Decontamination study: Rubber vs. Leather

Gore tested the long-standing theory that rubber decontaminates better than leather. The results were surprising: leather samples were found to retain less residual chemical contamination than rubber samples following decontamination procedures. The tests were conducted using a FEMA testing protocol, which focused on chemicals that firefighters are likely to encounter in the field, including carbon disulfide (CS₂), tetrachloroethylene, isooctane (gasoline), acrylonitrile, dimethyl formamide (DMF), and diethyl amine.

Read the Fire Engineering article about the decontamination study.

[EN-US] Decontamination study: Rubber vs. Leather - Downloadable

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Decontamination effectiveness of leather and rubber Oct 2011

Decontamination effectiveness of leather and rubber_FINAL_Oct2011.pdf Download PDF Heat and Flame Fire & Safety GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® GORE-TEX CROSSTECH Footwear March 9, 2017

Physiological study into heat stress

A group of firefighters wearing turnout gear completed a defined work/rest cycle in a controlled environment as their body core temperatures, heart rates, and skin temperatures were monitored. Over a period of several weeks, the same participants repeated the trial three times so they could wear each set of gear containing one of the three different protective barriers. And the results are exceptional:

The GORE® protective barriers delivered the highest breathability — significantly better than the competition.
All of the firefighters were able to complete the trial while wearing gear with GORE® protective barriers; on the contrary, 40 percent could not finish the test when wearing the competitive barrier because their heart rates exceeded their maximum, which were established as part of the safety criteria before the trial began.
RET results directly correlated with the participants’ physiological responses, whereas THL did not.

Increase in Body Core Temperature

U.S. military research has shown that once a body core temperature of 100°F is reached, each increase of only 0.1°F is physiologically significant, leading to an increased risk of heat exhaustion. At the end of the human trial, the average increase of body core temperature varied depending on the protective barrier in the gear. The GORE® PARALLON™ liner system performed the best, followed closely by the GORE® CROSSTECH® black moisture barrier; however, the increase with the competitive barrier was the largest. These results confirm that GORE® protective barriers are the most breathable.

Body Core Temperature Response to Work/Rest Cycle

Rest cycles are crucial to enable your body to recover from the strain of the challenging environments in which you work. When the participants were wearing the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system or GORE® CROSSTECH® black moisture barrier, the rest periods were more effective and they were able to complete the entire trial; when they wore the competitive barrier, their temperatures continued to rise rapidly. In fact, 40 percent of them were pulled out during the second work cycle because their heart rates exceeded their maximum rates, which were established before the trial began.

RET (Resistance to Sweat Evaporation) versus THL (Total Heat Loss)

Testing the performance of the materials in your gear can provide valuable information for gear selection. The THL test has done a great deal of good for the firefighter, helping to improve how well gear can shed excess body heat; but it evaluates performance in a relatively mild environment, similar to a conditioned office space. And, it has been found that THL does not provide very useful information about how gear performs, particularly in warm or sunny conditions. The RET test can provide some of this valuable insight, which could be important to you in your gear selection.

Before the trial began, each turnout gear composite was measured for THL and RET. While THL did not predict the differences seen in the human trials, the RET testing did. In fact, the THL results, which are what is commonly available to fire departments today, indicated that there should be NO difference in performance between the gear tested in this study. However, the trial confirmed that there were significant differences—the Gore technologies were more breathable and had a lower burden on the firefighters, as demonstrated by lower core temperatures, lower skin temperatures, and lower heart rates.

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GORE-TEX CROSSTECH^® Garments for Firefighters

As well as protecting firefighters from heat and flame, GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® garments are waterproof, breathable and provide crucial protection from viruses and bacteria found in blood and body fluids as well as chemicals.

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NEW GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 Improves Comfort Without Compromising Performance

ELKTON, Md. (September 16, 2019) – W. L. Gore & Associates announced its next generation in hood technology with the highly breathable GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2. This enhanced design delivers improved comfort, certified protection, and long-lasting durability at an affordable price.

COMFORT

The level of comfort you get from the GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 has been improved for a more natural feel without compromising protection. Its highly breathable construction helps reduce heat stress, enabling you to wear the hood longer at the fireground.

