GORE-TEX® Brand Protective Fabrics are set apart from competitors because of its legacy in enhancing garment performance through protection and breathability.
Comfort is imperative for firefighters and first responders on the field and GORE-TEX® Brand PPE has always been designed with this in mind.
Jennifer Wise, Product Specialist at Gore spoke of the recent expansion of its GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH® Moisture Barrier range- a testament to Gore’s pursuit for technological advancement.
Wise shared that the new technology platforms are “helping to shape the future of firefighter performance. Departments face unique challenges and we’re leveraging Gore’s knowledge of high-performance fabrics to create solutions that are evolving with their needs.”
GORE-TEX® Brand PPE has always been a market leader because of its unparalleled focus on science.
Gore’s knowledge of high-performance fabrics stems back to its origins in 1958 when Bill and Vieve Gore founded W. L. Gore & Associates in their basement.
The brand’s scientific focus was solidified when Bob Gore, the founder’s son, discovered the power of expanded PTFE in 1969- beginning its journey with innovation.
Alongside the GORE-TEX CROSSTECH product line, Gore also offers GORE-TEX® PYRAD® Fabric technology, engineered to provide elevated protection against heat and flames through a careful balance of flame resistance, thermal insulation and thermal stability.
For fire and safety professionals, GORE-TEX® CHEMPAK® Fabric technology is also available for protection against toxic industrial chemicals, chemical warfare agents, infectious diseases, synthetic opioids and biological and radiological particulate hazards.
Controlling heat stress is an essential part of the design of PPE as it can impact a firefighter’s health, safety and operational performance on the fireground.
The GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH® Moisture Barriers are a critical component of firefighter turnout gear, especially in managing heat stress.
Subject Matter Experts
If body heat cannot escape from the turnout gear, a firefighter runs the risk of elevated heart rate, raised body temperature, and accelerated dehydration.
The repercussions of this can be extreme, potentially leading to heat exhaustion and impaired decision-making.
Firefighting technology has changed significantly over the years, due to new research. Gore has always had a rich history of innovating with purpose.
Pushing the boundaries of technology and offering its customers safety options across 15 industries globally.
Research is a significant component of GORE-TEX® Product technologies. Tech is in its DNA as a brand and interwoven into its garments, footwear and gloves.
With decades of experience in high-performance fabrics, Gore’s proven expertise and relentless drive for innovation pushes the technical capabilities of PPE.
Subject Matter Experts
These capabilities can be narrowed down to breathability, durability, thermal stability, penetration resistance and mobility.
GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH® Product technology offers a barrier against pathogens found in blood and bodily fluids, in addition to common chemicals such as battery acid and hydraulic fluid.
Structural turnout gear is built for high heat and flame protection, whereas technical rescue gear typically provides higher breathability with greater mobility for extended search and rescue missions.
PPE also differs because individual response scenarios are supported by separate NFPA standards.
These standards are important because they provide minimum requirements for the design, performance, testing, and certification for specific PPE.
In addition to meeting standards, all GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH® products are subjected to extensive product testing to ensure they pass GORE-TEX® Brand’s testing criteria.
This is achieved through a combination of Gore’s knowledge of high-performance fabrics with a pre-existing understanding of the environmental conditions where the fabric will be used to engineer a barrier that fits the specific applications.
NFPA standards are intrinsic to the technology and design of GORE-TEX® Brand PPE. The new GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® Innovate Moisture Barrier and new GORE-TEX CROSSTECH Footwear Fabric provide reliable protections against blood, body fluids, NFPA common chemicals and water, while complying to the optional requirement of the NFPA 1970 (71) Standard.
NFPA 1970 is the Standard on Protective Ensembles for Structural and Proximity Firefighting, Work Apparel, Open-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) for Emergency Services, and Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS).
All GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH® products meet this standard, proving reliability, performance and in turn, instilling confidence in customers using it.
PPE needed for different response scenarios are each supported by separate NFPA standards, such as NFPA 1970 which individually provide minimum requirements for performance, testing and certification.
Subject Matter Experts
Whilst Gore also has unique testing processes, NFPA standards are the foundation of its PPE.
Gore’s products go through rigorous testing standards in the lab and in the field, to ensure consistency. It is essential that the PPE performs in the field, as well as under scientific scrutiny.
Gore’s PPE has always been designed with the firefighter in mind, a focus of the company since its origins.
Firefighters need to maintain efficiency on the fireground, they can’t afford to be hindered or weighed down by their turnout gear.
