut will report to Bill Lawson, Managing Director and COO.
PBI Performance Products is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and operates a dedicated manufacturing facility located in Rock Hill, South Carolina and global sales offices in England, Germany, Spain and Hong Kong. Through people, products and perseverance, PBI's goal is to provide insight into the most demanding applications. Our engineering, sales and technical support together with a family of polymers and fibers offer the very best solutions to a variety of high tech applications.
PBI Performance Products, Inc. is a wholly owned business of The InterTech Group, Inc.®, located in North Charleston, SC. The InterTech Group operates a diverse, global group of companies specializing in custom engineered solutions. InterTech products can be found in a wide variety of industries and applications, including aerospace, power generation, medical, hygiene, sporting goods, home furnishings and construction materials, among many others.
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More security and greater comfort
Three Berlin fire stations are currently testing various versions of the fire suit "Fire Bear” being produced by the Austrian company Texport. The test is mainly about the question, whether to choose a moisture barrier or not, the outershell material is definitely chosen. This consists of the highly heat-resistant fiber Polybenzimidazole (PBI), that has been developed for NASA, which is being reinforced by a woven grid of high-strength Aramid fibers. This product named "PBI Matrix" has a high mechanical strength and a significant low heat penetration. At the same time the fabric withstands short term temperatures up to 1000 ° C . In addition to that PBI Matrix has excellent resistance against acids, alkalis and organic chemicals and does not shrink under thermal exposure nor break open.
The new suits offer better protection and higher wear comfort to the Berlin firefighters than the previously used ones. The new jackets and trousers are ergonomically designed. The new design is adapted to the typical movements during service and allows more freedom of movement. Knees and elbows are padded inside and outside. Also the back and shoulders are padded to improve the wearing of SCBA. The new jackets are noticeably shorter than the previously used ones and the trousers are no longer made as flap trousers. The new design causes a significant weight reduction, as the jackets are around 20 percent lighter than the previous "coats". In the wear trial different variants of the new garment will be tested. The aim is to find the version that combines optimal breathability with maximum protection. The test phase will last about six months to allow the fire fighters to test at least for a period of two seasons. After completing the test phase gradually the new fire suits will be rolled out to the roughly 4,500 Berlin fire fighters.
It is a must to use personal protective equipment (PPE) during wildland fires. Personal Protective Clothing is the most important part of the PPE.
Protective Clothing used in wildland firefighting and structural firefighting are not the same. The main difference is the following: Structural fire suits have 4 layers; outershell fabric, moisture barrier, heat barrier and inner lining. On the other hand wildland fire suits are only one layer because of the high heat stress in forest fires. Wildland firefighters are facing with heat stress which can even cause heart attacks. Therefore the suits they are wearing must be AS LIGHT AND COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.
Develop/designing the MOST PROTECTIVE, MOST COMFORTABLE, LIGHTEST and MOST DURABLE SUIT is the aim of the garment manufacturers. They are investing huge amounts in R&D to achieve this target.
It is not enough to use a light weight fabric in the suit. It should also be VERY DURABLE because there are many sharp objects like bushes in a forest fire which can easily tear the fabric. The firefighter could be injured or even dead if direct flames come to the unprotected body in case of a break or tear in outer fabric. Therefore the TENSILE AND TEAR STRENGTH of the fabric must be much more higher compared to conventional flame resistant fabrics.
Wildland firefighters in Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, General Directorate of Forestry, are using the most suitable garment according to the above mentioned needs:
· PROTECTION: The heat and flame resistancy of the fabric used by Turkish wildland firefighters is the best compared to other materials in the market which gives the best protection to them.
· COMFORT: The weight of the fabric used by Turkish wildland firefighters is 165 g/m2 and this is the LIGHTEST garment fabric at the moment. The AIR PERMEABILITY when tested according to ISO 9237 at 100 Pa is at least 175 litre/m2xs which makes the fabric the MOST BREATHABLE fabric. This high breathability means low heat stress during fire.
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It is not enough to use a light weight fabric in the suit. It should also be VERY DURABLE because there are many sharp objects like bushes in a forest fire which can easily tear the fabric. The firefighter could be injured or even dead if direct flames come to the unprotected body in case of a break or tear in outer fabric. Therefore the TENSILE AND TEAR STRENGTH of the fabric must be much more higher compared to conventional flame resistant fabrics.
· DURABILITY: The tensile strength of the fabric used by Turkish wildland firefighters is at least 1600 N/5 cm in warp and at least 1100 N/5 cm in weft according to EN ISO 13934-1. The tear strength is at least 70 N in warp and at least 60 N in weft according to EN ISO 13937-2. This high tensile and tear strength increases the lifetime of the garment and protects the firefighter.
· DESIGN: Different aspects of wildland firefighting are taken into account in designing the suit. Flame retardant yellow-silver-yellow reflective tapes increases the visibility in day and night. The comfort is increased by means of curved type stitching on elbow and knee area. There are a lot of pockets enabling firefighters to use several equipments.
As a conclusion we can say that Turkish wildland firefighters are using the LIGHTEST, MOST COMFORTABLE and MOST DURABLE suits available today – PBI TriGuard.
