Dressing for War: Designing Tropical Combat Apparel

Dressing for War: Designing Tropical Combat Apparel

Ivan Hong Dian Jie
National University of Singapore,
Email: praetor-fenix@hotmail.com

Introduction:

A lot of talk has been going on in recent years about the US’ “Asia-Pacific Pivot”, with the setting up of the US military base in Australia[1] and the trips made by senior US officials to countries in the region. Along with this, there have been preparations made[2] to design Personal Equipment[3] to suit the tropical climates[4] found in swathes of Southeast Asia. This essay hopes to shed some light on the design and materials that can be used by anyone in the pursuit of combat uniforms and protective garments suited for the tropics. It is intended that this essay be more of a practical, introductory guide to inform technical decision-making for those involved in such projects.

The table below illustrates the geographical regions that are considered “Tropical”.

Before one begins to design Tropical Combat Apparel of any sort, it is imperative to first understand the conditions to which they will be subjected to; conditions such as Relative Humidity, Temperature, Weather Patterns, and Terrain. These conditions should greatly influence the design and materials used in the uniforms and apparel.

The term “Apparel” as used in this essay refers from all forms of fabric-based woven garments or equipment such as camouflage uniforms, t-shirts, shorts, undergarments (socks, briefs, boxers, inner vest, flash protection gear etc.), towels, scarves, raincoats, camouflage netting, Load-Bearing Vests, Plate Carrier Vests, Chest Rigs, Helmet Covers, or any other woven piece designed to be worn or carried by an individual soldier.

Relative Humidity
Relative Humidity in the tropical regions frequently goes into ranges of 80% to the high 90%. The high RH values commonly experienced in tropical climates severely impede evaporative cooling from the skin’s surface, often causing core body temperature to rise to dangerous levels. Heat injuries are extremely common in tropical climates, and are a major impediment to physical stamina as well as cognitive function. Wicking Rate and Air Permeability should be among the top factors to consider when selecting the appropriate fabric blends for the sweltering tropics.

Relative humidity also becomes an important consideration in the selection of materials to be used in tropical combat apparel as the high humidity prevents fabrics from drying out quickly. Fabrics will often be perpetually soaked in sweat, rain, mud and ambient vapour and can provide a fertile ground for bacteria and mould growth. This will have implications for field hygiene management, wound care, psychological morale and the durability of apparel. It is highly recommended that effective anti-fungal, anti-microbial fabric treatments be incorporated into the apparel, especially for the fabric layers worn next to skin.

However, due to the extreme saturation of water vapour in tropical environments, designers should consider enhancing body heat dissipation via convective cooling - especially for load-bearing equipment such as body armour vests. This may be achieved via numerous strategies which raise the load-bearing equipment off the skin. Spacer vests[5], or similar designs which create air channels between the wearer’s body and additional layers of thicker, less breathable fabrics frequently used in the construction of load-bearing vests have the potential to drastically improve the microclimate next to wearers’ skin in order to reduce the impact of heat stress. It should be noted, however, that owing to the tropical rain and humidity, spacer vests or spacer designs should not be constructed out of absorbent materials such as mesh or open-cell foam as far as possible. This also applies to all padding located on shoulders, back, torso, knees, elbows, and also for footwear. Padding and spacer designs constructed out of absorbent mesh or absorbent foam have the potential to unnecessarily exacerbate discomfort, worsen field hygiene and increase the weight burden due to water retention.

Temperature
Temperatures in the Tropics are typically high all year round, and usually range between the mid 20 Degrees Celsius to the high 30 Degrees Celsius. The only notable exceptions to this pattern are the regions located further North like Northern Vietnam and Taiwan where temperatures may drop to the 10 to 15 Degrees Celsius range. While these values might sound fairly mild compared to the scorching summers in other climates around the world, it is important for design and material selection committees to bear in mind that this heat is often accompanied by the high relative humidity. It cannot be emphasized more that whatever fabrics and fabric treatment technologies developed for dry summer regions may produce very different results in the tropics because of the peculiar combination of high heat and high humidity.