PROTECTION

The GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 exceeds requirements of the NFPA 1971, 2018 Edition for both particulate-blocking and thermal protection. Its innovative design integrates a barrier that blocks more than 99.99 percent of particles between 0.1 and 1.0 microns in size. It delivers reliable protection throughout the entire hood — blocking smoke at critical seams more effectively than other particulate hoods currently available. At the same time, its construction is optimized to reduce interference with sounds and signals on the fireground.

RELIABILITY

The exceptionally durable GEN2 hood retains its level of more than 99.99 percent particulate-blocking performance even after laundering. The hood’s unique inspection opening enables you to inspect the entire hood — inside and out.

According to Holly Blake, North American product manager in Gore's Fabrics Division, the fire industry continues to recognize the need for protection against exposure to fireground contaminants. "In 2017, Gore addressed the vulnerability of firefighters' head and neck areas by delivering the first hood certified to the NFPA 1971, 2018 Edition's option for particulate protection." She continued, "Based on feedback from firefighters, we have improved the comfort of the GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 with a new design and increased breathability. At the same time we maintained the high level of particulate protection and reliability of our original hood. To deliver quality consistent with the original hood, we have continued to work with Majestic Fire Apparel to manufacture the GEN2 hood."

Available in two knit options — Ultra C6 (black) and Nomex® blend (white) — the GORE® Particulate Hood GEN2 is being sold through Majestic Fire Apparel’s dealers. Visit majhoods.com/Gore or GoreParticulateHoods.com for more information about this new product.

ABOUT MAJESTIC FIRE APPAREL

Majestic Fire Apparel, Inc. (MFA) is a premier manufacturer of fire-retardant hoods, accessories, and ARC-rated apparel. With facilities located in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, MFA is an ISO 9001 registered company that maintains a compliant Quality Management System. MFA is committed to the pursuit of better products that achieve optimal benefits for the fire service. The company’s focus on quality and new product development has attributed to its success in serving customers in the fire and safety industry for more than 20 years. majhoods.com.

ABOUT GORE

W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Since 1958, Gore has solved complex technical challenges in demanding environments — from outer space to the world’s highest peaks to the inner workings of the human body. With more than 10,500 Associates and a strong, team-oriented culture, Gore generates annual revenues of $3.7 billion. gore.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Lon Edelman
W. L. Gore & Associates
105 Vieve's Way Elkton, MD 21921
Telephone: +1 410 392 3600
ledelman@wlgore.com

GORE, Together, improving life and designs are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.

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Gore® Particulate Hood

Firefighters need thermal and particulate protection for their head and neck areas. The GORE® Particulate Hood delivers particle blocking performance and increased breathability.

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NFPA 1851 Industry Support Program

(Elkton, Maryland, April 10, 2008) At FDIC 2008, W. L. Gore & Associates is announcing the Gore NFPA 1851 Industry Support Program, the latest in its 25-year commitment to working with the fire service industry to ensure safe personal protective equipment (PPE) for fire professionals. The 2008 Edition of NFPA 1851 places a new focus on the ongoing compliance and durability of turnout gear, emphasizing a more rigorous inspection and evaluation protocol for the individual components. With its new NFPA 1851 Industry Support Program, Gore continues to assist the industry by providing a comprehensive program including three key elements: an instructional guide on complying with NFPA 1851, free-of-charge materials for repair of normal wear and tear, and the most durable moisture barrier available in the market - CROSSTECH® 3-Layer Moisture Barrier.

The educational component of this new program addresses compliance with NFPA 1851 as it relates to Gore's family of moisture barriers. The Standard sets forth specific requirements for inspecting both the liner system as a unit and the thermal liner and moisture barrier as individual components. As a part of its NFPA 1851 Support Program, Gore has developed a CD-based instructional guide that discusses cleaning, inspecting, testing, and repairing Gore's NFPA 1971-compliant moisture barriers. For example, the guide includes demonstrations of each of the liner system tests required for compliance with the Standard and examples of what may be observed during moisture barrier inspection.

Another component of the Gore NFPA 1851 Industry Support Program addresses repairs. As evidence of its commitment to its products, Gore will provide free-of-charge materials (both tape and barrier) to manufacturers and verified independent service providers (ISPs) for repairs necessitated by normal wear and tear. This commitment applies to CROSSTECH® 2-Layer and GORE™ RT7100 Moisture Barriers for up to three years and to CROSSTECH® 3-Layer Moisture Barrier for up to five years.

