2007, Piran, Slovenia

Personal protective equipment
PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SUBJECTIVE RESPONSES TO
COOLING DEVICES ON FIREFIGHTING PROTECTIVE
CLOTHING
Chinmei Chou 1 * , Yutaka Tochihara 2 and Taegyou Kim 3
1 Graduate School of Design, Kyushu University, Japan
2 Department of Ergonomics, Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Japan
3 Korea Sewing Technology Institute, Korea
Contact person: kinmei@gsd.design.kyushu-u.ac.jp
INTRODUCTION
During fire fighting, an external heat burden is added to the heat produced from
metabolism of the body, and these can cause an excessive heat loading. While the
function of firefighting protective clothing have been improved, there is a possibility
that the physiological burden on firefighters is increased. Furthermore, it has been
reported that clothing impermeability causes physiological stress which increases skin
temperature, heart rate and core temperature (Bishop et al.1994, Duncan et al.1979,
Faff and Tutak 1989). Therefore, it is important to examine the method for removing
this heat burden in firefighters, while wearing firefighting protective clothing. The
aim of the present study was to examine different cooling devices on the physiological
and subjective responses, by reducing physiological load during exercise on an
ergometer, while wearing firefighting protective clothing.
METHODS
The subjects were 8 graduate students. Each subject gave informed consent before
participation. The physical characteristics of the subjects were as follows (mean±SD):
age 25.9 ±3.2 y; height 168.3 ±4.4 cm; weight 62.5 ±9.2 kg; body mass index 23.0
±2.6 kg/m 2 ; and maximal oxygen uptake 45.8 ±2.2 mL/min/kg. The experimental
protocol and measurement items are shown in Figure 1. The Pre-test room (control)
was controlled with an air temperature (Ta) of 25ºC and relative humidity (RH) of 50-
60%.
With cooling devices
25ºC, 50~60%RH
30ºC, 50%RH
Pre test- Room
Rest
Test-Room
.
Exercise (55%VO 2 max)
-10
Rectal Temperature
Skin Temperature
Heart Rate
Sensation
Weight
Recovery
0 10 40 50 [min]
1 5 8 11 15 25 35 38 41
Figure 1. Experiment protocol and measurement items
The Test-room was controlled with a Ta of 30°C and RH of 50%. Each subject rested
in a Pre-test room for 10 min before entering the Test-room, where they rested for
45
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