That being said, in the process of design and selection of materials, it is useful to think of these factors separately in order to deal effectively with the challenges posed by each different factor, and to avoid the common tendency to conflate the two factors together and to refer to them as simply “high heat” - which has been the cause of numerous failed apparel designs that simply do not work as expected in the tropical climate.

General Weather Patterns
Precipitation is fairly high and relatively constant throughout the year at an approximate average of 60mm monthly. Tropical rainforest climates experience “Monsoon Seasons”. Without going into too much detail, designers should expect that wearers and their apparel will for several months be subjected to periods of relatively lower temperatures, higher wind speeds and copious amounts of rainfall. Thus, it is important that designers anticipate the potential impact on the performance of the apparel. All other factors being constant, it does appear that Dye Fastness has been noted to suffer more degradation than usual under the constant wetting and drying experienced in the tropics.

The high amount of precipitation experienced in the tropical environment also calls for designers to use materials or select fabric treatments that are non-absorbent, or even hydrophobic where possible. This is especially relevant when designing woven apparel such as bags, load-bearing vests, pouches, and footwear. Using open cell foam or highly absorbent textiles will retain rainwater, sweat, mud, and thus affect field hygiene and wearer comfort (refer to section on Relative Humidity). Greater attention to detail than usual should be paid to the selection of materials in this area.

Terrain
The unique terrain challenges also need to be addressed when designing combat apparel. Sharp, thorny, woody branches such as the rattan palm abound in the dense jungle. These puncture, hook onto fabrics and rip out threads as soldiers move through thick vegetation. This is an important consideration when choosing the weave and modulus of the fibres, which will influence the Tear Strength of the fabric blend.

The tropics are also host to a wide variety of Mosquitoes, Leeches, stingers and other parasites. Selecting the appropriate fabric treatments such as permethrin or other pyrethroids and anti-critter treatments, is absolutely non-negotiable. Not only do they cause immense discomfort, but they also carry a variety of debilitating infectious diseases like malaria, dengue or other inflammatory toxins. Bearing in mind the high amounts of precipitation (rainfall) in the tropics, it is also important to consider the leaching rate of such fabric treatments under tropical conditions.

Variations in temperature and wind speed based on elevation and location should also be borne in mind. Tropical terrain is often a good mix of highlands and lowlands, extremely thick vegetation and swathes of open farmland. Suffice to say, designing combat apparel to deal with the worst conditions in the tropical jungle should be the minimum standard.

It is also crucial to note that most Southeast Asian nations today will feature large sections of highly-urbanized areas like cities, and sparsely populated suburban areas connected by minor roads. That will be a very challenging factor to take into consideration when selecting the appropriate camouflage patterns to suit both, very different types of terrain.

Uniform Design
The design of the uniform should also be carefully considered, especially in the tropical rainforest. It can be just as important as the material selected itself. Although the design of the uniform may be constrained by your individual organization’s bearing and turnout standards, it is highly recommended that the design committee stress the need to prioritize practical considerations over excessive decorum, or to the greatest possible extent, integrate it into the design with the least compromise to functionality.

Where appropriate, it is worth considering a “combat shirt” design to be worn under body armor. In this fashion, panels of fabric covering the torso are to be constructed of fabric that is less durable or tear resistant, but with greater abrasion resistance, wicking, drying and air permeability. The advantages of adopting such a design are especially useful when Plate Carrier Vests are to be worn over the base layer uniform. Using a fabric that is more comfortable (i.e. less abrasive to the skin and quick-drying), will encourage and enable soldiers to don their PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) in the field for longer durations. Creating ventilation channels with effective spacer designs will also enhance the effectiveness of the combat shirt design.

Is not recommended that the collar be constructed out of the softer fabric (used for the torso and back panels) in a round neck, turtleneck, or mandarin collar design. This will leave the neck open to abrasions from weapon slings that often pull against the neck area. Weapon slings are often constructed out of nylon webbing that is of a far coarser thread. The softer material may be easily abraded by the weapon sling in short order. The material used to construct the sleeves should be likewise used for constructing the collar, with a zip closure design running up to the neck (like in a windbreaker). Such a design allows the collar to be folded down when necessary.

