title: A review of heat transfer phenomena and the impact of moisture on firefighters' clothing and protection.
abstract: Protective clothing with high insulation properties helps to keep the wearer safe from flames and other types of hazards. Such protection presents some drawbacks since it hinders movement and decreases comfort, in particular due to heat stress. In fact, sweating causes the accumulation of moisture which directly influences firefighters' performance, decreasing protection due to the increase in radiant heat flux. Vaporisation and condensation of hot moisture also induces skin burn. To evaluate the heat protection of protective clothing, Henrique's equation is used to predict the time leading to second-degree burn. The influence of moisture on protection is complex, i.e., at low radiant heat flux, an increase in moisture content increases protection, and also changes thermal properties. Better understanding of heat and mass transfer in protective clothing is required to develop enhanced protection and to prevent burn injuries.
  This paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of heat and mass transfer inside firefighters' protective clothing to enhance safety. The focus is on the influence of moisture content and the prevention of steam burn.
authors.affiliation: a Université Lille Nord de France , Lille , France.
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: Gauthier
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bedek
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salaün
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dupont
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D002056:Burns / Q000517:prevention & control; D061388:Firefighters; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013227:Steam / Q000009:adverse effects; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D013227:Steam; D014867:Water
keywords: firefighter; heat and moisture transfer; protective clothing; thermal comfort