The third, and probably most fundamental, element of the Gore NFPA 1851 Industry Support Program is the addition of CROSSTECH® 3-Layer Moisture Barrier to its family of NFPA 1971-certified barrier products. Through innovative membrane technology and the addition of a patent-pending second textile layer, this product provides rugged durability without compromising high total heat loss (THL). Designed for fire professionals working in the most rigorous environments, Gore's CROSSTECH® 3-Layer Moisture Barrier offers the best possible combination of durability, THL, and thermal protective performance (TPP) available in today's market.

Gore is excited to announce this comprehensive support package to the industry. According to Ron Bove of Gore's North American Fire & Safety Services business, “From its inception, Gore has always stood behind its products, and our commitment remains the same today. Years ago, Gore developed the first repair verification program for moisture barriers, and we trained cleaning and repair facilities in the proper techniques for repairing and seam-sealing our products. Complying with the 2008 edition of NFPA 1851 will require a steep learning curve for the fire service industry, and we feel it is important that we offer our support as a committed partner in this process.” .

With more than $2 billion in sales and 8,000 employees worldwide, W. L. Gore & Associates specializes in fluoropolymer innovations that improve the quality of life. Gore has applied its world-renowned expertise to thousands of high-performance solutions in pharmaceutical, consumer, industrial, electronic, medical, and surgical markets. Specifically in the protective fabrics arena, Gore has been a pioneer in developing high-performance barrier products for use in firefighting, EMS, technical rescue, law enforcement, military, and domestic preparedness applications. The company operates more than 45 facilities worldwide with headquarters in Newark, Delaware, USA. For more information about CROSSTECH® Moisture Barriers, call 800.431.GORE or 410.392.3600, or visit crosstech.com.

OEKO-TEX® Recognizes Gore as Leader in Sustainability

Elkton, Maryland, January 31, 2015 – OEKO-TEX® has selected W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) as the January 2015 Company of the Month for its sustainability program in the Fabrics Division. OEKO-TEX® launched this campaign to recognize textile companies for their ongoing commitment to product safety and sustainable production processes. The International OEKO-TEX® Association is responsible for testing textiles for harmful substances listed in the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100.

Since 1996, Gore Fabrics has been working with the OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification to demonstrate that its products are safe for its customers. The current award recognizes Gore as one of the first to eliminate perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from all raw materials for its fabrics products, which they completed in 2013. Dr. Jean-Pierre Haug, general secretary of OEKO-TEX®, explained the selection, saying, “In the areas of product safety and sustainable production conditions, Gore sets the standards for the textile industry….We have named Gore as the OEKO-TEX® January 2015 Company of the Month in recognition of its constant efforts to find new ways forward that ultimately provide a role model for the rest of the textile industry.”

Gore’s Technical Fabrics team has also been working to ensure the safety of fabrics used in gear worn by first responders. For example, in March 2010, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and the chemical industry undertook an initiative to ban particular brominated flame retardants from the firefighting market. But prior to this initiative, Gore had removed any bromine and antimony-based retardants from its fabrics.

The OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 evaluates textiles for 18 types of forbidden flame retardants, including approximately nine types of brominated products. In 2011, Gore’s US-based fire and public safety team applied for and received OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certification — making GORE® RT7100, CROSSTECH® 3-layer, and CROSSTECH® black moisture barriers the only moisture barriers in the North American fire market to be free of bromine and antimony-based flame retardants and have this certification today. This certification ensures that Gore’s moisture barriers do not contain or contribute any potentially harmful substances to the structural turnout gear in which they are incorporated.

According to Bernhard Kiehl, global sustainability leader for Gore Fabrics, “As a company whose core competence lies in the field of innovation, it is our commitment to continually drive ecological and social development efforts without compromising the functionality or durability of our products. We are extremely pleased that OEKO-TEX® has recognized our sustainability program as exemplary in the textile industry.” For more information about OEKO-TEX®, visit www.oeko-tex.com.

ABOUT W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well-known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore employs more than 10,000 associates in 30 countries worldwide. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. The company also appears regularly on similar lists around the world. Learn more at www.gore.com.