Suggested Material Characteristics
It is suggested that the materials used shall remain usable, durable and not degradable when undergoing the following conditions:

1. Operating Temperature: Range from -5ºC to 55ºC.
2. Storage Temperature: Up to 65ºC and under cyclical elevated temperatures.
3. Humidity. Up to 99% RH.
4. Rain. 60mm/hr for an 8-hour period and 100mm/hr for a 2 hour period. The material shall be easy to dry.
5. Contamination. Material shall not deteriorate when exposed to petrol, diesel, vehicle-oil, gearbox-oil or sunlight (UV Rays).
6. Fungus. Protected against fungal growth throughout its useful life span. The material shall not disintegrate or peel off. 

Material Characteristics	Material Performance	Test Standards
Wicking Rate (cm after 5 mins)	>10	BS EN ISO 6330 – 5A, Line dry /BS 3424-18: Method 21 *(modified)
Air Permeability (ft3/min/ft2)	>170	ASTM D737
Drying Rate (% after 60 mins)	>60%	JIS L1096

 

Conclusion
As major conflicts in time to come may once again be fought in the punishing tropical jungles, it would be wise for Personal Equipment designers to heed the lessons of Vietnam and the Jungle Conflicts of the Second World War where much was left to be desired from the state of their personal equipment’s suitability for the harsh tropical environment. With the proper preparation and judicious selection of materials and well-thought design, adapting to combat operations in the tropics can be a lot less costly.

References:

1. [1]http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/world/asia/obama-and-gillard-expand-us-australia-military-ties.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 
2. [2] http://www.armytimes.com/article/20130604/NEWS/306040004/Hawaii-unit-re-establishing-jungle-warfare-school
3. [3]https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=3eabd3db449de028d0765f9a533316e2&_cview=0 
4. [4]https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=4d01083844b0ee29920bfc6e38120fc1
5. [5] http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA459877

Bio of Author:
If you would like clarifications on certain design aspects that I touched on, or material recommendations and prototypes developed, you can get in touch with me via email: praetor-fenix@hotmail.com, or call/text/Whatsapp me at my phone +65 90558883. I am based in Singapore, and have served in the Singapore Army for 2 years, after which I worked with local defence contractors.

Types of Preventive Clothing and Their Uses or Applications Part-10

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Mitten:
A mitten is a type of protective clothing used to cover the hand. The word is usually used in its plural form (“mittens”), since most of the time a pair is used as opposed to a single mitten. Mittens are similar to gloves, in that they cover the hand and help to keep it warm in cold weather. However, while gloves have coverings for four fingers and a thumb, mittens only have a covering for all of the fingers, and for the thumb.

Figure 64: “Baby Mitten”

Figure 65: “Kitchen Mitten”

Figure 66: “Knit Mitten”

Bulletproof Vest:
A bulletproof vest, ballistic vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso. Soft vests are made from many layers of woven or laminated fibers and can be capable of protecting the wearer from small-caliber handgun and shotgun projectiles, and small fragments from explosives such as hand grenades.

Metal or ceramic plates can be used with a soft vest, providing additional protection from rifle rounds, and metallic components or tightly woven fiber layers can give soft armor resistance to stab and slash attacks from knives and similar close-quarter weapons. Soft vests are commonly worn by police forces, private citizens who are at risk of being shot (e.g., national leaders), security guards, and bodyguards, whereas hard-plate reinforced vests are mainly worn by combat soldiers, police tactical units, and hostage rescue teams.

Modern body armor may combine a ballistic vest with other items of protective clothing, such as a combat helmet. Vests intended for police and military use may also include ballistic shoulder and side protection armor components, and bomb disposal officers wear heavy armor and helmets with face visors and spine protection.