Helmut Zepf
Vice President Marketing & Sales PBI Europe and Middle East
PBI Performance Products, Inc.
WEAR GRADE ENGINEERING PLASTICS AVAILABLE FROM PBI
CHARLOTTE, NC, USA – April 5, 2010 – PBI Performance Products, Inc. announces the availability for viewing and downloading a comprehensive wear study titled, High-PV Wear Study of Six High Performance Wear Grade Engineering Plastics. This paper is authored by Michael Gruender, Vice President Marketing & Sales of PBI and is available at www.pbiproducts.com.
The paper reports the results of a study commissioned by PBI at an independent laboratory to examine the wear characteristics of six high performance engineering plastics currently used in tribological applications. The testing was conducted in a thrust bearing configuration in two parts; an initial test and an extended test. The initial test was conducted at three Pressure-Velocity conditions (PV's), and three velocities. It is classified as high-PV in description of the PV level the specimens were subjected to. The surviving specimens of the initial three-by-three high-PV test were pushed through increasing PV's at the same three test velocities until each material failed at each velocity condition.
The test materials included wear grades of polyketones, polyamideimides, polyimides and polybenzimidazole-polyketone blends. The study discusses the relative performance of each of these materials as they progress through the high-PV grid.
Comprehensive data and analysis on wear rates, the dynamic coefficient of friction, counter-surface temperatures and material failure mode are presented for each of the materials. The results indicate velocity and load limitations for each material.
For more information, please call (704) 554-3036.
When astronauts venture into space, the walls of their spacecraft or the protective confines of their space suits are all that stand between them and the unforgiving nature of their cosmic surroundings.
NASA's space suits and spacecraft are designed to insulate and protect astronauts from a range of temperature extremes — from the bone-chilling minus 455 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 270 degrees Celsius) of deep space to the scorching hot 2,300 degrees Fahrenheit (1,260 degrees Celsius) of atmospheric re-entry.
View more at: http://www.space.com/10671-space-spinoff-technology-fireproof-clothing.html
Charleston, SC has been selected as one of 15+ tour stops for the 20-year strong SCOTT Firefighter Combat Challenge. This athletic competition brings together hundreds of firefighters from around the country to compete in what is known as the "toughest two minutes in sports." The five event obstacle course tests firefighters' fitness levels and agility, while celebrating the excellence of these heroes.
Throw out the old cliché that three is a crowd, because the three participants with the D.C. Firefighters Burn Foundation group were as tight knit as can be. Chris Tingley, Todd Beckett and Chris Schoepke, who are each at various stages of recovering from burns and other injuries, visited the Adaptive Sports Center from June 12 - 19. Throughout the week they challenged, supported and encouraged each other to succeed.
A focus on physical and mental recovery was an integral part of this group's goals, as they took part in the week's adventures. For Todd, the trip provided an opportunity to successfully participate in an activity that he had loved prior to being injured.
Go to www.dcffburnfoundation.org to read the entire article by Katie Onheiber and to check out the video and pictures from the trip.
We would like to thank our friends at PBI for donating $5,000 for our survivor support programs.
SYDNEY GAMES PROMISE TO BE THE BEST EVER WITH 10,000 COMPETITORS EXPECTED
An international call has gone out for firefighters to assemble in Sydney Australia next year for the 12th World Firefighter's Games.
The 55-sport biennial event was spectacularly launched in the vibrant harbour city in July in the presence of some of the world's most eminent firefighting administrators from seven countries – the high-powered Board of Champions – government and sponsor representatives and a host of Australian elite sporting champions.
From 19th-29th October 2012 Sydney will be the place to be as an expected 10,000 full, part-time and volunteer firefighters compete in one of the world's largest participation sporting events.
Elite competitors will include the reigning world champions from Korea 2010, the winners of Europe's Toughest Firefighter Alive competition and the top performers from this year's New York Police and Fire Games.
Home to one of the world's most stunning harbours and blessed by a sunny, near-perfect climate Sydney's setting alone is perfect for the games.
The 2000 Olympics have left a legacy of world class sporting facilities, enabling participants access to Olympic-standard facilities for the very first time.
Events such athletics and swimming will be held at Olympic Park whilst beach volleyball, surf lifesaving and beach cricket will be held on iconic Coogee Beach.
Many other events such as tug of war, arm wrestling, body building, and the coveted Toughest Firefighter Alive will take place right in the centre of the city's entertainment and accommodation precinct at Darling Harbour.
And while the competition will be hot during the day, things will be just as hot when the sun goes down.
Nightly entertainment will feature some of Australia's and the world's biggest musical acts and spectacular opening and closing ceremonies are already in the advanced planning stages.
Accommodation is not a problem either with Sydney boasting some of the best accommodation in the world with over 18,000 rooms in 3, 4, and 5 star hotels, along with world-class hostels and low-budget accommodation.
Transport is a breeze and the food, shopping, watering holes, tourist attractions and natural environment are second-to-none.
Access to the rest of Australia is also easy for after-games holiday adventures.
Find more information at www.worldfirefightersgames.com.au
The 2012 World Firefighters Games are supported by Destination NSW through Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government, V Australia and Moves Travel. We look forward to welcoming you all to Sydney 2012!