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Media Contact:
Marie Y. Smith
302.994.0117

New Research Shows GORE® Protective Barriers to be Best Choice for Reducing Firefighter Heat Stress

Indianapolis, Indiana, April 20, 2016 – At the FDIC International 2016 Conference, W. L. Gore & Associates presented the results of a human study that evaluated the physiological impact of protective barriers currently available in turnout gear. Conducted by a third party, this study confirmed that wearing the GORE^® PARALLON™ liner system delivered the highest breathability followed closely by CROSSTECH^® black moisture barrier, with both significantly better than the competition.

A group of firefighters wearing turnout gear completed a defined work/rest cycle in a controlled environment while their body core temperatures, heart rates, and skin temperatures were monitored. Over a period of several weeks, the same participants repeated the trial three times so they could wear each set of gear containing one of the three different protective barriers. Before the trial began, each turnout gear composite was tested for Total Heat Loss (THL) and Resistance to Sweat Evaporation (RET) to determine which test method was more aligned with human physiological results. Several results of the trial were significant:

First, the firefighters’ physiological responses were the best when they were wearing gear with Gore’s protective barriers.
Second, all of the firefighters were able to complete the trial while they were wearing gear with Gore’s protective barriers. On the contrary, 40 percent of them could not finish the test when wearing the competitive barrier because their heart rates exceeded their maximum rates, which were established as part of the safety criteria before the trial began.
Finally, the RET results directly correlated with the participants’ physiological response, whereas THL did not.

According to Matthew Decker, research scientist in Gore’s Fabrics division, “The human body can be extremely sensitive to small increases in core temperature. U.S. military studies have shown that once your body core temperature reaches 100°F, each increase of only 0.1°F is physiologically significant. The results of this study clearly show that the choice of protective barrier in turnout gear has a measurable impact on a firefighter. And GORE^® protective barriers manage firefighter heat stress significantly better than the competitive barrier.” .

Visit www.GoreProtectiveFabrics.com/Heat-Stress-Management for more information about this study.

About W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing GORE^® Protective Barriers Shown to Reduce heat Stress Better CROSSTECH, GORE‐TEX, PARALLON, GORE and design are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates components and aerospace electronics. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore employs more than 10,000 associates worldwide. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. The company also appears regularly on similar lists around the world. Learn more at www.gore.com.

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Media Contact:
Marie Y. Smith
302.994.0117
mysmith115@comcast.net

New Gore Instructional Guide Available

(Elkton, Maryland - April 10, 2008) In an effort to assist the fire industry in implementing NFPA 1851, 2008 Edition, W. L. Gore & Associates has developed a CD-based instructional guide that addresses compliance with this updated Standard as it relates to liner systems and, specifically, to Gore's family of moisture barriers. Drawing on Gore's 25 years of expertise in leading-edge barrier technology, this guide discusses cleaning, inspecting, testing, and repairing CROSSTECH® 2-Layer Moisture Barrier, CROSSTECH® 3-Layer Moisture Barrier, and GORE™ RT7100 Moisture Barrier.

The new edition of NFPA Standard 1851 identifies the necessary considerations for selecting gear and procedures for reducing risks that result from poorly maintained or contaminated gear. As a result, the Standard now places a new emphasis on the ongoing compliance and durability of structural and proximity firefighting ensembles, which translates to a more rigorous inspection of the entire garment and all of its components. Gore's new instructional guide responds to this emphasis by providing information regarding inspecting, testing, and repairing its moisture barriers. For example, the guide includes step-by-step demonstrations of both the leakage evaluation test and the water penetration test to identify potential repairs needed to ensure barrier effectiveness. It also provides some basic information regarding the thermal liner light evaluation test.

According to Holly Blake, Gore's product specialist for structural firefighting garments, compliance with NFPA 1851, 2008 Edition means that departments have many issues to address - decisions like how to assign the various compliance responsibilities, how much of the compliance work to do within the department, whether to contract an independent service provider (ISP) for all or part of the services needed, and how to train all personnel on their individual responsibilities. Blake says, “For over 25 years, Gore has worked closely with the fire service industry to develop the most effective products to meet the industry's performance expectations of moisture barriers. As the industry addresses inspecting, testing, and repairing turnout gear, we felt it may be beneficial to share our expertise on these issues. By creating this instructional guide, we continue to support manufacturers, ISPs, and fire departments as they develop their specific procedures for ensuring compliance with NFPA 1851.” .