Figure 67: “The Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV), here in Universal Camouflage Pattern, is issued to U.S. Army soldiers”

Flak Jacket:
A flak jacket or flak vest is a form of body armor designed to provide protection from case fragments (“frag”) from high explosive weaponry, such as anti-aircraft artillery (“flak” a German contraction for Flugzeugabwehrkanone), grenades, some round shot used in shotguns and land mines and other lower-velocity projectiles. It is not designed to protect against bullets fired from small-arms such as rifles or handguns. However, certain flak jackets are able to sustain certain gunshots, dependent on the armor, the gun, and the distance that the bullet has travelled.

The term “flak jacket” is often colloquially applied to newer body armor featuring protection against small arms projectiles, but the original usage predated the existence of functional bulletproof vests and the two are not interchangeable in performance.

Figure 68: “Flak Jacket for Urban Combat Unit”

 Fire Proximity Suit:
A fire proximity suit (also, silvers or silver bunker suit) is a suit designed to protect a firefighter from high temperatures, especially near fires of extreme temperature such as aircraft fires.

Fire proximity suits first appeared during the 1930s, and were originally made of asbestos fabric (hence also known as the asbestos suit). Today they are manufactured from vacuum-deposited aluminized materials that reflect the high radiant loads produced by the fire.

There are three basic types of these aluminized suits:

• Approach suit—used for work in the general area of high temperatures such as steel mills and smelting facilities. (Ambient heat protection up to ~200 °F (93 °C).)

• Proximity suit—used for aircraft rescue and fire fighting (AR-FF) and, in more heavily insulated versions, for kiln work requiring entry into the heated kiln. (Kiln suit ambient protection ~2,000 °F (1,093 °C) and proximity ambient protection~ 500 °F (260 °C))

• Entry suit—used for entry into extreme heat and situations requiring protection from total flame engulfment. Most commonly made of Zetex or Vermiculite and not aluminized. (Entry suit ambient protection ~2,000 °F (1,093 °C)) for short duration and prolonged radiant heat up to 1,500 °F (816 °C).

Figure 69: “Firefighters training at a U.S. Air Force base in fire proximity suits”

Bunker Gear:
Bunker gear or turnout gear are terms used by many firefighters to refer to their system of outer protective clothing. “Bunker gear” and “turnout gear” can refer, depending on the context, to just the trousers, boots and jacket, or to the entire combination of personal protective equipment and personal protective clothing. The terms are derived from the fact that the trousers and boots are traditionally kept by the firefighter’s bunk at the fire station to be readily available for use. This clothing is usually referred to as “fire kit” in the UK and Ireland. In Hong Kong, it is referred to as incident gear.

Figure 70: “Fire fighters wearing Bunker Suits as a part of Bunker Gear”

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Types of Preventive Clothing and Their Uses or Applications Part-9

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Wetsuit:
A wetsuit is a garment, usually made of foamed neoprene, which is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports, providing thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy. The insulation properties depend on bubbles of gas enclosed within the material, which reduce its ability to conduct heat. The bubbles also give the wetsuit a low density, providing buoyancy in water.

Hugh Bradner, a University of California, Berkeley physicist invented the modern wetsuit in 1952. Wetsuits became available in the mid-1950s and evolved as the relatively fragile foamed neoprene was first backed, and later sandwiched, with thin sheets of tougher material such as nylon or later Lycra/Spandex. Improvements in the way joints in the wetsuit were made by gluing, taping and blindstitching, helped the suit to remain waterproof and reduce flushing, the replacement of water trapped between suit and body by cold water from the outside. Further improvements in the seals at the neck, wrists and ankles produced a suit known as a “semi-dry”.

Different types of wetsuit are made for different uses and for different temperatures. Suits range from a thin (2 mm or less) “shortie”, covering just the torso, to a full 8 mm semi-dry, usually complemented by neoprene boots, gloves and hood.

Figure 61: “Wetsuits for men and women”

Dry Suit:
A dry suit or drysuit provides thermal insulation or passive thermal protection to the wearer while immersed in water, and is worn by divers, boaters, water sports enthusiasts, and others who work or play in or near cold water. A dry suit normally protects the whole body except the head, hands, and possibly the feet. In some configurations, however, all of these are covered as well. Dry suits are used typically in these cases:

1. Where the water temperature is below 15°C (60°F).
2. For extended immersion in water above 15°C (60°F), where discomfort would be experienced by a wet suit user.
3. With an integral helmet, boots, and gloves for personal protection when working in and around hazardous liquids.

