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<p>Fire proximity suits, characterized by their reflective outer layer, are commonly used by firefighters during high-radiant-heat operations such as aircraft rescue. A persistent challenge faced by firefighters is determining whether a suit remains safe for reuse following a firefighting operation. Currently, this decision relies solely on visual inspection–a subjective and non-quantitative approach. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique based on optical metrology to objectively assess the health of fire proximity suits. The method leverages the reflective property of the suit’s outermost layer, quantifiable through illuminance measurements in the visible spectrum. Our findings indicate that exposure to degrading environments–including radiation, flames, soot, abrasion, and natural weathering–leads to a measurable decline in reflectivity, correlating directly with reduced radiant protective performance. Specifically, as the reflectivity of the outer laminate decreases by approximately 60%, the time to second-degree burn (<InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(t_{2nd}\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation>) drops below 20 seconds–a critical threshold indicating the suit’s unsuitability for further use. This study demonstrates the potential of a cost-effective, quantitative, and non-destructive approach for assessing the integrity of fire proximity suits, offering significant implications for firefighter safety.</p>

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Ensuring Firefighter Safety: Exploring Optical Metrology for Non-destructive Assessment of Fire Proximity Clothing

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月16日

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  • Shivangi Dwivedi,
  • Alips Srivastava,
  • Richa Srivastava,
  • Prasun Kumar Roy

摘要

Fire proximity suits, characterized by their reflective outer layer, are commonly used by firefighters during high-radiant-heat operations such as aircraft rescue. A persistent challenge faced by firefighters is determining whether a suit remains safe for reuse following a firefighting operation. Currently, this decision relies solely on visual inspection–a subjective and non-quantitative approach. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of a non-destructive testing (NDT) technique based on optical metrology to objectively assess the health of fire proximity suits. The method leverages the reflective property of the suit’s outermost layer, quantifiable through illuminance measurements in the visible spectrum. Our findings indicate that exposure to degrading environments–including radiation, flames, soot, abrasion, and natural weathering–leads to a measurable decline in reflectivity, correlating directly with reduced radiant protective performance. Specifically, as the reflectivity of the outer laminate decreases by approximately 60%, the time to second-degree burn ( \(t_{2nd}\) ) drops below 20 seconds–a critical threshold indicating the suit’s unsuitability for further use. This study demonstrates the potential of a cost-effective, quantitative, and non-destructive approach for assessing the integrity of fire proximity suits, offering significant implications for firefighter safety.