Gore Revolutionizes Turnout Gear Performance with GORE® PARALLON™ Liner System

Indianapolis, Indiana, April 22, 2015 – At the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), W. L. Gore & Associates announced the next level of turnout gear performance with the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system. This revolutionary multi-barrier system maintains thermal protection better when your gear gets wet and enables a level of breathability beyond what is available today. While this new system replaces the thermal barrier and moisture barrier in traditional turnout gear designs, it is currently certified to the NFPA 1971 Standard, 2013 edition with several outer shells.

PROTECTION: As you work and sweat in turnout gear, moisture within the layers of your gear can change your thermal protection. The exclusive technologies of the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system help reduce potentially serious drops in thermal protection as your gear is exposed to moisture, particularly from sweat. This enables your gear to perform closer to the level that you expect when it is dry. When tested for an indicated time to 2^nd degree burn in an ordinary fireground heat exposure (i.e., 0.2 cal/cm²sec), wet conventional gear lost 34 percent compared to when it was dry. However, the thermal protection of gear with the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system lost only 4 percent, remaining relatively unchanged after it became wet.

COMFORT: The environmental conditions in which you work can cause your body core temperature to rise, and even small increases can impair your performance and potentially affect your safety and effectiveness. The GORE® PARALLON™ liner system enables your turnout gear to deliver unparalleled breathability across the broadest range of conditions — a level beyond what is available today in NFPA 1971 compliant gear. Achieving the lowest resistance to your sweat vapor transmission through your gear, this liner system helps to reduce the physical strain of working in turnout gear and minimize potential increases in your body core temperature.

According to Allen Maples, North American Product Specialist in Gore’s fire and public safety team, the technology behind the GORE® PARALLON™ liner system is a revolutionary shift in turnout gear performance for the fire industry. “For more than 35 years, Gore has been globally recognized as a pioneer in protection and human comfort science. We have combined our scientific research and deep product knowledge in heat stress, breathability, and barrier technologies to develop moisture barriers that are the most breathable in the broadest range of conditions. While CROSSTECH® moisture barriers provide the highest level of breathability in traditional turnout gear, the new GORE® PARALLON™ liner system takes breathability to a whole new level while also offering more consistent thermal protection.” For more information, visit www.GoreParallon.com or call 800.431.GORE (4673).

ABOUT W. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

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Media Contact:
Marie Y. Smith
302.994.0117

New GORE® CROSSTECH® Glove Insert Delivers Improved Dexterity with NFPA 1971-Certified Protection

Elkton, Maryland, April 25, 2013 – W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., has announced the next-generation GORE® CROSSTECH® glove insert with film technology engineered for structural firefighting gloves. Gloves made with this insert combine improved dexterity and feel with the protection, durability, and thermal stability that firefighters have come to expect from all GORE® CROSSTECH® products.

A breakthrough in the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) film technology used in Gore’s glove inserts led to this flexible, next generation GORE® CROSSTECH® insert with film technology. With the moisture barrier fully bonded to a form-fitting thermal liner, this 3-D combination results in better flexibility, less bulk in the palm, and improved dexterity.

Gloves made with the next-generation GORE® CROSSTECH® glove insert with film technology help firefighters tackle difficult tasks without removing their gloves. According to Mark Williams, Gore’s product manager for GORE® CROSSTECH® glove products, “In conversations with firefighters, we kept hearing that their bulky gloves get in the way of being able to do such things as operating equipment and adjusting controls. They resorted either to using non-certified gloves or even to taking off their gloves. We worked with glove manufacturers to develop NFPA-certified gloves with this new film technology so that the firefighters can focus on their jobs without compromising their safety.” For more information, visit CROSSTECH.com.

About W. L. Gore & Associates

Gore is a technology-driven company focused on discovery and product innovation. Well-known for waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX fabric, the company’s portfolio includes everything from high-performance fabrics and implantable medical devices to industrial manufacturing components and aerospace electronics. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Newark, Delaware, Gore employs approximately 10,000 associates in 30 countries worldwide. Gore is one of a select few companies to appear on all of the U.S. “100 Best Companies to Work For” lists since the rankings debuted in 1984. The company also appears regularly on similar lists around the world.

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Media Contact:
Marie Smith
302.994.0117
mysmith115@comcast.net

CROSSTECH, GORE-TEX, GORE, and design are trademarks of W. L. Gore & Associates.

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