The main difference between dry suits and wetsuits is that dry suits are designed to prevent water entering. This generally allows better insulation making them more suitable for use in cold water. Dry suits can be uncomfortably hot in warm or hot air, and are typically more expensive and more complex to don. For divers, they add some degree of complexity as the suit must be inflated and deflated with changes in depth in order to avoid “squeeze” on descent or uncontrolled rapid ascent due to over-buoyancy.

Figure 62: “The One Size is a patented dry suit that adapts itself to the measurements of the user, so the need for different sizes is minimized.”

Apron:
An apron is an outer protective garment that covers primarily the front of the body. It may be worn for hygienic reasons as well as in order to protect clothes from wear and tear, or else due to a symbolic meaning. The apron is commonly part of the uniform of several work categories, including waitresses, nurses, and domestic workers. Many homemakers also wear them. It is also worn as a decorative garment by women. Aprons are also worn in many commercial establishments to protect workers clothes from damage, mainly bib aprons, but also others such as blacksmith or farrier aprons.

In addition to cloth, aprons can be made from a variety of materials. Rubber aprons are commonly used by persons working with dangerous chemicals, and lead aprons are commonly worn by persons such as X-ray technicians who work near radiation. Aprons, such as those used by carpenters, may have many pockets to hold tools. Waterproof household aprons, made of oilcloth or PVC are suitable for cooking and washing dishes.

The word apron is from the metanalysis of the term “a napron” to “an apron”. The original spelling of napron has been lost (from the Old French naperon; Modern French napperon).

Figure 63: “Apron in use of professional chefs”

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Types of Preventive Clothing and Their Uses or Applications Part-8

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Boiler Suit:
A boilersuit is a loose fitting garment covering the whole body except for the head, hands and feet. The 1989 issue of the Oxford English Dictionary lists the word boilersuit first on 28 October 1928 in the Sunday Express newspaper. The garment is also known as an overall in some places, but that word is more usually understood as a bib-and-brace overall, which is a type of trousers with attached suspenders. A more tightfitting suit is usually called a jumpsuit.

Figure 56: “Boiler Suit coverall”

Siren Suit:
The siren suit is a one-piece garment for the whole body which is easily put on or taken off, originally designed for use on the way to and in air-raid shelters. The suit solved the problems of warmth and modesty encountered when seeking shelter during nighttime air raids in the United Kingdom during World War II. It was roomy and could be put on over night clothes quickly when an imminent air raid was announced by the sirens. The suit was worn by both children and adults when sheltering in either back garden or public shelters.

Figure 57: “Winston Churchill wearing a siren suit beside British General Bernard Montgomery during the Second World War in the United Kingdom”

Ski Suit:
A ski suit is a suit made to be worn over the rest of the clothes when skiing or snowboarding. A ski suit made for more casual winter wear outdoors may also be called a snowsuit and are often used by children as everyday outerwear in the winter season. Some suits are specifically made for snowboarders but most are used by either skiers or snowboarders regardless of the style.

Figure 58: “Karl Schranz in a one-piece and Vladimir Putin in a two-piece ski suit”

Pressure Suit:
A pressure suit is a protective suit worn by high-altitude pilots who may fly at altitudes where the air pressure is too low for an unprotected person to survive, even breathing pure oxygen at positive pressure. Such suits may be either full-pressure (i.e. a space suit) or partial-pressure (as used by aircrew). Partial-pressure suits work by providing mechanical counter-pressure to assist breathing at altitude.

Figure 59: “A pilot of the Lockheed U-2, nicknamed “Dragon Lady”, is a single-engine, ultra-high altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).”

Space Suit:
A space suit is a garment worn to keep a human alive in the harsh environment of outer space, vacuum and temperature extremes. Space suits are often worn inside spacecraft as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for extra-vehicular activity (EVA), work done outside spacecraft. Space suits have been worn for such work in Earth orbit, on the surface of the Moon, and en route back to Earth from the Moon. Modern space suits augment the basic pressure garment with a complex system of equipment and environmental systems designed to keep the wearer comfortable, and to minimize the effort required to bend the limbs, resisting a soft pressure garment’s natural tendency to stiffen against the vacuum. A self-contained oxygen supply and environmental control system is frequently employed to allow complete freedom of movement, independent of the spacecraft.

Some of these requirements also apply to pressure suits worn for other specialized tasks, such as high-altitude reconnaissance flight. Above Armstrong’s line (around 19,000 m (62,000 ft)), the atmosphere is so thin that pressurized suits are needed.

The first full-pressure suits for use at extreme altitudes were designed by individual inventors as early as the 1930s. The first space suit worn by a human in space was the Soviet SK-1 suit worn by Yuri Gagarin in 1961.

Figure 60: “Apollo A7L space suit worn by astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11”

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Types of Preventive Clothing and Their Uses or Applications Part-7

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Flight Suit:
A flight suit is a full body garment, worn while flying aircraft such as military airplanes, gliders and helicopters. These suits are generally made to keep the wearer warm, as well as being practical (plenty of pockets), and durable (including fire retardant). Its appearance is usually similar to a jumpsuit. A military flight suit may also show rank insignia. It is sometimes used as a combat uniform in Close Quarters Battle or Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure situations, for its practicality.

Figure 51: “Flight suit worn by a Thunderbird passenger”

G-Suit (Anti-g-Suit):
A g-suit, or the more accurately named anti-g suit, is a flight suit worn by aviators and astronauts who are subject to high levels of acceleration force (g). It is designed to prevent a black-out and g-LOC (g-induced loss of consciousness) caused by the blood pooling in the lower part of the body when under acceleration, thus depriving the brain of blood. Black-out and g-LOC has caused a number of fatal aircraft accidents.

Figure 52: “PAF female pilot wearing g-suit”

Figure 53: “MSF830 Anti-g Suit trousers and cummerbund fitted over a flying suit”

Jumpsuit:
Jumpsuit originally referred to the utilitarian one-piece garments used by parachuters/skydivers, but has come to be used as a common term for any one-piece garment with sleeves and legs.

The original skydivers’ jumpsuits were simple garments designed to insulate the body from the cold of high altitudes and minimize risk of covering important handles and grips. Today, however, the garment has found other use:

Pilots and Drivers:
Aviators and astronauts, who sometimes wear insulated, fire-retardant jumpsuits or flight suits where other types of clothing can potentially float or flap about in zero gravity or during high-G maneuvers, drivers in motor racing, who wear jumpsuits for protection against fire and (in the case of motorcycle racers) leather suits for abrasion

Sportspersons:
Skiers, who wear insulated jumpsuits or ski suits to protect themselves from cold (especially after falling or tumbling in snow). Competitive skiers and speed skaters, who wear skin-tight jumpsuits to provide freedom of movement while minimising air resistance. Skydivers, who wear technical jumpsuits as main sport equipment for today’s sport skydiving.

Manual Laborers:
The jumpsuit’s simple one-piece design also makes it a practical garment for tradesmen, such as cleaners, auto mechanics and plumbers, who often wear looser-fitting jumpsuits, or coveralls, where they need a better-protecting garment than an apron or bib.

Institutions:
The jumpsuit has sometimes been mandated as an institutional uniform, as it can be a unisex garment and can accommodate a wide range of body shapes.

1. University and polytechnic students in Finland and Sweden often wear jumpsuits colored according to their school or field of study at student parties, see student overall.
2. In Norway, high school students wear jumpsuits for three weeks of May as a part of the graduation ritual Russefeiring
3. Prisons in the United States and Canada frequently use bright orange jumpsuit uniforms for inmates for ease of identification and high visibility.

Small Children:
A simple-to-launder one-piece garment can be especially convenient for parents to dress small children in. In countries with colder climates, snowsuits, or jumpsuits quilted or padded for warmth, are popular during the wintertime.

Fashion:
Jumpsuits have also reappeared from time to time in high fashion, where it is often attractive to designers because it has an unbroken line running from the neck to the feet and can be flattering on somebody shapes. In the UK, the word onesie has come to describe casual jumpsuits (to be used as loungewear or pyjamas). Jumpsuits are generally regarded as a garment of convenience, as they are simpler to launder, put on and remove than an ensemble outfit. Unless the jumpsuit has a drop seat, however, it is necessary to remove it entirely for bathroom use.

Figure 54: “A man wearing a jumpsuit”

Figure 55: “Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen in a protective one-piece auto race suit”

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Types of Preventive Clothing and Their Uses or Applications Part-6

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Clean room Suit:
A clean-room suit, clean room suit, or bunny suit, is an overall garment worn in a cleanroom, an environment with a controlled level of contamination. One common type is an all-in-one coverall worn by semiconductor and nanotechnology line production workers, technicians, and process / equipment engineers, as well as people in similar roles creating sterile products for the medical device industry.

The suit covers the wearer to prevent skin and hair being shed into a clean room environment. The suit may be in one piece or consist of several separate garments worn tightly together. The suit incorporates both boots and hood. It must also incorporate a properly fitted bouffant cap or mob cap.

More advanced designs with face covers were introduced in the 1990s (like the Intel fab worker-style suits seen on the Pentium product advertisements).

Suits are usually deposited in a store after being contaminated for dry cleaning, autoclaving and/or repair. Similar suits are worn in the containment areas of nuclear power plants. These suits consist of the main garment, hood, thin cotton gloves, rubber gloves, plastic bags over normal work shoes, and rubber booties. The wrists and ankles are taped down with masking tape. Occasionally a plastic raincoat is also worn. Removal of the garments (into several barrels) is a complicated process which must be performed in an exact sequence. Often a health physicist is present in the work area to observe good anti-contamination practices.

Figure 45: “Technicians wearing clean room suits inspect a semiconductor wafer”

Arc Flash and Shock Hazard Protection Clothing:
Arc Flash:
An arc flash (also called a flashover), which is distinctly different from the arc blast, is part of an arc fault, a type of electrical explosion that results from a low-impedance connection to ground or another voltage phase in an electrical system.

Figure 46: “Arc flash accident – real time scenario”

Figure 47: “Arc Flash and Shock Hazard – real time scenario”

Protection Equipment:
With recent increased awareness of the dangers of arc flash, there have been many companies that offer arc flash personal protective equipment (PPE). The materials are tested for their arc rating. The arc rating is the maximum incident energy resistance demonstrated by a material prior to break open (a hole in the material) or necessary to pass through and cause with 50% probability a second or third degree burn.

Figure 48: “Arc Flash Protective Clothing”

Figure 49: “Arc Flash Protective Clothing”

Racing (Race Car Driver’s) Suit:
NASCAR drivers are required to wear a fire-retardant suit and underwear. This suit serves a dual purpose of identifying the driver outside the car, and protecting them during a fire. The driver also wears fire retardant shoes and gloves. During long races, the heat of the engine might warm the feet to uncomfortable levels, so most drivers wear a heat shield on the bottom of their shoes.

The helmets serve many safety purposes in the NASCAR circuit. First, the helmet protects the driver from injuries. Second, the helmet has hook-ups for radio to communicate with the spotter and crew chief. Third, the helmets sometimes have visors that reduce the sun’s glare so the driver can have better vision.

Figure 50: “Jeff Gordon and his crew wearing a fire suit for safety”

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Types of Preventive Clothing and Their Uses or Applications Part-5

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Industrial Work wear:
A type of garment that is used by the blue-collar workers during carrying out their duties on the work floor, these garments are easy to wear, provide breathing space for the body to face hot temperatures and provides protection against sharp and edgy things or equipments. Usually produced or bought by a manufacturing firm in bulk for all of the blue-collar working class.

Figure 35: “Blue colored Industrial Work Wear is a one-piece garment”

Figure 36: “Two different variations in an Industrial Work wear”

Lifejacket (Personal Flotation Device):
A Personal Flotation Device (abbreviated as PFD; also referred to as a lifejacket, life preserver, Mae West, life vest, life saver, cork jacket, buoyancy aid or flotation suit) is piece of equipment designed to assist a wearer, who may be either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.

PFDs are available in different sizes to accommodate variances in body weight. Designs differ depending on wearing convenience and level of protection. Flotation devices are also found in near water-edges and at swimming pools. They may take the form of a simple vest, a jacket, a full-body suit (one piece coverall), or their variations suited for particular purposes. They are most commonly made of a tough synthetic fiber material encapsulating a source of buoyancy, such as foam or a chamber of air, and are often brightly colored yellow or orange to maximize visibility for rescuers. Some devices consist of a combination of both buoyancy foam and an air chamber.

Retro-reflective “SOLAS” tape is often sewn to the fabric used to construct lifejackets and PFDs to facilitate a person being spotted in darkness when a search light is shone towards the wearer. In the US, federal regulations require all persons under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket (PFD) when in a watercraft under 12 meters long. State regulations may raise or lower this number and must be followed when in that state’s jurisdiction.

Figure 37: “A man wearing a life vest, with another life vest hanging on a hook at lower left”

Figure 38: “The person on the right is wearing an air chamber lifejacket”

Motorcycle Personal Protective Clothing:
To improve motorcycle safety many countries mandate the wearing of personal protective equipment such as protective clothing and helmets. Protective clothing may include certain types of jackets, gloves, boots, and pants. Jackets meant for motorcyclists are typically made of specialized nylon fabrics like cordura, leather, or Kevlar. These jackets typically include heavy padding on the elbow, spine, and shoulder regions. Gloves are generally made of leather or Kevlar and some include carbon fiber knuckle protection.

An alternative to leather is clothing constructed of man-made textiles. These can offer improved weather protection from heat, cold, and water, and the increased utility these garments tend to provide in terms of pockets and vents. Common materials include high density (600–1000 Denier) ballistic nylon (e.g., Cordura) and Kevlar, or blends of Kevlar, Cordura, and Lycra; and often include waterproof liners made from materials such as Gore-Tex. In both CE marked (meets European Standards) and non-protective garments, localised protection may be provided by armour and airbag systems.

Not all textile clothing is made from synthetic materials. Heavy weight waxed cotton was used for many years before the development of modern materials, typified by the jackets made by companies such as Belstaff.

Figure 39: “Racing glove (rear)”

Figure 40: “Racing glove (palm)”

Figure 41: “A motorcyclist wearing helmet, gloves, boots and leathers slides along a racetrack after crashing”

Figure 42: “A rider and passenger wearing racing leathers”

Figure 43: “Armoured textile jackets: Cordura left and fully ventilated right”

NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) Suit:
An NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) suit is a type of military personal protective equipment designed to provide protection against direct contact with and contamination by radioactive, biological or chemical substances, and provides protection from contamination with radioactive materials and some types of radiation, depending on the design. It is generally designed to be worn for extended periods to allow the wearer to fight (or generally function) while under threat of or under actual nuclear, biological, or chemical attack. The civilian equivalent is the Hazmat suit. The term NBC has been replaced by CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear), with the addition of a new threat, radiological, meaning radiological weapon. Sometimes they are called chemsuits or chem suits or chemical suits. NBC stands for nuclear, biological, and chemical. It is a term used in the armed forces and in health and safety, mostly in the context of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) clean-up in overseas conflict or protection of emergency services during the response to a terrorist attack, though there are civilian and common-use applications (such as recovery and clean up efforts after industrial accidents). In military operations, NBC suits are intended to be quickly donned over a soldier’s uniform and can continuously protect the user for up to several days. Most are made of impermeable material such as rubber, but some incorporate a filter, allowing air, sweat and condensation to slowly pass through. An example of this is the Canadian military NBC suit.

Figure 44: “Two Canadian soldiers wearing NBC suits”

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